Among the proposals is a bill that would force more inspections of power lines, which a committee concluded ignited a blaze that burned more than 1 million acres last year.
Texas Legislature 2025
Texas lawmakers are in Austin for the 89th Texas Legislature’s second, 30-day special session. They are redrawing the state’s congressional map, considering limits on consumable THC products and pushing flood preparedness measures. A first special session ended without successful legislation after House Democrats fled the state to block Republicans’ proposed congressional redistricting map. The regular session ran from January to June and resulted in a new school voucher program, a ban on DEI initiatives in public schools and proposals to increase the state’s water supply.
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Texas Legislature 2025
Texas Senate passes ban on lottery sales through courier services
Unanimous passage in the Senate comes after top Texas officials say the third-party services undermine trust in the lottery.
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Texas Legislature 2025
Texas Legislature proposes $400 million cut to higher ed as Dan Patrick threatens university budgets over DEI
At a public event last week, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said higher ed would get less funding if they don’t “kick DEI out of their schools,” a few weeks after lawmakers proposed a massive cut to public universities.
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Texas Legislature 2025
Texas Senate approves school funding proposal focused on teacher raises
Teachers with three and five years of experience would qualify for raises under Senate Bill 26. Instructors in smaller school districts would get bigger pay bumps.
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Texas Legislature 2025
Thin majority of Texas House signs on to support voucher bill
The 75 co-sponsors plus the bill’s author would provide enough votes to pass Gov. Abbott’s top priority measure in the 150-seat House.
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Texas Legislature 2025
“We’re in competition”: An East Texas school district faces hard choices as education options grow
The Lufkin school district says it must do a better job of promoting itself amid growing competition from charter schools and homeschooling.
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Texas Legislature 2025
Texas Lottery remains in lawmakers’ sights despite move to ban third-party sales of tickets
The policy shift was announced before state senators, skeptical of the move, grilled officials with the department and courier services in a hearing on SB 28.
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Texas Legislature 2025
Texas House unveils plan to cut property taxes, setting up fight with Senate
Lawmakers will debate how to spend $3.5 billion in proposed tax cuts, a legislative priority for Republican leaders.
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Texas Legislature 2025
School choice, vouchers and the future of Texas education
Vouchers would let parents use public funds to pay for their kids’ private education. Learn about how they could work and the political battle around them.
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Texas Legislature 2025
Under Texas House bill, value of education savings accounts would be tied to public school funding
The proposal sets a few possible points of contention between the House and Senate, including how much money should families get through the program.