Childcare in Texas looks very different than it did just a few years ago. While demand remains high, many families are struggling to afford it.

With just days left in the special legislative session, a bill to ban hemp-derived THC products in Texas hasn’t moved in the Texas House leaving parents, addiction recovery advocates, and some school leaders increasingly frustrated.

A newly introduced bill in Texas is reigniting concerns over the future of hemp-derived products. During a special legislative session, lawmakers introduced Senate Bill 5, a proposed law that would ban any detectable amount of THC, and regulate other cannabinoids.

A controversial bill banning consumable THC products has been vetoed by Governor Abbott, who instead calls for tighter regulations in the upcoming special session. A Houston CBD store owner says the ban would have forced him to shut down and supports age restrictions and labeling requirements to keep his business open and customers safe.

Hemp industry leaders say they agree with regulations similar to how the state regulates alcohol.

THC will remain on the shelves in smoke shops across Texas after Governor Greg Abbott shot down a bill aimed at banning the element derived from marijuana.

After Governor Greg Abbott vetoed Senate Bill 3, which aimed to ban all THC consumables in Texas, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is holding a press conference to address the situation.

Abbott will call lawmakers back to Austin to tackle Senate Bill 3, a proposed ban on THC products that he vetoed, as well as five others from his veto list.

The move infuriated Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, the powerful head of the Senate, who had called the ban among his top five bills over 17 years in the Legislature.

Texas passed sweeping changes to cannabis policy, including expanding the medical marijuana program and banning hemp products, while also boosting psychedelics research.

Abbott faces pressure from both sides of the aisle. The prohibition was a priority for Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, but some hemp farmers and veterans want it killed.

Senate Bill 3, a controversial measure that would ban all THC products in Texas, has officially passed both chambers of the Texas Legislature. The bill is now on Governor Greg Abbott’s desk, where he will make the final decision on whether it becomes law.

Three years after the Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde, Texas, survivor Khloie Torres and her family continue to advocate for improved school safety.

Edible Brands, the parent company behind the iconic Edible Arrangements, is introducing a new type of edible and launched its program in Texas.

Texas Senate advances THC ban aimed at curbing hemp products, a priority for Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick. Critics warn it could push the market underground.

Patrick says the measure will shut down the dangerous THC products business. The House’s proposal would tighten oversight of the industry without a full ban.

Lawmakers debated on House Bill 3, which would create an education savings account for families to spend taxpayer money on private tuition.

There is little doubt that a ban will sail through the Senate. But its prospects are far less certain in the House.

The 75 co-sponsors plus the bill’s author would provide enough votes to pass Gov. Abbott’s top priority measure in the 150-seat House.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has announced the first round of his top 40 priority bills for the 89th Texas legislative session, outlining a conservative agenda that includes school choice, banning THC, and placing the Ten Commandments in schools.

Patrick contends retailers have exploited a law passed in 2019 to sell unregulated and potentially harmful consumable tetrahydrocannabinol products.

Senate Bill 3, which will be carried by Sen. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock, will ban all forms of THC if passed.

Gov. Greg Abbott is expected to sign Senate Bill 3 and Senate Bill 4 into law on Monday, which are related to border security.

The fourth special legislative session this year ended without any increased funding for school safety — even though public schools have complained for months they don’t have enough money to meet new safety mandates approved this year.

Senate Bill 3 would also appropriate $40 million for state troopers to patrol Colony Ridge, a housing development outside of Houston, and allow the state to send money to local jurisdictions to offset the cost of enforcing another immigration-related bill.

The Texas House also voted to spend $1.5 billion on new state border walls, though that measure must be reconciled with the Senate version before it’s sent to Gov. Greg Abbott for consideration.

KPRC 2 Investigates talks with parents about safety concerns, checks with area school districts

A new law now in effect as of September 1st says every single school in Texas must have an armed guard on campus. KPRC 2 Investigates has learned the largest school districts in our area are not ready.

Legislation passed this month would raise the state’s homestead exemption to $100,000, lower schools’ tax rates and put an appraisal cap on residential and commercial properties, among other measures. But voters must approve a constitutional amendment first.

The proposals target the taxes homeowners pay and require school districts to lower their tax rates.

More than nine months after the Uvalde school shooting, top GOP lawmakers maintain focus on school safety reforms and investments in mental health resources in hopes it will prevent future tragedies.

The Texas State Board of Education is fielding proposals to update the state’s public school social studies curriculum this summer.

At KPRC 2, we’re dedicated to keeping Houstonians informed. As part of our Ask 2 series, the newsroom will answer your questions about all things Houston.

The governor credited his vaccination for keeping his infection "brief and mild" and encouraged others to consider getting the COVID-19 vaccine.

Republican Texas lawmakers have justified their efforts to limit how racism and current events are taught in school by saying that critical race theory judges people by the color of their skin. Martin Luther King III and experts disagree.

An education bill that was recently passed along party lines by the Texas Senate removed, among other things, a teaching requirement about “the history of white supremacy… and the ways in which it is morally wrong.”

Governor Greg Abbott will host Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida for a border security briefing with state and local officials and law enforcement on Saturday, July 17 in Del Rio.

The bill would also remove a requirement to teach that white supremacy is "morally wrong." One Democratic lawmaker said the bill’s attempts could lead to a “frightening dystopian future.”

Abbott’s campaign coffers hit the balance after he raised over $18.7 million during the last 10 days of June, his campaign announced Thursday. The campaign said the cash-on-hand total was larger “than any other statewide candidate in Texas history.”

Gov. Greg Abbott issued a statewide call on Friday for jailers across the state to assist border sheriffs with increased arrests at the border.

The governor’s move comes after Democrats walked out of the House in the final days of the regular legislative session to block passage of Senate Bill 7, Abbott’s priority elections bill that would have overhauled voting rights in the state.

Senate Bills 2 and 3 are aimed at overhauling the state’s power grid after the devastating winter storm in February and the widespread power outages that followed.

On Tuesday, Gov. Greg Abbott signed sweeping legislation to prevent another weather disaster that crippled the state back in February.

State lawmakers are pouring through more than 200 proposed bills in Austin that would bring change to Texas’ electricity market. While almost all of the proposed laws focus on requiring power generators to maintain their plants to avoid another massive outage like we saw in the winter freeze, one bill would make wholesale and variable rate electric plans (like the plans sold by Griddy) illegal in Texas.

But the more tricky territory could be reforming the parameters of a state pandemic response. The emergency powers debate will unfold in the aftermath of Abbott’s decisions to lift the statewide mask mandate and allow businesses to reopen at 100% capacity. Ad“A great, conservative victory”As filed, House Bill 3 would carve out future pandemics from how the state responds to other disasters, such as hurricanes. The “Pandemic Liability Protection Act,” to be filed as Senate Bill 6, is also on the list of Senate priorities. “I think that’s important to always include the Legislature as much as possible,” said Sen. José Menéndez, D-San Antonio, noting how large and diverse a state Texas is.