Senate OKs latest bill restricting use of government and school bathrooms by transgender people
Senate Bill 7 would require people to use restrooms that match their birth gender and fine institutions up to $25,000 for repeated violations. Full Story
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![Texas Sen. Brian Birdwell R-Granbury speaks as Texas Sen. Bob Hall R-Edgewood and Texas. Sen. Mayes Middleton R-Galveston during a senate committee hearing at the Senate Chambers Monday, Aug. 4, 2025 in Austin, Texas.]()
Credit: Ronaldo Bolaños/The Texas Tribune -
Flood relief, THC regulation and more in limbo after House Democrats leave Texas
Democrats fled the state to stop Republicans’ attempt to redraw congressional districts, but bills aimed at everything from a THC product ban to bolstering flood response are now in doubt. Full Story
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![An empty House of Repersentive Chambers on Monday, Aug. 4, 2025 in Austin, Texas.]()
Credit: Ronaldo Bolaños/The Texas Tribune -
Texas House issues arrest warrants for Democrats who left state to block congressional redistricting
The warrants apply only within state lines, making them largely symbolic as most of the legislators in question decamped to Illinois, New York and Massachusetts. Full Story
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![during the Texas House session on August 4, 2025 where only 90 members registered failing to reach a quorum with the departure of dozens of Democrats out of state.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Gov. Greg Abbott threatens Texas House Democrats with removal from office for fleeing state
The governor also alleged absconding Democrats may have committed felonies by fundraising to cover the $500-a-day fines they will face under House rules. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott at a bill signing ceremony at the state Capitol in Austin on June 11, 2025.]()
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Denying quorum has been a Texas political strategy since 1870
While the Democrats could technically derail the GOP’s redistricting map, such efforts have been largely symbolic and had limited success blocking past legislation, experts say. Full Story
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![At least 50 House Democrats that Texas left the state held a press conference in Washington D.C. The democrats broke quorum and stopped Republicans from taking up GOP priority bills on July 13, 2021.]()
Credit: Shuran Huang for The Texas Tribune -
Texas House Democrats flee the state in bid to block GOP’s proposed congressional map
The lawmakers’ absence means the lower chamber won’t have enough members present to function, stalling passage of a draft map Democrats have condemned as a political power grab. Full Story
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![Texas House Democratic Caucus Chair Gene Wu speaks during a press conference alongside dozens of fellow Texas lawmakers and Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker in Carol Stream, Ill., on Sunday, Aug. 3, 2025.]()
Credit: Jamie Kelter Davis for The Texas Tribune -
In draft congressional map, Texas Republicans bet big that gains with Latino voters will persist
The plan increases the share of Hispanic voters in three of the five districts targeted by the GOP, banking that enough will turn out and vote for Republicans without Donald Trump on the ballot. Full Story
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![An attendee holds a Trump hat during a prayer at a GOP event in McAllen to motivate Republicans to vote for U.S. Rep. Mayra Flores, R-Los Indios, running for re-election and congressional candidates Monica De La Cruz, TX-15, and Cassy Garcia, TX-28, on Nov. 6, 2022.]()
Credit: Michael Gonzalez for The Texas Tribune -
Texas Lottery to pay winner of $83.5M jackpot after withholding prize for months
The agency initially blocked the payout because of two state investigations into now-banned lottery courier services, one of which sold the winning ticket. Full Story
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![Lottery tickets sit near the entrance of Hyde Park Market in Austin on May 5, 2025.]()
Credit: Lorianne Willett/The Texas Tribune -
Texas’ proposed congressional map dismantles districts flagged by DOJ
The Department of Justice said four districts unconstitutionally combined Black and Hispanic voters, a charge the state disputes. If the proposed map passes, two will still be multiracial. Full Story
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![U.S. Rep. Al Green, D-Houston, walks to a Congressional Redistricting meeting at the University of Houston campus in Houston, Texas, on July 26, 2025.]()
Credit: Danielle Villasana for The Texas Tribune -
Texas House panel advances redrawn congressional map that would add more GOP seats
The new district lines could be considered by the entire state House as soon as early next week. Full Story
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![State Rep. Todd Hunter, R-Corpus Christ, makes introductory remarks during the Texas House special committee hearing on redistricting August 1, 2025.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Texas cities, counties may face new limits on raising property taxes
