Last month, the Texas Republican Party included in its platform a ban on foreigners using American surrogates, arguing the practice allows children born under these circumstances to obtain U.S. citizenship.
State Government
Stay informed on Texas state government with The Texas Tribune’s in-depth coverage of the governor, Legislature, state agencies, and policies shaping the future of Texas.
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State Government
U.S. Supreme Court declines request to block Texas’ app age verification law
A federal appeals court had allowed Texas to require app stores to verify users’ ages and seek parental consent before a minor can download apps while litigation continues.
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Economy
Rising healthcare costs are straining Texas businesses as the Legislature seeks solutions
Lawmakers and experts pin the blame for rising insurance costs on health companies consolidating and creating less competition.
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Economy
Texas Stock Exchange launches trading in test of upstart’s challenge to Wall Street
The exchange represents the most well-funded challenge to the New York Stock Exchange and NASDAQ duopoly of U.S. stock trading.
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Hill Country floods
A year after deadly floods, Texas lawmakers haven’t addressed training for emergency coordinators
Texas’ emergency management chief has repeatedly recommended that lawmakers require minimum training but a bill proposed after the disaster failed.
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State Government
Rep. Nate Schatzline resigns from Texas House to lead “election integrity” policy in Gov. Abbott’s office
The Fort Worth Republican, one of the most hardline conservatives in the Texas House, had been floated for secretary of state in unconfirmed media reports ahead of his hire by the governor.
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State Government
Gov. Abbott appoints Don Huffines to be Texas comptroller
Huffines, a former Republican state senator, is seeking a full term as the state’s top financial officer. He previously primaried Abbott from the right and was among the most conservative lawmakers in Austin.
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Environment
River authority’s budget woes are another blow to water-needy Corpus Christi
Cities and other water users have already paid $4.1 million to reserve water from a seawater desalination plant that is not close to construction.
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Graphics and data reporting
Measles vaccination rate for Texas kindergarteners increased slightly after 2025 outbreak
Despite the spike in demand for measles shots following the deadly 2025 outbreak, exemptions on all vaccines for schoolchildren rose after the release of a downloadable exemption form.
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Health care
Vaccination rates in Texas schools have been dropping. Look up the latest vaccination rates in your district.
The Texas Tribune has created a searchable database of the latest vaccine rates for school districts and private schools and how they’ve changed in the last year.
