Houston sues state in attempt to block new law that erodes citiesโ power
House Bill 2127 โ dubbed the โDeath Starโ law by opponents โ prevents local governments from creating rules that go further than whatโs allowed under broad areas of state law. Houstonโs suit says the new law violates the stateโs constitution.
Texas House votes to require panic buttons in every classroom and armed guards in every school
Lawmakers have said school safety is a priority this session, but it is still unclear whether theyโll listen to Uvalde families who want to raise the minimum age to purchase semi-automatic guns from 18 to 21.
Texas Republicans quickly blast Donald Trump indictment, calling it โcatastrophicโ and politically motivated
Trump became the first former U.S. president to face criminal charges, in his case over alleged hush money payments made to an adult film star. Many of his fellow Republicans in Texas lambasted the legal development.
Texas cities have adopted ordinances to benefit workers. Sweeping legislation could roll many back.
Lawmakers say their bills are needed to provide small businesses with consistent regulations and that regulatory power should be returned to the state. Labor groups say the proposal could undo hard-fought measures to protect workers.
Portion of 77-minute hallway video from Uvalde school shooting released despite backlash; Viewer discretion advised
Texas lawmakers investigating the Uvalde school massacre say it intends to show residents of the town surveillance video from the hallway at Robb Elementary School on the day of the May 24 attack.
City of Uvalde police will cooperate with shooting probe, house committee says
The chair of the House committee investigating the police response to the Robb Elementary School shooting said Uvalde police will cooperate with the investigation. A day prior, Republican State Rep. Dustin Burrows told reporters that cooperation was a question mark.
Debate ramps up at Texas Legislature over governorโs emergency powers during pandemic
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 Abbottโs decisions to lift the statewide mask mandate and allow businesses to reopen at 100% capacity. AdโA great, conservative victoryโAs filed, House Bill 3 would carve out future pandemics from how the state responds to other disasters, such as hurricanes. The โPandemic Liability Protection Act,โ to be filed as Senate Bill 6, is also on the list of Senate priorities. โI think thatโs important to always include the Legislature as much as possible,โ said Sen. Josรฉ Menรฉndez, D-San Antonio, noting how large and diverse a state Texas is.