Republican state lawmakers want to curb property tax bills by further limiting how much can be collected by cities and counties. Full Story
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![Cars drive on Intersate 35 East with the downtown Dallas skyline looming in the distance on Sunday, July 27, 2025.]()
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Texas bills increasing youth camp safety face long odds, even after Hill Country floods
Competing legislative priorities and an industry that has pushed against certain regulations could challenge a suite of camp safety bills this special legislative session. Full Story
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![Texas game wardens search the area across the river from Camp Mystic on July 5, 2025.]()
Credit: Brenda Bazán for The Texas Tribune -
Some rural Texans see THC as a lifeline for their health and economy
As lawmakers continue to debate banning hemp-derived THC, some rural Texans say it helps ease addiction, health concerns and economic woes that hit their communities the hardest. Full Story
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![Romana Harding greets goats and miniature horses on her farm outside of Midway, TX, on Tuesday, July 29, 2025. Romana plans use the 10 acres she owns to make a farm for other veterans to visit and experience healing.]()
Credit: Annie Mulligan for The Texas Tribune -
“Nobody came”: Hill Country flooding survivors recount anguish, neglect during emotional hearing
Residents told state lawmakers about what they’ve lost and the hardships they’re experiencing almost a month after the July 4 disaster devastated the region. Full Story
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![Alicia Jeffrey Baker receives a hug after testifying during a joint committee hearing at Hill Country Youth Event Center on Thursday, July 31, 2025 in Kerrville, Texas. Baker lost her parents Emlyn and Penelope Jeffrey and her daughter Madelyn “Emmy” Jeffrey in the flooding.]()
Credit: Ronaldo Bolaños/The Texas Tribune -
Why the proposed Texas congressional map may not be a lock to net five new GOP seats
The new proposed lines would also prevent few, if any, opportunities for Democrats hoping that an aggressive gerrymander could backfire on Republicans. Full Story
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![From left: U.S. Reps. Greg Casar, D-Austin, Al green, D-Houston, and Julie Johnson, D-Farmers Branch]()
Credit: The Texas Tribune -
Top two Kerr County emergency officials say they were asleep as July 4 floods struck
Their statements to state legislators marked the first time county officials have spoken publicly about what they were doing the morning of the disaster that killed more than 100 people in the county. Full Story
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![People listen in to a panel of local Kerr County officials testify during a joint committee hearing at the Hill Country Youth Event Center in Kerrville on Thursday, July 31, 2025.]()
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Draft Texas congressional map pits Democratic incumbents against each other, spelling possible primary clashes
Multiple Democratic members have been packed into blue districts in Austin, Dallas and Houston to make way for newly crafted Republican districts in those areas. Full Story
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Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Former Sid Miller allies told police the ag commissioner feared the DEA, told a friend to get rid of marijuana
Miller denies wrongdoing after allegations surfaced during an investigation into one of his aides, who pled guilty to bribery. The agriculture commissioner has not been charged with a crime. Full Story
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![Commissioner of Agriculture Sid Miller speaks to press during a Trump Rally at Million Air in Austin on Oct. 25, 2024.]()
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Texas GOP once again tries to ban local governments from hiring lobbyists in Austin
Critics of the bill say the state’s smallest cities and school districts will be silenced at the Capitol. Full Story
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![Texas state senators take care of business at their desks during floor debate on SB5 the THC regulation bill on Wednesday, July 30, 2025. Clockwise from upper left are Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston, Sen. Robert Nichols, R-Jacksonville, Sen. Nathan Johnson, D-Dallas, Sen. Adam Hinojosa, D-Corpus Christi, Sen Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown and Sen. Donna Campbell, R-New Braunfels.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
As the floods hit, Kerrville officials’ messages show lack of information about what was coming
Lawmakers plan to hear testimony Thursday in Kerr County. Questions remain about how state and local entities responded to flood warnings. Full Story
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![A July 5 aerial view of toppled trees near Hunt reveal the scope of the devastating July 4th flood in Kerr Co. Texts and emails show local officials were slow to grasp the severity of the disaster.]()
Credit: Brenda Bazán for The Texas Tribune