Critics say the procedure deprives citizens of property without due process. Law enforcement officials say they are stopping crime.
Courts
Stay up to date on Texas courts with in-depth coverage of major rulings, judicial elections, criminal justice, and the judges shaping state law from The Texas Tribune.
Sandra Bland Act would change processes for law enforcement, jails
The bill’s proposals include limiting police searches during stops, adding reporting requirements for racial profiling and creating an independent ombudsman to monitor inmates’ rights and services.
Businesses line up against Dan Patrick’s high-priority insurance bill
Legislation that would make it harder for people to recover damages after an insurance claim has hit a wall of opposition from business interests.
Treat same-sex couples the same as others, Texas Supreme Court told
Same-sex couples are entitled to the same treatment as opposite-sex couples, a lawyer for the city of Houston argued before the Texas Supreme Court on Wednesday in a case challenging the city’s benefits policy for married same-sex couples.
Still no timeline for withdrawal of state troopers on border, Texas DPS chief says
The director of the Texas Department of Public Safety told lawmakers on Tuesday the agency can’t predict when it will be able to scale back its border security operations in the Rio Grande Valley.
Texas Supreme Court to take up same-sex marriage case
Same-sex marriage has been legal for almost two years, but opponents are looking to fight a U.S. Supreme Court ruling through a lawsuit challenging Houston’s benefits for same-sex couples.
Trump administration confirms plans to drop key claim against Texas Voter ID
The U.S. Department of Justice confirmed Monday it plans to ditch its longstanding position that Texas lawmakers purposefully discriminated against minority voters by passing the nationโs strictest voter identification law in 2011.
Appeals court dismisses case on immigrant harboring law
A three-judge panel of the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans dismissed a case brought against the state over a provision of Texas law that prohibits “concealing, harboring, or shielding” undocumented immigrants.
In border meeting, Sid Miller suggests distance with Trump on border wall, immigration
Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller on Thursday left the tough talk on immigration in Austin while he held a historic press conference on one of the country’s busiest international bridges to Mexico.
Texas House’s chief budget writer: State shouldn’t cut border security funding
The Texasโ Houseโs chief budget writer said that President Trumpโs emergence in Washington shouldnโt give state lawmakers license to slice hefty appropriations for border security โ at least not yet.


