New limits for personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits may become a reality in Texas
The House made changes to the proposal that leave open ways for victims to be compensated beyond medical bills. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/a7f4d2ec20806f2f13e710774c7b7659/Seton%20Trauma%20Center%20LS%20TT%2004.jpg)
-
![An ambulance is parked at Dell Seton Medical Center at the University of Texas
at Austin in 2018.]()
Credit: Laura Skelding for The Texas Tribune -
Bill to allow smaller homes on smaller lots resurrected in Texas House
A top priority of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, the legislation would make it easier to construct homes on smaller lots. A House Democrat briefly killed the bill. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/e7517b7da40a6ffca195cb16afa33ed1/0726%20Eagle%20Ford%20Flyover%20JT%20TT%2018.jpg)
![A stretch of suburban homes line the landscape southeast of San Antonio on July 26, 2023.]()
Credit: Joe Timmerman/The Texas Tribune -
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. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/42b94379e965bdc3e6a0f4b2537424cc/0523%20GOP%20Convention%20EH%20TT%2032.jpg)
![Lt. Governor Dan Patrick speaks during the Texas GOP Convention Thursday, May 23, 2024 in San Antonio.]()
Credit: Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribune -
Texas’ DEI ban on public schools heads to Gov. Greg Abbott for final sign-off
Senate Bill 12’s supporters say DEI programs use class time and public funds to promote political agendas. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/195b469a8ba4d764d553338ff54edfd4/United_South_HS_TEKS_RZ_TT.jpg)
![Passing period at United South High School in Laredo.]()
Credit: Rachel Zein for The Texas Tribune -
Texas will require public school classrooms to display Ten Commandments under bill headed to governor
Both houses have approved Senate Bill 10 even though a similar Louisiana law was deemed unconstitutional. Supporters say Christianity is core to U.S. history. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/b266feda0c24d7dde81adf4980301367/0317%20Religion%20Capital%20LW%2018.jpg)
![The Ten Commandments, written out on a monument, sit outside the Texas Capitol on March 17, 2025.]()
Credit: Lorianne Willett/The Texas Tribune -
Texas sheriffs would have to collaborate with ICE under bill poised for governor’s 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. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/57be93e5ff7ce2cbde798ea5d7a7c9f0/01%20ICE%20TT.jpg)
![A law enforcement official walks past a transport bus used to carry migrants in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody before the departure of a chartered plane from Brownsville South Padre International Airport in Brownsville on May 18, 2019.]()
Credit: REUTERS/Loren Elliott -
Bill to give political appointees more oversight over Texas universities wins final passage
The latest version of the proposal eliminates language that would have required university curricula not to advocate that “any race, sex, ethnicity or religious belief is inherently superior to another.” Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/5fd507963acae20ff3dd640b67874375/Texas%20State%20Campus%20TT%20LS%2004.jpg)
![Texas State University campus in San Marcos, Texas.]()
Credit: Laura Skelding for The Texas Tribune -
Starbase could shut down Boca Chica Beach more frequently under Texas legislation
The Texas Senate agreed Friday to make it easier for the new city, home to Elon Musk’s SpaceX, to shutter the beach during rocket launches. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/646ae1c0dc052581baa906a6a8dbcb67/SpaceX%20Boca%20Chica%20Beach%20REUTERS.JPG)
![A boy builds a sandcastle on the beach as SpaceX's Starship spacecraft atop its powerful Super Heavy rocket is prepared for a third launch from the company's Boca Chica launchpad on an uncrewed test flight, at Starbase, Texas, on March 13, 2024.]()
Credit: REUTERS/Cheney Orr -
Eviction bill now focuses on squatters in Texas House rewrite
The chamber jettisoned a provision tenants’ advocates warned would make it easier for Texas landlords to evict renters. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/886d8a3b5bcb574110f348c790398279/0411%20Evictions%20Court%20AM%2035.jpg)
![A tenant walks her puppies outside of an apartment where the tenants were evicted and the apartment emptied at the Life at Jackson Square apartments in Houston on April 11, 2023.]()
Credit: Annie Mulligan for The Texas Tribune -
Major energy consumers will face new limits if Texas House approves proposal
The legislation would give ERCOT the ability to turn off power to major consumers in an emergency. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/c4d9cad0d87fe61c1816f8bf88bd30c4/Whinstone%20Bitcoin%20Mine%20MGO%20TT%2010.jpg)
![Construction workers build a portable building that will be used to house computers cooled by immersion technology on Oct. 22, 2021.]()
Credit: Michael Gonzalez/The Texas Tribune -
