On the first day of a two-week trial, the plaintiffs’ lawyers honed in on who drew the new map and whether race was a factor.

A panel of three federal judges will begin considering whether Texas can use a redrawn congressional map that boosts Republicans and has launched a widening redistricting battle ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

Voting-rights advocates are suing to overturn all of the redistricting plans drawn by Texas Republicans meant to favor Republicans in 2026 midterm elections, saying the map weakens the electoral influence of Black voters.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has promised to sign a new congressional voting map designed to help Republicans maintain their slim majority in Congress.

Republican lawmakers pushed the map through over fierce Democratic opposition, positioning the GOP to net up to five additional seats in Texas.

A second special session that has made approving the map a priority started Friday, shortly after the first one ended.

Texas Democrats on Thursday slammed the GOP's unusual push to redraw the state's House maps to win more seats ahead of the 2026 elections.

In 2001, Texas Republicans saw expanding college access for certain undocumented students as a way to build an educated workforce. Now, some GOP lawmakers feel only U.S. citizens should receive those benefits.

Senate Bill 6, which now heads to the governor’s desk, gives the state’s electricity managers the ability to shut power to large consumers during emergencies.

The legislation would give ERCOT the ability to turn off power to major consumers in an emergency.

According to ERCOT, the state’s energy demand may double in six years.

The legislation would put new requirements on wind and solar companies that oil and gas companies in Texas do not face.

In the wake of Hurricane Beryl, Texas Lt. Governor Dan Patrick has announced the creation of a Senate Special Committee on Hurricane and Tropical Storm Preparedness, Recovery, and Electricity.

Texas Lt. Governor Dan Patrick is blasting his political opponents for letting Louisiana become the first state to require public schools and colleges to display the Ten Commandments.

In Austin, State Senator Phil King is making his case for passage of a brand new bill that would make it mandatory for a copy of the Ten Commandments to be prominently displayed in every classroom, in every public school in Texas.

Texas State Senator Phil King says Senate Bill 1515, which he wrote, would require the 10 Commandments to be prominently displayed in every single classroom, in every public school in the state.

The Senate also passed a bill that would set prayer and Bible reading times during the school day.

Conservative activists have pushed for legislative leaders to ban Democrats from leading committees.

The new political maps drawn by the Texas Senate don't just favor Republicans; that much was expected from a Republican majority. The maps help Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick pick which Republicans he wants in the Senate.

Within half an hour of declaring his bid, King got the endorsement of the Senate's presiding officer, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick.

After Texas workers were praised during the pandemic, many thought lawmakers would increase protections or benefits. But advocacy groups say they spent a lot of time playing defense on bills that could hurt workers.

This one is about redistricting — how the state draws its political maps — and it fits the pattern. Political maps are the foundation of who does and doesn’t have a voice in a democracy. Asked whether a Republican House and Senate, with a Republican governor, can be expected to draw maps that favor Republicans, neither lawmaker agreed. Sure enough, they draw maps that increase their chances of success — not only in elections, but in the government decisions that follow. Republicans draw Republican maps.

By mid-morning Monday, the first day to pre-file legislation, more than 450 bills had already been filed in the House and Senate. State leaders have already said they expect the upcoming session to be the toughest state lawmakers have seen in years. House Redistricting Committee Chair Phil King, a Weatherford Republican, filed legislation Monday morning related to the composition of House districts and State Board of Education districts with House Bill 63 and 64, respectively. A list of notable bills filed from the day, which will be updated regularly:This is a developing story and will be updated. Sign up for The Brief, the Texas Tribune’s daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news.