Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo announced Monday evening in an ABC 13 interview that she will not seek re-election in 2026.  Earlier this month, during her State of the County address, Hidalgo told the public that her decision would come “very, very, very soon.” Her announcement ends months of speculation, as she had repeatedly teased her future plans. view article

The attorney general has issued civil investigative demands to determine if political agendas are driving financial recommendations. view article

A sweeping array of education bills passed this legislative session is set to transform the landscape of public education in Texas, sparking both hope and concern among educators and parents. Anna Smith, Place 4 Representative on the Leander ISD School Board, emphasized the significance of these changes. view article

After historic floods on the Fourth of July killed more than 130 people in Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott vowed state lawmakers would pass transformative legislation, designed to “make sure communities are better, more resilient, and have the resources that they need.”Just two months later, on Sept. 5, Abbott held a bill signing ceremony surrounded by families who’d lost loved ones in the tragedy. That day, the governor signed a package of flood-related measures into law, including one tightening restrictions for overnight youth camps.  “They wanted laws to be passed so that other parents would not experience the hell that have been through,” Abbott said. “They pleaded for camp safety.” view article

School district administrators across the San Antonio area are either developing or have already established guidelines to comply with aspects of Senate Bill 12 and its so-called “parental rights” provisions.  The law, which took effect on Sept. 1, requires schools to obtain parental consent before administering certain health services to students. view article

Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick on Friday announced the formation of committees to study bias and free speech at universities amid a firestorm of criticism from conservative lawmakers on statements made by university faculty and students.  The House and Senate Select Committees on Civil Discourse & Freedom of Speech in Higher Education were formed “honoring the life and legacy of Charlie Kirk,” according to a press release. Kirk, a Christian conservative activist who frequently traveled to college campuses to discuss controversial politics, was shot and killed on Wednesday at Utah Valley University during one of his events.  In the wake of Kirk’s death, Republican lawmakers and activists in Texas and across the state have harshly criticized online commentary mocking Kirk and his killing. Several lawmakers have called for the removal of school teachers, professors and public officials who criticized Kirk, which Burrows said highlighted the necessity of the committee. view article

The guidance comes in response to confusion over a new state law requiring schools to notify parents whenever students need health care services.  Texas’ new parental consent law does not prevent nurses from administering basic health-related services like providing Band-Aids or checking a student’s temperature, according to updated state guidance sent to school district administrators on Thursday.  The Texas Education Agency’s revised guidance came in response to widespread confusion about Senate Bill 12, a sweeping state law that includes a requirement for schools to obtain written approval from parents before offering to students routine health assistance and medication or conducting medical procedures.  School districts are required to take disciplinary action against any employees who provide such services to students without parental consent. Some districts had interpreted the law as requiring consent for every non-emergency, health-related circumstance. SB 12’s authors last week urged education officials to clarify that the extreme levels of caution exercised by some districts were not necessary for what the lawmakers consider “common sense” practices. view article

Gov. Greg Abbott ceremonially signed legislation in McKinney aimed at tightening property protections in response to a controversial Islamic residential development proposed for Collin County.   Abbott has framed the issue as “banning Sharia compounds,” though the legislation does not especially mention any specific religion.  House Bill 4211, authored by State Rep. Candy Noble (R–Lucas) and carried in the Senate by State Sen. Angela Paxton (R–McKinney), creates a framework for regulating “business entity-owned residential arrangements,” an ownership model critics say was used to sidestep state property law in the East Plano Islamic Center’s (EPIC) planned “EPIC City” and “EPIC Ranches” projects. view article

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is pushing back against Gov. Greg Abbott’s recent executive order on THC, warning that the governor’s actions could legitimize dangerous and unregulated drug sales across the state.  In a fiery statement issued Friday, Patrick said the order issued earlier this week—intended to curb youth access to psychoactive THC products—falls far short of what’s needed and sends a dangerous message to an already emboldened industry.  “This is not a personal fight with the governor,” said Patrick. “It is a disagreement on extremely important policy.” view article

The Republican-led State Board of Education rejected a proposal favored by conservative activists to overhaul the state’s social studies curriculum by  requiring a heavier concentration of Texas history taught across six grades, instead of the current two.  Instead, after a marathon meeting Wednesday, the board settled on an approach that will more closely integrate state, national and global history, and also focus more lessons on the founding of Western civilization and democracy. Under the plan, Texas history will be the focus of grades three and eight; U.S. history will be the focus of grades four and seven; and grades five and six will center on world history.   Supporters said it would create an “identity” of Texan and American heritage for children at earlier ages.  view article

The governor’s order came shortly after the Legislature failed to ban or further regulate hemp-derived THC products by the end of this year’s second special session.  THC products will remain largely legal in Texas, but will be banned for minors under a new executive order by Gov. Greg Abbott. view article

