An East Texas community grapples with school closures as education options shift

Latest News

• Bill that would increase oversight of Texas’ largest energy users gets OK’d in Texas House

  By Carlos Nogueras Ramos Updated: 39 minutes ago

  The proposal is meant to help the state better manage its electric supply during times of high demand. Critics say the oversight would discourage some companies from doing business in Texas. Full Story 

• Texas film incentive program proposal cut down to $300 million in the House

  By Stephen Simpson Updated: 52 minutes ago

  The state Senate’s version of the bill would infuse $500 million over the next two years into projects filmed in Texas. Full Story 

• Is it law yet? See how far some of the most consequential bills have made it in the 2025 Texas Legislature

  By Texas Tribune Staff, Graphics by Carla Astudillo Updated: May 26, 2025

  We’re tracking the status of major bills through the final stretch of the session. Full Story 

• Texas Republicans want to block cities' gun buyback programs

  By Jayme Lozano Carver May 26, 2025

  Much of the debate focused on the tense relationship between cities and the Texas Legislature. Full Story 

• Proposal to automatically deny bail to some previously accused of felonies falls in Texas House

  By Kayla Guo May 26, 2025

  Democrats declined to support Senate Joint Resolution 87, which sprinted through the Senate and needed 100 votes to clear the lower chamber. Full Story 

• Bill to allow smaller homes on smaller lots resurrected in Texas House

  By Joshua Fechter Updated: May 26, 2025

  A top priority of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, the legislation would make it easier to construct homes on smaller lots. A House Democrat briefly killed the bill. Full Story 

• House clears the way for Texas Lottery to continue under a different state agency

  By Ayden Runnels Updated: May 26, 2025

  Senate Bill 3070 would move the lottery game to Texas’ Department of Licensing and Regulation and includes new restrictions on how players can buy tickets. Full Story 

• THC ban will destroy Texas' hemp agriculture industry, farmers say

  By Jayme Lozano Carver May 26, 2025

  While state leaders say growers can still produce industrial hemp, farmers say they will quit growing the plant altogether under a total THC ban. Full Story 

• Ban on THC products in Texas heads to Gov. Abbott’s desk after Senate agrees to House changes

  By Jasper Scherer May 25, 2025

  The governor has not addressed whether he supports the ban, as hemp industry leaders have urged him to veto Senate Bill 3. Full Story 

• Texas Legislature approves making vaccine exemption process easier

  By Terri Langford May 25, 2025

  Instead of waiting for the state to send them one, parents would be able to print out vaccine exemption forms at home if they want to skip school-required shots. Critics believe the bill would increase infections. Full Story 

• Political appointees would have more control over Texas universities’ courses and hiring under bill approved in House

  By Jessica Priest Updated: May 25, 2025

  Senate Bill 37 would give more power to university regents, who are appointed by the governor, to vet and veto new curricula and administrators. Full Story 

• Senate panel begins negotiations with the House over how to scrap the STAAR test

  By Sneha Dey Updated: May 25, 2025

  The Senate’s rewrite of House Bill 4 reflects a gap in what the chambers want to see out of the new state assessment and the performance ratings that largely hinge on its results. Full Story 

• Texas DEI ban in public schools approved in the House

  By Sofia Sorochinskaia Updated: May 25, 2025

  Senate Bill 12’s supporters say DEI programs use class time and public funds to promote political agendas. Full Story 

• Texas will require public school classrooms to display Ten Commandments under bill nearing passage

  By Sameea Kamal Updated: May 25, 2025

  The House has approved Senate Bill 10 even though a similar Louisiana law was deemed unconstitutional. Supporters say Christianity is core to U.S. history. Full Story 

• Texas sheriffs would have to collaborate with ICE under bill poised for governor’s desk

  By Alejandro Serrano Updated: May 25, 2025

  The House approved Senate Bill 8, which mandates sheriffs request formal partnerships with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for designated deputies to serve administrative immigration warrants at their jails. Full Story 

• After years of tension, Texas House emerges as cooperative partner for Dan Patrick and his conservative agenda

  By Jasper Scherer May 25, 2025

  A 2024 war among Republicans tilted the House to the right. Now more closely aligned with the Senate, Speaker Dustin Burrows has accelerated action on bail, school vouchers and social issues. Full Story