It’s “Texas Time”: Legislature OKs permanent daylight saving time, but Congress must also act
Federal action would be needed to make the change legal. Lawmakers at both the state and federal levels have debated the question for decades. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/5acd294cf4578bef8d18f0e20e4a825e/Sunrise%20Alamo%20RJ%20TT%2001.jpg)
-
![Sunrise over the historic Alamo in San Antonio.]()
Credit: Robin Jerstad for The Texas Tribune -
Another big tax cut for Texas homeowners appears imminent
Providing bigger tax breaks to homeowners is a key component of a deal brokered by Republicans in the Texas Legislature to lower tax bills for Texans. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/55855fd128c840f20343702ec6dffbd3/Steve%20Young%20Milam%20Co%20MM%20TT%2030.jpg)
![A farmhouse on U.S. Highway 190 in Milam Co. on March 16, 2025.]()
Credit: Montinique Monroe for The Texas Tribune -
Texas homeowners could see lower property tax bills if deal from Republican lawmakers passes
Legislators in the House and Senate have reached an agreement on more property tax relief. But some critics worry the cuts aren’t sustainable forever. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/4f7c340bd9584171d531011fdf556919/Lake%20Austin%20Homes%20JV%20TT%2006.jpg)
![Homes along Lake Austin on March 06, 2023,]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Advocates fear Texas lawmakers are about to worsen the state’s homelessness crisis
Republican lawmakers are considering a bill to strengthen the state’s ban on homeless encampments and speed up the eviction process. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/eb8bdec16ec3e3868f8b1dfa389b8f1f/051021%20Camping%20Ban%20EL%20TT%2002.jpg)
![Tents are pitched in front of Austin City Hall protesting camping bans on May 10, 2021.]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune -
Texas lawmakers consider barring counties from mailing unsolicited voter registration forms
Voting rights advocates worry that legislation approved by House and Senate committees could make it harder to get more people on the rolls. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/4acb02dc2cf74f6b1da790b09665e4f1/Voter%20Registration%20VOTEBEAT%20GC%20TT%2001.jpg)
![Alex Flucke, regional program manager of Texas Rising in Corpus Christi, right, helps Jessica López, 42, center, register to vote during a Pride celebration in Corpus Christi on Oct. 5, 2024.]()
Credit: Gabriel Cárdenas for VoteBeat -
Texas Republicans take aim at public transit in two major cities
The Texas Legislature is considering bills that transit officials warn could hamper public transportation in the Austin and Dallas-Fort Worth regions. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/d15bc277d2b11e003a26a6ea63ae31d5/DART%20DV%20TT%2002.jpg)
![A Dart bus lies idle at a stop near Westmoreland Station in Dallas on Feb. 2, 2020.]()
Credit: Duy Vu for The Texas Tribune -
Texas countywide voting bill would allow fewer polling sites
Senate Bill 985 would revise a 2023 law that raised the minimum number of voting locations. County election officials say they’ve struggled to comply with it. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/9569d2d2fdc2722ecf152d3a3bd8448f/Houston%20Voting%20MF%2004.JPG)
![Early morning voters wait outside in the rain at the Metropolitan Multi-Service Center in Houston on Nov. 5, 2024.]()
Credit: Mark Felix for The Texas Tribune -
The Texas Senate wants more — and smaller — starter homes in new neighborhoods
The goal of the new legislation is to help drive down the cost of housing so that more Texans can afford homes. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/a85b0549856caca5709a3456e0ab3795/0508%20Allen%20Shooting%20Reacts%20ST%2019.jpg)
![Star Creek, a neighborhood in Allen, on May 8, 2023.]()
Credit: Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune -
How Texas lawmakers want to cut property taxes
House and Senate lawmakers plan to spend at least $6 billion on property tax cuts, but haven't yet agreed on how much relief should go to homeowners over businesses. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/a0bf919956bb0f0614e03fb1846a0a6f/0525%20SATX%20Housing%20File%20EH%20TT%2005.jpg)
![An East San Antonio neighborhood seen on Saturday, May 25, 2024.]()
Credit: Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribune -
Republican senators threaten Texas universities’ funding over DEI ban
In a letter, Sens. Brandon Creighton and Paul Bettencourt said they found “numerous” violations of the law, but didn’t provide specifics. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/e9451a53697460f1dc00d3035b94c98a/0128%20Voucher%20Hearing%20LS%2001.jpg)
![State Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, chair of the Senate Committee on Education K-16, speaks at a hearing on Jan. 28, 2025.]()
Credit: Leila Saidane for The Texas Tribune -
Texas Senate unanimously approves tax cuts for homeowners
The marquee proposal would increase the amount of a home’s value exemption from school taxes to $140,000 from $100,000. The legislation must win approval from the House next. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/9e78238bf99673ca034660e7fd1695b0/1113%20Celina%20ST%20TT%2004.jpg)
![Housing development in Celina on Nov. 13, 2024.]()
Credit: Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune -
Gov. Greg Abbott wants to set a high bar for local tax increases
Local officials, school advocates and tax policy experts said such a proposal could have dire impacts on basic services. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/bd9512476ef9c0d585fd7afe78522ed7/0602%20Abbott%20TPPF%20Lege%20Recap%20EL%20TT%2020.jpg)
![Gov. Greg Abbott speaks about the recent 88th Legislative Session to an audience at the Texas Public Policy Foundation offices in Austin, on June 2, 2023. Abbott recounted policy victories in regards to fentanyl and the border crisis, as well as limiting gender-affirming care and banning DEI practices in higher education. Abbott ended the event by promising to call a special session for school choice, after the current special session for property tax resolves.]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune -
Texas Republicans want more property tax cuts. Here’s how they may do it.
