Texas Senate advances congressional map on a vote of 19 to 2  - 9 were absent because most Senate Democrats left the chamber before the vote in protest. On the floor, Sen. Zaffirini said she would postpone asking questions about the map until the next special session. Patrick said "hopefully we won't have another special."

The tests would be administered at the beginning, middle and end of the school year. But the proposal’s fate is unclear with the House in limbo over a redistricting fight. view article

Since Democratic lawmakers left Texas to delay Republicans’ new map, state leaders have challenged the limits of traditional democratic norms to break the impasse.  For Jim Dunnam, the last few weeks have felt like déjà vu. The Waco attorney led the Texas House Democrats in 2003 when they walked out over Republicans’ mid-decade redraw of the state’s congressional map. Then, it was U.S. House Majority Leader Tom Delay pushing Texas legislators to eke out a few more seats for the Republicans.  “This is exactly the same fundamental issue,” Dunnam said. “It’s got nothing to do with Texas, or helping Texans. This is pure strong arm from Washington.” view article

Republicans who are censured by their county party leaders may be blocked from the primary ballot under a new party rule passed last year, that is expected to be tested by the courts. view article

Republicans who are censured by their county party leaders may be blocked from the primary ballot under a new party rule passed last year, that is expected to be tested by the courts. view article

Today, members of the Legislature representing majority communities of color have fled the state utilizing a legislative tool called quorum breaking.  How it works: The Texas Constitution requires two-thirds of members to be present to conduct legislative work. It also deems special sessions to run for 30 days, so on August 20 the special session will end — whether or not any bills have passed or not.  Why it matters: The state constitution requires a quorum, and allows for quorum breaks as a legitimate legislative tactic to preserve the integrity of the institution against outsized influence.  Historically, House and Senate members have used this tool of last resort to prevent legislative actions deemed egregiously unfair. Quorum breaks have been used before to protect voting rights and ensure fair representation when both were under threat.  In 2003, House and Senate members broke quorum to oppose mid-decade redistricting and in 2021, House members broke quorum to oppose restrictive voting proposals. In both cases, members returned and the legislation passed.  What's next: The governor may call another 30-day special session. At that point the process would start all over. view article

Texas Sands has been sitting on more than $9 million in cash ahead of the elections.  After dumping millions into the 2024 election cycle and coming up short, Las Vegas Sands appears ready to roll the dice again.  New financial disclosures show that Texas Sands PAC, the Texas-based political arm of the casino giant, has more than $9 million in cash on hand heading into the upcoming election season. That money comes almost entirely from Miriam Adelson, the billionaire owner of Las Vegas Sands and majority owner of the Dallas Mavericks. view article

The office will facilitate grants for nuclear ventures. view article

The proposal would put tighter limits on how much property tax revenue cities and counties of a certain size can collect each year.  The Texas Senate advanced a proposal Wednesday aimed at gut-checking city and county property tax bills as Republican lawmakers seek ways to rein in the state’s high property taxes.  But the bill faces an uncertain future in the state House, where lawmaking has stalled as Democratic House members have booked it out of the state to thwart a GOP-led redistricting push sought by President Donald Trump. The redrawing of congressional lines is meant to shore up the number of Republican seats and stave off any potential losses in next year’s midterm elections.  Texas senators voted 18-3 to approve Senate Bill 9, which would tighten state limits on how much more in property tax revenue cities and counties can collect each year without asking voters. That limit stands at 3.5% right now. The bill would further limit that growth to 2.5% — though only for cities and counties with at least 75,000 residents. view article

The Texas Senate advanced a proposal Wednesday aimed at gut-checking city and county property tax bills as Republican lawmakers seek ways to rein in the state’s high property taxes.  But the bill faces an uncertain future in the state House, where lawmaking has stalled as Democratic House members have booked it out of the state to thwart a GOP-led redistricting push sought by President Donald Trump. The redrawing of congressional lines is meant to shore up the number of Republican seats and stave off any potential losses in next year’s midterm elections.  Texas senators voted 18-3 to approve Senate Bill 9, which would tighten state limits on how much more in property tax revenue cities and counties can collect each year without asking voters. That limit stands at 3.5% right now. The bill would further limit that growth to 2.5% — though only for cities and counties with at least 75,000 residents. view article

