https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/sameea-kamal/The latest news by Sameea Kamal.enMon, 26 May 2025 22:52:32 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/26/lawsuit-medical-damages-limits-texas-house/The House made changes to the proposal that leave open ways for victims to be compensated beyond medical bills.By Sameea KamalMon, 26 May 2025 22:52:32 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/26/lawsuit-medical-damages-limits-texas-house/Texas may soon limit personal injury lawsuit awards.An ambulance is parked at Dell Seton Medical Center at the University of Texas at Austin in 2018.Laura Skelding for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/24/ten-commandments-texas-schools-senate-bill-10/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.By Sameea KamalSat, 24 May 2025 19:38:50 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/24/ten-commandments-texas-schools-senate-bill-10/The Ten Commandments, written out on a monument, sit outside the Texas Capitol on March 17, 2025.The Ten Commandments, written out on a monument, sit outside the Texas Capitol on March 17, 2025.Lorianne Willett/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/24/texas-constitution-new-rule-veto-override/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.By Sameea KamalSat, 24 May 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/24/texas-constitution-new-rule-veto-override/After lawmakers approve a bill, it can still be vetoed by the governor. A proposal under consideration in the Legislature would make it easier to override those vetoes.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.Lorianne Willett/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/22/texas-school-prayer-period-house-approval/A House vote showed broad support for the measure that would let districts set aside time for prayer or religious study.By Sameea KamalThu, 22 May 2025 14:43:20 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/22/texas-school-prayer-period-house-approval/The bill that won a key vote in the Texas House on Thursday will allow school districts to set aside time for prayer or religious study.A cross from a rosary, on Nov. 26, 2019.Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/21/texas-redistricting-map-court-challenge-discrimination/The trial in El Paso will hear a challenge over the redistricting maps drawn by the Legislature that are based on the 2020 census.By Sameea KamalWed, 21 May 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/21/texas-redistricting-map-court-challenge-discrimination/Maps based on the 2020 census designating districts within Texas for state and congressional offices are the focus of a discrimination case that is being heard in federal court.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.Ben Torres for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/14/attorney-fees-slapp-lawsuits-bill-tabled/House Bill 2988 was centered on who pays the legal fees of those who successfully defend themselves against libel or defamation lawsuits.By Sameea KamalWed, 14 May 2025 16:42:11 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/14/attorney-fees-slapp-lawsuits-bill-tabled/The power to asses lawyer fees are often central to expensive legal battles over free speech and claims of defamation.The county courtroom in the Camp County Court House in Pittsburg on June 21, 2023.Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/08/texas-foreign-land-purchase-senate-bill-17/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.By Sameea KamalThu, 08 May 2025 22:30:57 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/08/texas-foreign-land-purchase-senate-bill-17/Rep. Mitch Little, R-Lewisville, took to the podium in the Texas House on Thursday night in praise of SB 17, which restricts land purchases by certain foreign entities described as a threat to national security.Texas Rep. Mitch Little, R-Lewisville, sponsor of SB17, stands at the podium in the Chamber on May 8, 2025. Leila Saidane for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/07/texas-election-integrity-arrests-frio-county/The county judge, two city council members and others are accused of vote harvesting.By Sameea KamalWed, 07 May 2025 11:21:52 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/07/texas-election-integrity-arrests-frio-county/Frio County, a rural area southwest of San Antonio, was the focus of a state investigation into allegations of improper ballot collection.An intersection in downtown Pearsall on Sept. 16, 2020.Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/30/texas-testify-house-committee-ten-commandments/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.By Sameea KamalWed, 30 Apr 2025 16:22:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/30/texas-testify-house-committee-ten-commandments/In order to testify for or against a bill requiring the Ten Commandments to be displayed in classrooms, members of the public waited nearly a full day for a House committee to take up the issue.The Ten Commandments, written out on a monument, sit outside the Texas Capitol on March 17, 2025.Lorianne Willett/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/29/poll-immigration-abbott-texas-lyceum/Eight years ago, 62% said immigration was more helpful than harmful. This year, that has fallen to 32%, according to the Texas Lyceum poll.By Sameea KamalTue, 29 Apr 2025 10:01:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/29/poll-immigration-abbott-texas-lyceum/https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/11/dan-patrick-lt-governor-texas-reelection/President Donald Trump offered an endorsement of Patrick on Truth Social.By Sameea KamalFri, 11 Apr 2025 13:42:57 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/11/dan-patrick-lt-governor-texas-reelection/Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick during a Texas Senate meeting on March 25, 2025.Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick during a Texas Senate meeting on March 25, 2025.Lorianne Willett/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/10/john-bash-texas-attorney-general-ken-paxton/Bash served as special assistant to President Trump during his first term and is Elon Musk’s lawyer.By Sameea KamalThu, 10 Apr 2025 16:55:54 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/10/john-bash-texas-attorney-general-ken-paxton/https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/10/texas-comptroller-tax-budget-tariffs/As the Texas House prepares to vote on the budget, officials and other experts monitor national policy and state tax revenue.By Sameea KamalThu, 10 Apr 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/10/texas-comptroller-tax-budget-tariffs/A view from a downtown Dallas office tower. Any clouds that shadow the Texas economy will become evident in data tracking sales tax revenue, according to the office of the state comptroller.A view of the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge from The Tower Club on the 48th floor of the Santander Tower in downtown Dallas, on Nov. 07, 2023. Texas metros have a glut of vacant offices space driven by the rise of remote work, overbuilding and other factors during the pandemic. One option companies are doing to combat the changes, is to convert office space into residential housing.Ben Torres for The Texas Tribune