Retailers relieved that Texas skirted a THC ban — again
While Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick remains adamant about a ban, hemp industry representatives say they would compromise on creating a 21 age limit to purchase. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/e97c35d0ee282a90057ac2cbed935e7e/0505%20Weed%20File%20LW%2001.JPG)
-
![THC products sit near the cash register in Hyde Park Market in Austin, Texas on May 5, 2025. Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has partnered with the senate in pursuing a complete ban on THC products across the state.]()
Credit: Lorianne Willett/The Texas Tribune -
Texas Republicans in Congress scaled back town halls during summer recess amid criticism over Trump megabill
Some who did host public events were interrupted by protesters and heckled for their support of President Donald Trump and his signature legislation. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/10e9b8eb2410c70f1b6eb926a736620d/20250602%20Michael%20Cloud%20REUTERS%2001.jpg)
![U.S. Rep. Michael Cloud gives remarks at a Port of Corpus Christi event celebrating the completion of the ship channel improvement project on June 2, 2025.]()
Credit: Angela Piazza/Caller-Times/USA TODAY Network via REUTERS -
Texas Republican Party sues state to end open primaries
Currently, any Texas voter can cast a ballot in GOP primaries. The party wants to limit eligibility to registered members. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/24bfcc54ff911282132f8c475b1e1950/0525%20GOP%20Convention%20EH%2014.JPG)
![Newly elected Republican Party of Texas Vice-Chair D’rinda Randall, left, and Chair Abraham George and speak during the Texas GOP Convention Saturday, May 25, 2024 in San Antonio.]()
Credit: Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribune -
Texas launches downloadable form to exempt kids from school-required vaccines
Previously, parents had to wait for the state to mail them the exemption form. They still have to get the form notarized before submitting it to the school for enrollment purposes. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/e151f513f2cc4452d4c24ce1a486046a/Under%20Five%20Vax%20JR%2011.jpg)
![Mateo Cardona, 4, receives a vaccine in Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston on June 28, 2022.]()
Credit: Justin Rex for The Texas Tribune -
Lawmakers redrew Texas’ congressional districts. See how yours changed.
The new maps, which aim to flip five Democratic seats to favor Republicans, will go into effect for the 2026 midterms, barring court intervention. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/16bf97b8542940d047f3bbc18f0e82de/lede-art-redistricting-lookup.jpg)
![Shapes of the new Congressional districts with the red Republicans on the left and the blue Democrat ones on the right.]()
Credit: Illustration by Carla Astudillo -
Bill overhauling disaster emergency response misses final approval in Texas Senate
Both legislative chambers adjourned without agreeing on changes to Senate Bill 2, which aimed to create new training and licensing requirements for local officials. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/0e3878e882f2eaea81b331eb6b7fe546/0705%20Hill%20Country%20Floods%20BB%20TT%2043.jpg)
![Camp Mystic along the banks of the Guadalupe River in Hunt on July 5, 2025.]()
Credit: Brenda Bazán for The Texas Tribune -
Texas Legislature ends second special session marked by new political maps, slew of conservative wins
Between cracking down on abortion pills and restricting transgender restroom use, lawmakers also tackled flood safety and the STAAR test. Left untouched: Texas’ hemp industry. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/f7831effc4afea86d0c54a07522b2a8d/20250903%20House%20Floor%20KG%2003.JPG)
![House Speaker Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, oversees roll call on the House floor in Austin on Sept. 3, 2025.]()
Credit: Kaylee Greenlee for The Texas Tribune -
Texas kids’ camps must remove cabins from floodplains, operate warning systems under new laws
The parents of children who died at Camp Mystic advocated for the new legislation, which now heads to Gov. Greg Abbott for his signature. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/a99f64a2f60b9d5cc846043809fde9bd/0707%20Kerr%20County%20Flooding%20BB%2003.jpg)
![Damaged cabins seen along the river in Ingram on Monday July7, 2025.]()
Credit: Brenda Bazán for The Texas Tribune -
Texas is officially replacing STAAR. Here is what schools’ new standardized tests will look like.
