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
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![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 -
After a sometimes graphic debate, Texas House advances bill limiting kids’ access to sexually explicit books in libraries
The bill would bar those under 18 from checking out books with sexually explicit material without parental permission. Full Story
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![Ector County Library's fiction section includes novels, anime, science fiction, westerns, and more. Jacob Ford for The Texas Tribune]()
Credit: Jacob Ford for The Texas Tribune -
Ken Paxton says Google will pay Texas $1.4 billion to settle privacy suit
The state attorney general sued Google in 2022, alleging it unlawfully tracked and collected users’ private data. Full Story
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![Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks at a press conference in front of the Supreme Court building in Washington on Jan. 15, 2025.]()
Credit: Luke Johnson for The Texas Tribune -
Texas Democrats cancel planned vote to condemn Rep. Henry Cuellar
Concerns about measures to enforce a ban against a lawmaker’s access to voter files led the party to drop the vote, a party leader said. Full Story
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![U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, speaks about the U.S.-Mexico border at the World Trade Bridge at a news conference in Laredo on Feb. 17, 2023.]()
Credit: Michael Gonzalez for The Texas Tribune -
John Cornyn says tax and spending bill must reimburse Texas $11 billion for border security
Texas Republicans are pushing the federal government to pay the state’s costs of Operation Lone Star, Gov. Greg’s Abbott’s border security initiative. Full Story
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![A member of the Texas Army National Guard patrols the Rio Grande from atop a line of shipping containers in Eagle Pass, Texas, on Friday, Aug. 9, 2024.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar 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
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![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
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![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’ measles outbreak is nation’s largest since 2000
The outbreak that originated in Texas has spread into multiple states. And, the summer will be the real test of how much bigger this outbreak can grow. Full Story
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![Sherry Andrews, right, holds 13-month-old Jaqi Herrera’s hand after administering the first MMR vaccine dose to Herrera at the City of Lubbock Health Department in Lubbock on Feb. 27, 2025.]()
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State Rep. Dennis Paul announces bid for Texas Senate with backing from Dan Patrick
Paul is the first candidate out of the gate to succeed incumbent Mayes Middleton in an open seat running from Galveston to the outskirts of Houston. Full Story
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![State Rep. Dennis Paul, R-Houston, on the House floor on Aug. 23, 2021.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
Texas megadonor Alex Fairly joined forces with the GOP’s ultraconservative wing. He didn’t like what he saw.
Fairly, an Amarillo businessman, backed many candidates aligned with conservative West Texas billionaire Tim Dunn’s political operation in 2024. Now he’s disavowing what he says are dishonest and aggressive campaign tactics while pondering his path forward. Full Story
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![Alex Fairly speaks to Amarillo residents during a Conservative Patriots 4 Texas meeting on Thursday, April 10, 2025, in Amarillo.]()
Credit: Eli Hartman for The Texas Tribune -
Texas election judges could carry guns if bill OK’d by House becomes law
Supporters said the bill would protect poll workers who continue to face violent threats. Full Story
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![Voters wait in line to cast their ballots on Election Day at the Esperanza Acosta Memorial Library in El Paso on Nov. 5, 2024.]()
Credit: Justin Hamel for The Texas Tribune -
Texas’ youngest learners are behind in math and reading. A pair of bills aims to get them back on track.
Students who are behind in third grade rarely catch up. Texas lawmakers want to intervene earlier. Full Story
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![At the Waco Central Library, Ellis Pittman, five, looks for a book to take home on April 5, 2024. Pittman had just started reading.]()
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Frio County public officials among six indicted after elections investigation, Paxton says
The county judge, two city council members and others are accused of vote harvesting. Full Story
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![An intersection in downtown Pearsall on Sept. 16, 2020.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Attempt to decriminalize fentanyl testing strips in Texas could stall in the Senate for a third time
Opponents fear that fentanyl test strips will increase the usage of the deadly drug. Full Story
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![The Texas Harm Reduction center distributes fentanyl test strips, classified as drug paraphernalia in Texas, on May 5, 2025.]()
Credit: Leila Saidane for The Texas Tribune -
Sen. John Cornyn announces leadership team, including Trump pollster, for 2026 reelection campaign
Cornyn’s move to stockpile his campaign team with seasoned GOP operatives signals he is digging in for a serious fight against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. Full Story
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![U.S. Sen. John Cornyn talks to reporters after Gov. Greg Abbott signs Senate Bill 2, the voucher bill, into law at the Governor's Mansion in Austin on May 3, 2025.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Texas may put restraints on new big businesses hoping to tap into the energy grid
According to ERCOT, the state’s energy demand may double in six years. Full Story
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![The recently-opened Edge Data Center in Amarillo on March 19, 2025.]()
Credit: Angelina Marie for The Texas Tribune -
In bail talks, lawmakers close in on Texas GOP goal of keeping defendants in jail
While Gov. Greg Abbott steps up his push for stricter bail rules, critics seek a balance between the rights of the accused and the goal of keeping dangerous defendants behind bars. Full Story
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![A+ Discount Bail Bonds in San Marcos on Sept. 8, 2021.]()
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Texas Senate panel advances bill that would no longer allow undocumented students to pay in-state tuition
The bill would overturn a two-decade-old law allowing some undocumented college students to pay in-state tuition. Full Story
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![Students walk across the campus at Sam Houston State University on Aug. 20, 2020, in Huntsville.]()
Credit: Mark Felix for The Texas Tribune -
Texas Democratic Party considers sanctioning Henry Cuellar over federal indictment, votes breaking with party
The Laredo congressman could be blocked from party campaign resources and social events if the party sanction is passed. Full Story
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![U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, R-Laredo, at a Homeland Security Subcommittee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington on April 10, 2024.]()
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TribCast: One month of session left, and the kids are fighting
The biggest bill is already signed, but there are plenty of wars left to wage in the last month of the session. Full Story
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![Texas House of Representatives Members vote on an amendment on the House floor in Austin on April 16, 2025.]()
Credit: Kaylee Greenlee for The Texas Tribune