New limits for personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits may become a reality in Texas
The House made changes to the proposal that leave open ways for victims to be compensated beyond medical bills. Full Story
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Sameea Kamal is an Austin-based reporter covering politics. She previously covered California state politics for CalMatters, focusing on democracy, representation and government transparency. Before that, Sameea was a fellow with Investigative Reporters and Editors, a news desk editor at the Los Angeles Times, and a digital editor at the Center for Public Integrity. Sameea previously reported on local news in Southern California, where she grew up. She earned her bachelor’s degree in mass communications with a minor in public policy from the University of California, Berkeley, and her master's degree from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
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![An ambulance is parked at Dell Seton Medical Center at the University of Texas
at Austin in 2018.]()
Credit: Laura Skelding for The Texas Tribune -
Texas will require public school classrooms to display Ten Commandments under bill headed to governor
Both houses have approved Senate Bill 10 even though a similar Louisiana law was deemed unconstitutional. Supporters say Christianity is core to U.S. history. Full Story
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![The Ten Commandments, written out on a monument, sit outside the Texas Capitol on March 17, 2025.]()
Credit: Lorianne Willett/The Texas Tribune -
Overriding a Texas governor’s veto can be impossible. Lawmakers are trying to change that.
The state constitution’s legislative calendar — not a vote threshold — makes it hard to overrule the governor. Legislators are crafting an amendment that would make more overrides possible. Full Story
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![Rep. Mihaela Plesa, D-Dallas, votes at her desk on May 15, 2025. May 15 was the final day for the House to file bills.]()
Credit: Lorianne Willett/The Texas Tribune -
Prayer period in schools backed by Texas Legislature
A House vote showed broad support for the measure that would let districts set aside time for prayer or religious study. Full Story
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![A cross from a rosary, on Nov. 26, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Federal trial opens to determine whether Texas discriminated in redrawn redistricting maps
The trial in El Paso will hear a challenge over the redistricting maps drawn by the Legislature that are based on the 2020 census. Full Story
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![Salman Bhojani, a former candidate for Texas Senate District 9, shows where he lives on an updated map that now draws him out of District 9 and now into District 2, at his offices in Irving, on Oct. 17, 2021. Bhojani suspended his campaign after state legislature adopted new district maps which draws Bhojani's home out of District 9.]()
Credit: Ben Torres for The Texas Tribune -
Texas House bill on lawsuits shelved after critics label it harmful to free speech
House Bill 2988 was centered on who pays the legal fees of those who successfully defend themselves against libel or defamation lawsuits. Full Story
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![The county courtroom in the Camp County Court House in Pittsburg on June 21, 2023.]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy/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 -
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 -
A 20-hour wait to speak: A pre-dawn House panel takes up Ten Commandments bill
Dozens of people who signed up to speak were ready at 4 a.m. to debate whether public school classrooms should have to display the Ten Commandments. Full Story
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![The Ten Commandments, written out on a monument, sit outside the Texas Capitol on March 17, 2025.]()
Credit: Lorianne Willett/The Texas Tribune -
Fewer Texans see immigration as helping the U.S., poll finds
Eight years ago, 62% said immigration was more helpful than harmful. This year, that has fallen to 32%, according to the Texas Lyceum poll. Full Story
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![Migrants are escorted across the Hidalgo International border Bridge as they are deported under Title 8, a law that allows for immediate deportation after crossing into the U.S. without authorization, in McAllen on Jan. 27, 2025.]()
Credit: REUTERS/Daniel Becerril