Vacant offices, strip malls may get new life as housing in Texas’ largest cities
The bill is part of a suite of GOP proposals aimed at curbing the state’s high housing costs — chiefly by allowing more homes to be built. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/91b99ecebc20e35fd61cbbe196d16537/090920%20Brownwood%20JV%20TT%2025.jpg)
![Empty real estate in downtown Brownwood on Sep 9, 2020.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Texas House bill allowing online voter registration got a public hearing — after missing deadline to become law
Texas is one of eight states without universal online voter registration. A lawmaker pushing for it says he’ll continue the fight. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/81766ccac9ea63b5323926964406da08/SoS%20Online%20Voter%20Registration%20JJ%20TT%2001.jpg)
![Online voter registration application from the Texas Secretary of State. Voters in Texas cannot register online — nce filled out, the application must be printed, signed, and sent by mail.]()
Credit: John Jordan/The Texas Tribune -
Business tax breaks closer to reality after Texas Senate approves compromise
The Texas House must approve changes to the proposal that were brokered by party leaders. It’s part of a package of bills to bring down property taxes statewide. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/3135e1d8095b8119753da098300c241f/0311%20Smithville%20Library%20Mental%20Health%20MC%20TT%2036.jpg)
![Small businesses are reflected in a storefront window in downtown Smithville on Mar. 11, 2024.]()
Credit: Maria Crane for The Texas Tribune -
Texas allows certain children to get married. Lawmakers may close that loophole.
Lawmakers in 2017 took a major step to end most child marriages. However, emancipated teenagers 16 and older can get married. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/9112fac2569cc789aa7a57df139e1d97/0318%20Capitol%20Features%20KG%20TT%2001.jpg)
![The Capitol dome is seen from the north side of the complex in Austin on March 18, 2025.]()
Credit: Kaylee Greenlee for The Texas Tribune -
Texas lawmakers want to lower homeowners' insurance costs, but have few options
Texans pay some of the highest insurance premiums in the country, putting lawmakers under pressure to tackle rising costs. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/cac1f72dd85030d0564d7395182b0492/0423%20TAMU%20Student%20Housing%20IS%2017.JPG)
![Homes in a college neighborhood off Park Place in College Station, Texas, on April 23, 2024.]()
Credit: Ishika Samant for The Texas Tribune -
Texas House advances bill that would prohibit land sales to people and entities from certain countries
The legislation had only pertained to countries the government deemed national security threats. A last-minute change would let the governor add more countries to the ban. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/f46b1f98a8cb18105399ee7cd65ee4eb/0508%20SB%2017%20House%20Debate%20LS%2002.jpg)
![Texas Rep. Mitch Little, R-Lewisville, sponsor of SB17, stands at the podium in the Chamber on May 8, 2025.]()
Credit: Leila Saidane for The Texas Tribune -
Texas House committee advances legislation that targets state’s universities
Senate bills that reduce the influence of faculties and restrict protests on college campuses were voted out of committee in a last-minute meeting Monday. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/33188a3000061e5a6842a4d171494c76/UT%20Tower%20TK%20TT%2002.jpg)
![The University of Texas at Austin campus.]()
Credit: Tamir Kalifa for The Texas Tribune -
Amid housing affordability crisis, Texas House votes to take some power from NIMBYs
Texas lawmakers have sought to make it easier to build more homes — and harder for neighbors to block projects. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/333d4fe1389e275686fe275525f1c4b8/0711%20Forward%20Dallas%20AS%20TT%2050.jpg)
![Newly developed apartments sit next to older homes in Dallas' Oak Cliff neighborhood on July 11, 2024.]()
Credit: Azul Sordo for The Texas Tribune -
Texas homeowners could see lower property tax bills if deal from Republican lawmakers passes
Legislators in the House and Senate have reached an agreement on more property tax relief. But some critics worry the cuts aren’t sustainable forever. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/4f7c340bd9584171d531011fdf556919/Lake%20Austin%20Homes%20JV%20TT%2006.jpg)
![Homes along Lake Austin on March 06, 2023,]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
SpaceX workers in South Texas vote yes to create City of Starbase
Critics of Elon Musk and SpaceX say that a new city will give more power to a company they believe is harming the environment. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/b558f45ddf3b93f522c4e2d3ff8334df/121624%20Starbase%20REUTERS%20TT%2001.jpg)
![SpaceX Starbase, situated off of State Highway 4, is framed in a windshield on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024, in Brownsville, Texas.]()
Credit: Angela Piazza/USA TODAY NETWORK via REUTERS