Over the next two years, Texas’ nearly 9,000 public schools will receive about $8.4 billion in new funding after Gov. Greg Abbott signed House Bill 2 into law in June.  The overview: Nearly half of that funding will be spent on raises for educators and support staff, such as bus drivers, janitors and librarians. State lawmakers estimated in May that schools will receive “north of $17,700” per student under the long-negotiated school funding package—up from about $15,502 in the 2022-23 school year, according to Texas Education Agency data.  The funding increase comes as some school Texas districts across Community Impact’s coverage areas grapple with growing budget shortfalls, leading some districts to consider closing campuses, cutting staff and slashing elective courses. view article

The Texas Supreme Court said in 2021 the Constitution allows members to thwart legislation by leaving the state. Abbott wants them to reconsider. Texas Democrats had been out of state for less than 48 hours when Gov. Greg Abbott moved to have their seats declared vacant. The emergency legal filing represents an unprecedented escalation of Abbott’s effort to pass a new congressional map that adds additional GOP seats, as demanded by President Donald Trump. It flies in the face of Texas’ own founding documents, centuries of legal precedent and a recent Supreme Court of Texas ruling, legal experts say. Even Attorney General Ken Paxton, a fellow Republican, threw cold water on Abbott’s strategy, filing his own brief saying that while he “appreciates the Governor’s passion,” he does not have the authority to bring this type of case. view article

Texas House Democrats have fled the state to block Republicans from redrawing congressional districts in a bid to flip five U.S. House seats held by Democrats. Their departure deprives the Texas Legislature’s lower chamber from the number of members needed to pass legislation and leaves the current special legislative session in limbo. view article

In this week’s episode, Matthew and Eleanor speak with state Rep. Gina Hinojosa, D-Austin, about her and her colleagues’ decision to flee the state, the potential financial and criminal penalties and her opposition to the state’s proposed new congressional map. view article

The situation is an opportunity for the speaker to bolster his credibility with the right, but he has limited tools to combat a prolonged Democratic absence. view article

House Bill 1481 is a new state law that requires public and charter schools to adopt policies restricting personal device use during instructional time. Students at all Texas campuses are banned from using personal electronic devices—including cellphones, smartwatches, tablets, earbuds and headphones—from when they arrive until the last bell rings. The bill does provide some flexibility for school districts, allowing them to decide whether to allow cellphone use during extracurricular activities. Schools can also decide whether to restrict cell phone use by prohibiting students from bringing their devices to school or designating a “secure storage” space. view article

At least six Texas House Democrats are in Austin, as sergeants fan out to bring truant members back to the Capitol.  Speaker Pro Tempore Joe Moody, D-El Paso, checked in at the quorum call. So did Democratic Reps. Terry Canales of Edinburg, Oscar Longoria of Mission, Armando Martinez of Weslaco and Richard Raymond of Laredo. Sergio Muñoz of Mission failed to register present but was on the floor. Multiple members say Bobby Guerra of Mission was also in the Capitol.  Canales and at least two other Democrats have met with Speaker Dustin Burrows “to talk about what sort of changes we could institute to the maps,” Canales told The Blast. During his press conference later, Burrows declined to comment on his conversations with Democrats, and the speaker’s office did not confirm Canales’ claim. view article

While the Democrats could technically derail the GOP’s redistricting map, such efforts have been largely symbolic and had limited success blocking past legislation, experts say. view article

Under district guidelines, students must keep devices powered off and out of sight from campus arrival until dismissal, including during lunch and transitions. Houston Independent School District has unveiled a comprehensive cell phone policy prohibiting student use of personal devices during the entire school day, aligning with a new Texas law to curb electronic interruptions in public schools.  The policy, effective for the 2025-2026 school year, comes as districts statewide grapple with implementing the legislation passed during the 89th Legislative Session, which mandates bans on cell phones, smartwatches, tablets, and similar devices to enhance focus and academic performance.  Under Houston ISD’s guidelines, students must keep devices powered off and out of sight from campus arrival until dismissal, including during lunch and transitions.  view article

The tests would be administered at the beginning, middle and end of the school year. But the proposal’s fate is unclear with the House in limbo over a redistricting fight.  Lawmakers in the Texas House and Senate introduced Monday similar bills to scrap the state’s standardized test, signaling newfound agreement between chamber leaders to finish a task they left incomplete earlier this year.  This year’s special legislative session is legislators’ second chance to revamp the test after negotiations between chambers on STAAR broke down in the final hours of the regular session.  But whether they’ll succeed remains uncertain. The proposal — like every other bill under consideration during the special session — is in limbo after Texas House Democrats fled the state over redistricting, depriving the chamber of the number of members required to advance any legislation. view article

The Houston Republican’s case rests on the notion that Sen. John Cornyn cannot win the primary and his challenger, Attorney General Ken Paxton, could jeopardize the seat in November. view article

Democrats would need just over $1 million per month to sustain a walkout.  As redistricting hearings continue taking place in the Texas Legislature, a new report reveals that Democrats are already preparing to flee the state … again. view article

Capitol sources have indicated that a number of quorum-busting Democrats may be hiding in Texas. Gov. Greg Abbott has ordered the arrest of Texas House Democrats who fled the state to block a Republican redistricting plan, calling their absence a “dereliction of duty.”  On Monday afternoon, the Texas House officially failed to reach the 100-member quorum required to conduct business, with only 90 members present. Members present quickly approved a “call of the House,” a procedural maneuver that authorizes the speaker to compel absent lawmakers to return, by civil arrest if necessary.  “Speaker Dustin Burrows just issued a call of the Texas House and issued warrants to compel members to return to the chamber,” Abbott said. “To ensure compliance, I ordered the Texas Department of Public Safety to locate, arrest, and return to the House chamber any member who has abandoned their duty to Texans.” view article

New congressional district lines were drawn primarily based on partisan political performance. At issue is a redrawing of the congressional lines that would, essentially, make Republicans competitive in five additional districts. As Erin Anderson reports, those lines—detailed in House Bill 4—were approved Saturday morning by the House Select Committee on Congressional Redistricting. view article

It’s that time of year again — when store aisles fill with sharpened pencils, new sneakers and the hopeful anticipation of a fresh school year. As families across Deep East Texas gear up for the classroom, don’t miss out on one of the most practical money-saving opportunities of the season. The 26th annual Texas Sales Tax Holiday is set for Aug. 8–10, and it’s expected to save Texas shoppers more than $140 million at the checkout counter.  Since its creation in 1999, this tax-free weekend has saved Texans nearly $2.2 billion on back-to-school essentials. During the holiday, shoppers can purchase clothing, footwear, school supplies and backpacks priced under $100 without paying sales tax. It’s a modest break that can make a meaningful difference, especially as families prepare for the year ahead. view article

“This is not a decision we make lightly, but it is one we make with absolute moral clarity,” Chair Wu said. “Governor Abbott has turned the victims of a historic tragedy into political hostages in his submission to Donald Trump.”  The Texas Lottery Commission will pay nearly $46 million to a woman who was denied her winnings for months amid investigations and controversies that tied up her payout.  An agreement between the lottery commission and Kristen Moriarty was filed on Thursday, according to court records. In a statement, the lottery commission said the settlement was reached with guidance from Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office, and the Houston-area resident will receive $45.8 million before taxes in a single lump that is currently being processed. view article

New congressional district lines were drawn primarily based on partisan political performance. view article

Judson Independent School District is making headway on adjusting to new state laws that uniquely affect Texas public schools. Coming off the heels of the 89th Texas Legislative Session school districts around the state have a short window to comply with new state mandates that ban cellphones, adjust teacher pay and change the process for purchasing school library books. view article

The redistricting plan, unveiled by GOP lawmakers, would create five new Republican-leaning districts ahead of the 2026 elections.  In a move reminiscent of their 2021 quorum break, dozens of Texas House Democrats are once again fleeing the state—this time to Illinois—in an attempt to derail a mid-decade congressional redistricting effort.  The redistricting plan, unveiled by GOP lawmakers, would create five new Republican-leaning districts ahead of the 2026 elections.  The walkout aims to deny the Texas House a quorum, effectively halting legislative business. New House rules allow for fines of up to $500 per day per member to be levied, though some Democrat lawmakers have suggested they will challenge this in court. Even if the fines are issued, they would amount to around $1 million per 30-day period, which could be covered by deep-pocketed Democrat donors. view article

Legislation would allow the Attorney General to bring charges even if a local prosecutor declines to act. view article

The THC ban passed the Senate again despite an earlier veto by Gov. Abbott.  The Texas Senate has passed legislation to ban the sale of THC products, reviving a fight over intoxicating marijuana products that sparked a rare public rift between Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Gov. Greg Abbott.  Senate Bill 5, authored by State Sen. Charles Perry (R–Lubbock), passed the Senate on a 20-9 vote. It would prohibit the manufacture, sale, and possession of consumable hemp products that contain any form of THC while still allowing products that contain only CBD or CBG.  Perry portrayed the bill as necessary to eliminate products that were never intended to be legal under the 2019 law that permitted hemp cultivation in Texas. He reiterated that the measure targets consumable products and does not affect non-consumable hemp goods like textiles or construction materials. view article

A former friend of Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller told a Texas Ranger that in 2022 Miller asked him to dispose of three bags of marijuana cigarettes and gummies because he was afraid that the Drug Enforcement Administration might find them on his property.  At the time, the friend, Michael Hackney, was living in a motorhome on Miller’s Stephenville ranch, where Miller was licensed to grow hemp.  “I’ve got to get rid of this. I've had it at the house, and if the DEA comes, I can't get caught with this stuff,” Miller said, according to Hackney. “He says, ‘You do with it whatever you want. Get rid of it. But don't leave it here.’”  Hackney added, "He was really, really nervous about that deal." view article

The first draft of the lower chamber’s new redistricting map targets Democratic members of Congress in the Austin, Dallas and Houston metro areas and in South Texas. view article

Texas GOP lawmakers released their first draft of the state’s new congressional map Wednesday, proposing revamped district lines that attempt to flip five Democratic seats in next year’s midterm elections.  The new map targets Democratic members of Congress in the Austin, Dallas and Houston metro areas and in South Texas. The draft, unveiled by Corpus Christi Republican Rep. Todd Hunter, will likely change before the final map is approved by both chambers and signed by Gov. Greg Abbott. Democrats have said they might try to thwart the process by fleeing the state.  This unusual mid-decade redistricting comes after a pressure campaign waged by President Donald Trump’s political team in the hopes of padding Republicans’ narrow majority in the U.S. House. view article

The education system in Texas will soon change drastically for the better, thanks to Governor Greg Abbott’s leadership and determination.  After years of political infighting, the 2025 legislative session finally granted Texas families academic freedom like never before. The law signed by Governor Abbott in May, aptly named the Texas Education Freedom Act, established universal education saving accounts (ESAs) for families statewide — a direct cash grant that can be put toward private school tuition, learning materials or education services.  This law will reshape the future of Texas education — putting power back in the hands of students and parents as intended by our Texas Constitution and giving kids the chance to pursue the academic pathway that’s right for them. Freedom in education has finally won the day.  view article