House Bill 8 scraps the unpopular exam for three shorter tests at the beginning, middle and end of the year starting in the 2027-28 school year. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/ce28c75c6eb230ae2f688515cf326c35/0913%20Odessa%20School%20Tours%20EH%2015.jpg)
![Nimitz Middle School teacher Selena Olivares leads her 7th grade class in an activity Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2023 in Odessa.]()
Credit: Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribune -
Most Texas THC products remain legal after GOP leaders fail to break legislative impasse
Legislators couldn’t reach a last-minute deal to tighten regulations on consumable hemp products. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/9f3fa692cff5a0b3752dfffacf11edb8/0523%20THC%20Farmers%20AR%2004.jpg)
![Hemp plants are seen at Caprock Family Farms, Friday, May 23, 2025, in Lubbock.]()
Credit: Annie Rice for The Texas Tribune -
Lawmakers fail to pass a bill to end massive water exports from East Texas
The House refused Senate changes allowing exports to continue while the state studies its underground water supply. Lawmakers left the Capitol without reaching a compromise. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/406829765b77a5292b1faa80447c2f41/Rural%20Water%20EL%20TT%2054.jpg)
![The Houston County Lake in Houston Co. on Nov. 30, 2022.]()
Credit: Emil Lippe for The Texas Tribune -
Proposal limiting Texas city, county property taxes dies in the Legislature
The House refused to back a bill that would apply only to the state’s largest cities. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/c27aae18f7dd58d9f8c7fafd26395896/1113%20Celina%20ST%2008.jpg)
![The Celina water tower among newer housing developments in Celina on November 13, 2024.]()
Credit: Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune -
Corpus Christi’s water supply is uncertain after City Council ends water treatment plans
Years of blundering and project delays have pushed the South Texas city to the brink of crisis as drought bears down and industrial water use grows. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/4ce2265e7ebfb0d3f21e63680b9a268f/2022-04-17_Corpus_Christi_Port_Bay_Pu.Ying.Huang0085.jpg)
![Corpus Christi Ship Channel on April 17, 2022.]()
Credit: Pu Ying Huang/The Texas Tribune -
Texas suburbs resist new state law allowing more apartments
Suburban officials in the Dallas-Fort Worth region have enacted rules aimed at curtailing a sweeping new state law to allow more apartments. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/fbb2b62f6bd19665b65c0240cc4c6988/0801%20Irving%20BT%20TT%2012.jpg)
![A family walks through a neighborhood in Irving on Aug. 1, 2024.]()
Credit: Ben Torres for The Texas Tribune -
Rep. Alma Allen, longtime Houston Democratic lawmaker, to retire from Texas House
Allen, known for her focus on public education issues, announced her retirement after 20 years in the House. She endorsed her son, Lawrence Allen Jr., to succeed her. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/4422adfc318dfb3be466384d6715f047/0413%20Crown%20Act%20Presser%20LS%20TT%2011.jpg)
![State Rep. Alma Allen, D-Houston, at a press conference with fellow Texas Legislature Black Caucus members urging the passage of the CROWN act, prohibiting discrimination against hairstyles, in the state Capitol on Apr. 13, 2023.]()
Credit: Leila Saidane/The Texas Tribune -
Texas lawmakers scrap new measure allowing late voter registration changes
Lawmakers passed a bill earlier this year allowing voters to update their address at the polls and immediately vote on elections tied to that new residence, as long as the move was within the county. This bill walks it back. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/4eed4f48cd3214493852995556a70f01/Election%20Day%20San%20Marcos%20JV%20TT%2009.jpg)
![Voters enter the polling place on Election Day at the Hays County Government Center in San Marcos on Nov. 2, 2021.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Texas Legislature approves stiff penalties, fundraising limits for lawmakers who leave state to block bills
House members who freeze future legislation by fleeing Texas will face steeper fines, loss of seniority and committee posts, and limits on political fundraising. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/a8ba96268b6594a22eeeb8a86a44177c/0804%20Dems%20in%20Illinois%20JKD%20TT%2033.jpg)
![Members of the Texas House Democratic Caucus at a press conference at IBEW Local 701 in Warrenville, Ill., on Aug. 4, 2025.]()
Credit: Jamie Kelter Davis for The Texas Tribune -
Former Texas Rep. Jodie Laubenberg, author of 2013 abortion restrictions, dies
Rep. Jeff Leach, R-Plano, announced her passing Monday, calling her “one of the first and most effective fighters” for the anti-abortion movement. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/ea519decab3bc4e7ef261e2f819e66a7/01252017%20Jodie%20Laubenberg%20BD%20TT%2001.jpg)
![Then-state Rep. Jodie Laubenberg, R-Parker, speaks at a press conference at the Texas Capitol on Jan. 25, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
TribCast: Sid Miller’s THC entanglements
In this week’s episode, Matthew and Eleanor speak with Texas Tribune reporter Kate McGee about her recent investigative reporting in to Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller and his staff. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/494e0459a63e4b14060735cb07fc7277/TribCast%20Sept%202.jpg)
![Commissioner of Agriculture Sid Miller speaks during a Make America Great Rally on Aug. 1, 2024, at the Burleson County Expo Center in Caldwell.]()
Credit: Olivia Anderson/The Texas Tribune -
Texas bans the sale of THC vape pens
The law does not specifically ban the possession of THC vape pens, but those who sell them face up to a year in jail and a $4,000 penalty. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/c7bebd0afc54dad7379ed71cd7bb78be/THC%20Vape%20KUT%20TT%2002.jpg)
![A disposable vape with resin from cannabis is pictured on Monday, July 21, 2025, at Smoke ATX off of West Slaughter Lane in Austin. The measure banning vapes containing cannabinoids was tacked on to another Texas bill prohibiting e-cigarettes disguised as pens, highlighters, smartphones or other products commonly seen in schools.]()
Credit: Michael Minasi/KUT News