Gov. Greg Abbott said cutting taxes is a top priority, however, state lawmakers don’t have as much money to plug into tax cuts as they did two years ago. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/249479d974ab0293c3a924788d172e93/0810%20Midland%20Oil-Housing%20EH%2006.jpg)
![A residential neighborhood seen Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, in Midland.]()
Credit: Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribune -
Texas Republicans want voters to provide proof of citizenship. Arizona’s law holds lessons.
A Votebeat analysis shows how such requirements risk disenfranchising key voter groups, including Native Americans and college students. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/26ab6e22a90d253cd0def57877e8f716/0920%20Hays%20Voting%20Testing%20DR%2032.JPG)
![DALLAS, TX - SEPTEMBER 20, 2024: ExpressVote voting machines at a public verification test of the voting system at the Dallas County Elections Department building in Dallas, Texas on Friday, September 20, 2024. The test allows participants to validate the voting process by using ballots containing the same races and proportions as the upcoming elections in November. CREDIT: Desiree Rios for The Texas Tribune]()
Credit: Desiree Rios for The Texas Tribune -
Bill aimed at increasing transparency could sow chaos for election officials, experts say
Under state Sen. Paul Bettencourt’s bill, some individuals could submit requests for explanations of ‘election irregularities’ and potentially bring them to the Texas Secretary of State. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/1bdd03ad6296e811b2cecc23272ca79f/091423%20Bettencourt%20EG%20TT%2001.jpg)
![State Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, on the Senate floor on Sept. 14, 2023.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
Texas would need about $81.5 billion a year to end property taxes, officials say
Texas Republicans have been trying to reduce the state’s high property taxes for years, but some acknowledge eliminating them would be too expensive. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/3e5928e601d8b67d71acf4b04526cd06/Aerial%20Suburbs%20JV%20TT%2001.jpg)
![An Aerial image of a suburban neighborhood in San Marcos on October 18, 2021.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Harris County voter outreach proposal sparks another fight with Texas Republicans
The county plans to ID eligible voters and send them registration forms. GOP officials say it’s an end-run around state law. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/4fe7e8e5b46b2e52333a3338b758a5fc/0405%20DeBakey%20HS%20Voting%20JB%20TT%2005.jpg)
![The Harris County Clerk’s Office Elections Department presentation at DeBakey High School Civics Club’s voter education conference in Houston on April 5, 2024.]()
Credit: Joseph Bui for The Texas Tribune -
Texas legislators want to help property owners deal with squatters. But the changes could affect tenants.
Housing advocates say Texas laws fall short when it comes to property trespassers but they warn changes could worsen the state’s evictions crisis. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/23bb0c36c0f27811b1ab2602b7de8b61/0514%20Squatters%20Committee%20Meeting%20MC%20TT%2019.jpg)
![Terri Boyette, a homeowner in Mesquite, poses for a photo after testifying on squatting before the Senate Committee on Local Government on Wednesday, May 15, 2024 in Austin. Boyerte fought for months to get a squatter out of her home but laws regarding squatters prevented her from doing much for months.]()
Credit: Maria Crane/The Texas Tribune -
Texans get their first crack at electing the people overseeing the state’s complicated property appraisal process
In the state’s larger counties, voters can now elect people to the agencies that appraise property values. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/f202ac8689fe992bbba03c8462db14ee/Nakisha%20Platt%20CLT%20CO%20TT%2005.jpg)
![Some Texans will soon have a say in who sits on their tax appraisal boards.]()
Credit: Callaghan O'Hare for The Texas Tribune -
Texas Supreme Court justice implies Democrats will cheat in 2024 election
Justice John Devine’s comments at a conservative event are the latest to prompt concerns about his impartiality as a jurist. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/2410465f1c44e7c342a439ae945b3277/SCOTX%202013%20BD%20TT%2001.jpg)
![Texas Supreme Court Justice John Devine, far left, with fellow judges on the House floor in Austin in 2013.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich