Gov. Abbott: Texas must ban intoxicating THC products in special session

Texas Senate committee doubles down on THC ban, saying state and local governments don’t have the resources for regulations Texas Senate committee doubles down on THC ban, saying state and local governments don’t have the resources for regulationsSenate Bill 5 would ban products containing any detectable amount of any cannabinoid, creating criminal offenses for possession of hemp-derived THC.
Texas House Democrats are fundraising to potentially leave the state to block GOP-backed redistricting

The money could be used to cover the $500-a-day fines lawmakers would incur under House rules set to discourage members from absconding after Democrats fled the state in 2021. As Republicans in Texas move full steam ahead with a plan to redraw the state’s congressional districts, Democrats are privately mulling their options, including an expensive and legally dicey quorum break. If they go that route, it appears they will have the backing of big-dollar Democratic donors. By fleeing the state to deprive the Legislature of enough members to function, Democrats would each incur a fine of $500 per day and face the threat of arrest. Deep-pocketed donors within the party appear ready to cover these expenses, according to three people involved in the discussions. The donors’ willingness to foot the bill eliminates a major deterrent to walking out — the personal financial cost — and could embolden Democrats who might otherwise hesitate. But first, the donors and absconding members would need to figure out how to skirt a potential roadblock: Texas House rules prohibit lawmakers from dipping into their campaign coffers to pay the fines. Republicans approved the $500 daily punishment in 2023, two years after Democrats fled the state in an unsuccessful bid to stop Republicans from passing an overhaul of the state’s election laws.
Number missing from Hill Country floods down to 3

More than two weeks after catastrophic July Fourth floods along the Guadalupe River in Kerr County, authorities reported Saturday that nearly all of the people who had remained on the list of missing persons have been verified as safe. As recently as Monday, rescuers were still trying to find an estimated 101 people. But by Saturday, the official count of people missing had been lowered to three. The officials did not give an update to the total number of people who died because of the floods. On Thursday, Gov. Greg Abbott said the statewide death toll was 135. In a press release, the city of Kerrville wrote that many of the people missing had been located "through extensive follow-up work among state and local agencies."
Gov. Abbott provides latest update on Central Texas flooding

n Thursday, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott held a news conference and now says there have now been 135 deaths statewide from flooding
Texas floods: Gov. Greg Abbott confirms more than 135 deaths statewide

The number of missing persons in Texas stands at 101. At least 134 people are dead after devastating flooding in the Texas Hill Country that began early on the Fourth of July. The number of missing persons stands at 101. Search operations are ongoing in Kerr County.
Tropical disturbance brings Houston downpours Friday. Will rain last into the weekend?

The long-awaited arrival of tropical downpours could make a mess of Friday commutes in Houston as a Gulf Coast disturbance soaks Louisiana and a good slice of Southeast Texas. A minor flood risk evolves Friday afternoon and evening, especially across far southeastern Texas near Beaumont. Will tropical downpours persist through the upcoming weekend?

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House, Senate Close In on Property Tax Relief Agreement

May 0605:56 AM

The compromise includes $3 billion in required compression, $3 billion for a homestead exemption increase, and approximately $250 million for business property tax relief. It appears Texas lawmakers have struck a deal on property tax relief—though critics say it doesn’t go far enough to return the state’s surplus to taxpayers. During a meeting of the House Ways and Means Committee, Chairman Morgan Meyer (R–Dallas) announced that a compromise had been reached between the House and Senate, ending weeks of negotiations over competing tax cut proposals. “We have reached an agreement with the Senate as it relates to tax relief,” Meyer told committee members. “I just wanted to thank the lieutenant governor, Chairman Bettencourt, the speaker, obviously the governor as well, for all of us working together to provide meaningful property tax relief. I’m glad we got this job done. State Sen. Paul Bettencourt (R–Houston) simultaneously announced the deal during a hearing of the Senate Committee on Local Government. The House’s original proposal included $3 billion in required tax rate “compression” under existing law, an additional $3 billion in new compression, and $500 million to raise the exemption for business personal property. The Senate, meanwhile, focused on using its additional $3 billion toward boosting the homestead exemption for homeowners. view article

School board races across Texas deal losses for many conservatives

May 0605:26 AM

Issues about control of book purchases and how curriculums teach race and gender have led to change on many boards, including Keller, Katy and Mansfield ISDs Conservative school board candidates across Texas suffered an array of defeats in Saturday’s local elections, marking a clear setback for the Republican-aligned movement to shape how grade school curriculums and library books confront issues of race, sex and gender. The sweeping losses for conservative school board hopefuls also served as an early sign of potential backlash to the nascent administration of President Donald Trump, ahead of a 2026 midterm in which a number of statewide offices will be on the ballot. Midterm elections historically have spelled trouble for the incumbent president’s party in down-ballot races. Saturday’s elections saw the defeat of numerous conservative school board trustees in the Tarrant County suburbs surrounding Fort Worth, the epicenter of the state’s recent culture war fights over how students should learn about race and gender. All seven school board candidates in contested races who were endorsed by the Tarrant County Republican Party lost their elections. view article

Preventive Law: Hit the Ground Running: Setting Yourself up for Success at the Beginning of a Construction Program

May 0508:35 AM

Congratulations on passing your bond. It’s time to get to work. Let’s, for just a few minutes, set aside the beautiful architectural renderings and the excitement of the benefits that your construction program will bring to you community, and talk about ways to minimize the risk inherent in such a large undertaking.

Homeowners will see bigger exemptions

May 0508:30 AM

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. view article

Texas homeowners could see lower property tax bills if deal from Republican lawmakers passes

May 0508:30 AM

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. view article

Voters approve Quitman ISD’s $30.8 million bond

May 0508:25 AM

Voters chose to pass Quitman ISD's $30.8 million bond for various academic and athletic improvements. Voters passed Proposition A ($27.85 million) to fund a new career and technology education center, Quitman Elementary and Junior High classrooms, athletic field house addition and locker room renovations. view article

ELECTION RESULTS: Lubbock ISD Prop A passes with 66% approval

May 0508:25 AM

Unofficial results show LISD Prop A passing with 66.1% of the vote with 6,726 people voting in favor and 33.9% or 34,53 voting against Lubbock ISD’s $290 million bond proposal. The district says this bond will address outdated buildings, safety upgrades and expanded academic programs, all without raising the current rate. view article

Residents vote against $95 million bond for Robinson ISD

May 0508:25 AM

Robinson residents voted against passing the Robinson ISD Proposition A bond on Saturday. In total, 2,331 votes were cast with 1,077 in favor of the bond and 1,254 against it. The over $95 million bond would have included a new/renovated high school at their junior high school campus, renovated band halls into classrooms at their intermediate school and provided safety and technology updates, according to Robinson ISD. view article

Nacogdoches ISD teacher accused of suppressing child sex abuse allegations against husband

May 0508:25 AM

According to an affidavit, a Nacogdoches ISD teacher was arrested for failing to report child sex abuse allegations against her husband. According to the affidavit obtained by a Nacogdoches County open records request, Camille Floyd Lanier, 46, refused to report child sex abuse allegations against her husband, Nikolai Alexi Lanier, 44, despite her status as a mandatory reporter as a teacher at Nacogdoches ISD. view article

New TEA rankings show Cy-Fair ISD is a top-ranked district in Texas: See how your school scored

May 0508:25 AM

Similar to other Texas school districts, Cypress-Fairbanks ISD dropped a letter grade with this week's release of the 2023 Texas Education Agency’s accountability ratings, barely earning a B rating. With more than 90 campuses and nearly 119,000 students, Cy-Fair scored an 80, 10 points down from its 2022 rating. view article

Roosevelt ISD voters OK district’s $58.5M bond package in municipal election

May 0508:19 AM

Roosevelt ISD voters gave the district's $58.5 million bond package the go-ahead, with nearly 68% of votes supporting the proposal, according to final but unofficial results released by the Lubbock County Elections Office on election night Saturday. The bond package, aimed mostly at campus facilities including a new elementary school, received support from 469 RISD voters, with 223 against in the May 3 municipal election. view article

Prosper ISD earns $100,000 from H-E-B education excellence awards

May 0508:19 AM

Prosper ISD received $100,000 for the 2025 H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards. The winners were awarded their recognitions May 4. view article

Northside ISD board incumbents hold onto two seats, lose two

May 0508:16 AM

Two Northside Independent School District school board trustees held onto their seats while union-backed challengers ousted two incumbents in a fiercely contested election on Saturday. Voters returned trustees Carol Harle and Karen B. Freeman to board seats in districts 6 and 7, respectively, while challengers Sonia Jasso and Laura Zapata prevailed in districts 2 and 5. view article

Voters approve bonds for Alamo Colleges, East Central ISD. Floresville ISD bond fails.

May 0508:15 AM

Three education bonds were on Saturday’s ballot for Bexar County voters. Two of the three succeeded. Voters across Bexar County were eligible to vote in the Alamo Colleges District bond election, and a wide majority gave their approval for the community college system’s nearly $1 billion bond. view article

Mansfield ISD challengers unseat Republican-backed incumbents

May 0508:12 AM

Mansfield ISD voters remade their school board in the May 3 election, giving challengers strong leads over incumbents, including the board president and secretary, in all three races on the ballot. School district residents cast ballots after an election season that’s seen heightened outside political involvement and debates about the role of partisanship in local government. view article

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Prosper ISD Passes 3 Bonds Totaling $2.7 Billion; Stadium Bond Fails

May 0507:00 AM

Prosper ISD Passes 3 Bonds Totaling $2.7 Billion; Stadium Bond Fails Voters in Prosper Independent School District approved three of four bond propositions on Tuesday’s ballot, obligating local property taxpayers to repay $2.7 billion in bond debt. However, they rejected a proposal to build the most expensive high school football stadium in Texas history. With interest, the three bonds passed will cost Prosper ISD taxpayers $4.9 billion, according to estimates prepared by the district ahead of the election. School officials said the bonds are necessary to accommodate the district’s growth. Bond opponents argued that the projects included in the bonds are too extravagant. view article

Private school vouchers are now law in Texas. Here’s how they will work.

May 0505:00 AM

Gov. Greg Abbott on Saturday signed legislation authorizing a private school voucher program into law, marking the grand finale of an oftentimes ugly conflict that has largely defined Texas politics this decade.Senate Bill 2 will allow families to use public taxpayer dollars to fund their children’s education at an accredited private school or to pay for a wide range of school-related expenses, like textbooks, transportation or therapy. The program will be one of the largest school voucher initiatives in the nation. “When I ran for reelection in 2022, I promised school choice for the families of Texas. Today, we deliver on that promise,” said Abbott during the bill's signing before hundreds of applauding supporters gathered outside the Governor's Mansion. view article

Texas Parents Push Lawmakers To Deliver Public Education Reforms

May 0208:33 AM

Advocates are focused on stronger laws to address the “epidemic” of physical and sexual abuse in schools. While school choice captured much of the attention during the first half of the legislative session, a parent-driven advocacy group has been laser-focused on reforming the existing government education system, which will continue to receive the vast majority of Texas’ 5.5 million students and the largest share of the state’s budget. With the session drawing to a close, time is now running short. Texas Education 911, an independent group of parent advocates, first began promoting policy solutions to parent-identified problems within the public school system ahead of the 2023 legislative session. view article

House Leadership Blocking Ban on Taxpayer-Funded Lobbying, Says Texas Lawmaker

May 0208:30 AM

State Rep. Brent Money says State Affairs Committee Chair Ken King won’t give the legislation a hearing. view article

Lee Hafley Officially Named Superintendent of Schulenburg ISD

May 0208:29 AM

The Schulenburg ISD Board of Trustees voted unanimously at their May 1, 2025 special meeting to name Lee Hafley as the district’s new Superintendent of Schools, following the required 21-day waiting period after he was named Lone Finalist earlier this month.Hafley will begin his full-time duties on Monday, May 5. view article

How Greg Abbott took a flailing school voucher movement and turned it into a winning issue

May 0206:26 AM

Abbott tapped into a powerful national conservative movement and his own campaign war chest to turn turned legislative races into multimillion-dollar affairs. view article

May 3 election ballot includes school bond, ISD positions in Prosper, Celina

May 0206:03 AM

Prosper and Celina voters have the opportunity to participate in various races in the May 3 election, including Celina ISD’s bond program, Celina City Charter amendments and various elected positions at the city and school district level. view article

Conservative Lawmakers Warn Texas House Is Running Out of Time To Pass GOP Priorities

May 0205:30 AM

With just over a month remaining in the 2025 legislative session, a group of conservative Texas House members gathered for a press conference to issue a stark warning to their leadership: time is almost up to deliver on Republican priorities.“Today is day 107 of our 140-day legislative session,” said State Rep. Tony Tinderholt (R–Arlington). “In 12 days, every House bill that is going to pass must be reported by its committee. The clock is ticking, and our Republican voters are looking for the Republican majority they elected to the Texas House to deliver.” - view article

Debate over partisanship, culture wars in Mansfield ISD at center of school board race

May 0205:00 AM

How do Mansfield ISD voters feel about national politics being at the center of their past four local elections? In the May 3 school board election, candidates may get their answer. School board president Keziah Valdes Farrar — who has run a campaign aligned with and backed by conservative City Council candidates and Republican political action committees — faces Ana-Alicia Horn, a challenger who said she wants nothing to do with partisan politics and has garnered the endorsements of eight former board members. The race is one of three school board seats up for grabs on a ballot that asks district residents to respond to four years of seeing heightened outside political involvement, election integrity scandals and divisive policy debates. School districts across Texas also face looming budget shortfalls and ongoing debates over school vouchers and curriculum. Both Valdes Farrar, 44, and Horn, 40, list campaign priorities related to student success. Both are mothers of three, say a passion for children and education drive their races, and cite their Christian church involvement on their campaign websites. view article

Preventive Law: Tips on Preparing to Testify Under Subpoena

April 0208:35 AM

Receiving a subpoena to testify for the first time can be daunting for most educators and school administrators. Preparation will ensure your testimony is clear and accurate. Whether the case involves student welfare, special education disputes, personnel matters, or other legal issues, below are key steps for teachers and administrators to prepare to testify under subpoena:

Preventive Law: Spring Break Cometh: Special Education Refresher for Mid-year Transfers

March 0508:35 AM

Spring break is right around the corner! While schools welcome a much-needed break, they must also be ready to welcome possible new transfer students upon return. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) imposes certain requirements regarding the provision of special education services to students who transfer from one public agency to another. See 34 C.F.R. § 300.323(e)-(g). Within the past year, the Commissioner revised the administrative rules governing how Texas districts must respond when a special education student transfer into their district from another public school district (in-state or out-of-state). The following is a brief overview of those obligations for mid-year transfer students.

Preventive Law: Being Intellectual About District Property: A Primer on Investing in District IP

February 0108:35 AM

While “tangible” property has always been a consideration in school district management, the rise of the importance of “intellectual” property (IP) has introduced a new realm of assets that require thorough and thoughtful safekeeping. From educational material and district branding to the fast-developing sphere of artificial intelligence (AI) and name, image, and likeness (NIL), IP is now a major cornerstone of scholastic and operational success for most school districts.

Preventive Law: Documentation: A Potential Shield Against Liability

January 0808:35 AM

As the college and professional football seasons come to an end, many fans- myself included- are reminded of this truth: not every hire can be a touchdown. A seemingly great candidate joins your team and suddenly they’re not hitting the mark. It could be due to disciplinary issues, ineffective work, or a number of other problems. Many administrators have dealt with difficult employees and have at times been required to make the decision to terminate their employment. When those employees happen to be at-will or probationary employees, some assume they can safely terminate their employment without developing the usual documentation. This, in fact, may not be a safe assumption.

Preventive Law: Water Supply Options for School Facilities - Exploring Alternative Sources to Address Water Demands for District Projects

December 0308:35 AM

When a school district analyzes locations for construction of potential facilities, water supply is often a key component of that evaluation. At times a location does offer easy access to an established and affordable municipal water supplier to whom a district can simply “hook up.” With an existing system, a school district will hope to pay a reasonable rate for water of a quality and quantity sufficient to meet its needs. Unfortunately, that is not always the case. A school district may need to examine obtaining an alternative water supply in order to meet the demand for its project or explore options to supplement its primary supply due to water quality, quantity, or cost concerns.

Preventive Law: Pause on Paid Leave and Reassignments

November 0508:03 AM

For as long as I can remember, school district administrators have been comfortable placing employees on paid administrative leave in the best interest of the district and reassigning even Chapter 21 contract employees to another department, position, or campus so long as the reassignment did not result in a change in the employee’s contract or pay, and the new position was in “the same professional capacity.”

Preventive Law: Election Season is Upon Us

October 0308:35 AM

It’s election season! That wonderful span when all Americans make the time and mental effort to reflect on and celebrate the fact that we are more alike than we are different and when we, as an electorate, focus on the real issues to be worked on instead of being distracted by curated, quasi-contextual soundbites that serve only to divide us and make political consultants rich. Or…something like that.

Preventive Law: You’ve Been Served… Or Have You? Avoiding the Pitfalls Associated with Subpoenas

September 0308:35 AM

For anyone working in public schools, the category of “things I didn’t sign up for” seems to be expanding rapidly. It is increasingly routine, for example, to receive a subpoena for either testimony or documents in conjunction with your work as an educator. While no one would recommend that you ignore a subpoena, there are rules that must be followed by anyone seeking to issue and serve a subpoena. School staff are often unaware of these rules and can inadvertently make it easier to be subpoenaed, which can create a distraction from school-related duties and place school staff in the middle of legal disputes having nothing to do with them. More problematic is how frequently districts are asked to produce student or employee records via subpoena. If the subpoena is not properly served under the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, this can impact a district’s ability to lawfully produce otherwise protected records.

Preventive Law: Spilling the Tea: Liability for Defamation in a School District

August 0508:35 AM

As districts face an ever-increasing number of community “watchdogs” and social media warriors posting opinions on issues based on, at best, 50% of the actual facts, it is common to question what the legal remedies are for defamed districts, employees, and officials. On the other hand, districts may also question what recourse the public may have against them and their employees and officials when defending themselves in a public forum on a controversial issue. Below is a brief analysis of each of those situations.

Free medical services to be offered during Operation Border Health /Preparedness

July 2508:30 AM

SAN JUAN, Texas – From Monday, July 25, to Saturday, July 30, the Texas Health and Human Services will carry out Operation Border Health/Preparedness (OBHP). OBHP is a program that sets up sites around the Rio Grande Valley, offering residents free health services. Services include general physician services, immunizations, screenings, sport physicals, dental services, vision services, and more. Although assisting the public in maintaining their health is a goal of OBHP, the underlying purpose is to assist the community in preparing for disasters. State Sen. Juan Hinojosa, D-McAllen, said Operation Border Health Preparedness allows state, local, and nonprofit entities to practice setting up and operating health clinics that may be needed in the case of a public health emergency, while providing free care to the community. He said services include medical exams, immunizations for children and adults, sports physicals for students, health and diabetes screenings, and dental and vision exams. “Operation Border Health Preparedness is a great example of a smart policy that not only ensures we are prepared for future public health crises, but also provides an immediate public benefit in the process,” Hinojosa said. view article

Clint Independent School District approves pay raises, $2,500 payments for some employees

July 2208:27 AM

The Clint Independent School District on Thursday approved pay raises and a one-time $2,500 payment for qualifying employees during the upcoming school year. view article

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TexasISD.com was the brainchild of Joe F. Smith. Joe retired early from a successful career as Superintendent of Schools for Hudson ISD, deep in the Piney Woods of East Texas. Due to a long battle with Post-Polio Syndrome the doctor made him hang it up and rest for six months. Never being the kind of person to sit still and also not being the person to listen to his doctor, Joe logged lengthy sessions in front of his PC researching school issues, reading papers and corresponding with his friends and colleagues in the education business.

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