In 2001, Texas Republicans saw expanding college access for certain undocumented students as a way to build an educated workforce. Now, some GOP lawmakers feel only U.S. citizens should receive those benefits.
Greg Abbott
Speaker Dustin Burrows, once tagged as โliberal,โ kept skeptics at bay by leaning into a conservative agenda
At the same time, some Democrats acknowledged the Lubbock Republican let them leave their mark on some of the GOP bills they disagreed with.
Texas wonโt force private companies to use E-Verify to check workersโ immigration status, despite leadersโ tough talk
Texasโ conservative Legislature has again and again refused to mandate that most private businesses use E-Verify. Experts say that Republican resistance is rooted in how the system could impact the stateโs labor supply and economy.
Voters will have final say on billions of tax cuts for Texas homeowners, businesses
Texas is slated to spend $51 billion on property tax cuts over the next two years. Some worry thatโs unsustainable.
Texas lawmakers voted to ban consumable THC products. Will Gov. Greg Abbott sign โ or veto โ the bill?
Abbott faces pressure from both sides of the aisle. The prohibition was a priority for Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, but some hemp farmers and veterans want it killed.
TribCast: Dan Patrick and Greg Abbott are getting what they want this legislative session
In this weekโs episode, Matthew and Eleanor talk with politics reporter Jasper Scherer about education funding, a THC ban and the success of conservative priorities this year.
Texas sheriffs would have to collaborate with ICE under bill poised for governorโs desk
The House approved Senate Bill 8, which mandates sheriffs request formal partnerships with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for designated deputies to serve administrative immigration warrants at their jails.
After years of tension, Texas House emerges as cooperative partner for Dan Patrick and his conservative agenda
A 2024 war among Republicans tilted the House to the right. Now more closely aligned with the Senate, Speaker Dustin Burrows has accelerated action on bail, school vouchers and social issues.
Eviction bill now focuses on squatters in Texas House rewrite
The chamber jettisoned a provision tenantsโ advocates warned would make it easier for Texas landlords to evict renters.
Overriding a Texas governorโs veto can be impossible. Lawmakers are trying to change that.
The state constitutionโs legislative calendar โ not a vote threshold โ makes it hard to overrule the governor. Legislators are crafting an amendment that would make more overrides possible.