Gov. Abbott’s executive order bans THC products for those under the age of 21.  After two special sessions failed to produce a legislative deal on banning the sale of intoxicating THC products in Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott has taken unilateral action—though limited in scope.   On Wednesday, he issued an executive order implementing a series of new restrictions aimed at limiting access to the controversial substances.  The move comes after the House declined to take up Senate bills that would have outlawed nearly all psychoactive cannabis-derived products currently sold in vape shops and convenience stores. The Senate passed the bill during both special sessions this summer, but the House adjourned without addressing it.  Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who championed the ban, had blamed the breakdown on a lack of agreement among the state’s top leaders. view article

The policy was first adopted in 2024 and has been continually challenged in Texas’ courts  In preparation for the upcoming State Fair of Texas, the board of directors has released this year’s safety policies, which still include prohibiting the licensed carrying of firearms by attendees.  According to the State Fair of Texas’ safety and security policies for this year’s event, even those with a license who would normally be allowed to carry a firearm on state-owned property will not be permitted to do so.  After allowing lawful carrying for 135 years, the event banned firearms in 2024 following a 2023 incident in which an unlicensed attendee shot and injured three people. view article

School officials say that in the wake of Texas’ new cellphone ban in public K-12 schools, students have become more engaged in and outside of classrooms.  The ban on cellphones, laptops and tablets has prompted Texas’ more than 1,200 school districts to adopt policies ranging from secure device pouches to increased monitoring as the academic year has begun. While some officials were concerned that schools would face pushback from students and parents, administrators from across the state said that hasn’t happened.  Instead, school officials say they’re seeing signs of positive change after years of concerns that cellphones and addictive social media apps distracted students during instructional time.  “At one of our campuses, for example, they had to get some Uno cards and other things for students to do during lunch because they wanted that engagement, so there’s a lot more face-to-face conversation going on,” said John Khun, the superintendent at Abilene ISD.  view article

The new state ban took effect on Sept. 1, and Texas’ more than 1,200 public school districts have adopted policies ranging from secure phone pouches to increased monitoring.  School officials say that in the wake of Texas’ new cellphone ban in public K-12 schools, students have become more engaged in and outside of classrooms.  The ban on cellphones, laptops and tablets has prompted Texas’ more than 1,200 school districts to adopt policies ranging from secure device pouches to increased monitoring as the academic year has begun. While some officials were concerned that schools w  uld face pushback from students and parents, administrators from across the state said that hasn’t happened.  Instead, school officials say they’re seeing signs of positive change after years of concerns that cellphones and addictive social media apps distracted students during instructional time. view article

The Republican Party of Texas is challenging Texas’ open primary system.  With the Republican Party of Texas challenging the state’s open primary system in court, the debate over who should decide each party’s nominees has reached a historic crossroads.  Texas’ open primaries trace back to the early 20th century and the passage of the Terrell Election Law of 1903. This landmark law introduced primary elections for nominating candidates and replaced the convention system with state-run primaries for major political parties.  view article

The executive order comes after the Legislature ended a special session without the House, Senate and governor agreeing on restrictions. view article

Texas will give participating families about $10,000 to pay for their kids’ private schooling. Other details about the program, set to launch in 2026, are unclear.  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. view article

Requested records include a professor’s emails related to core curriculum.  UT-Austin is attempting to conceal faculty communications related to governance reforms.  At issue are changes to “core curricula” that are expected to result from the passage of Senate Bill 37 during the regular legislative session. This measure changes several aspects of university administration, including granting additional oversight authority over mandatory courses to boards of regents.   In universities, the phrase “core curricula” describes a set of requirements students must complete regardless of major. Typically, these classes comprise about a third of a student’s undergraduate coursework. view article

When news broke Wednesday afternoon of a last-minute push to pass new, stricter regulations for consumable hemp products, the employees at Austin Vape & Smoke sprung into action.  Zaquiri Hensen, a manager at the South Austin store, said he alerted his staff and other stores around the city before beginning to contact his legislators, urging them to reject any strict regulation or ban. Every customer that came into the store for the rest of the day was told to do the same, Hensen said.  “I still watched the House stream just in case because you never know what’s going to happen on the House floor,” Hensen said.   Hensen was finally able to relax around 9 p.m. when Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick announced in a post on X that the Senate would wrap up the second special session hours later, effectively closing out the Legislature without any new THC restrictions or a ban. view article

Multiple organizations are suing the University of Texas System as a means of undoing a new state law meant to counter disruptive activities on college campuses. The law in question is Senate Bill 2972, which took effect September 1. It was designed to protect freedom of expression for students while establishing guardrails to prevent the type of disruptive chaos that occurred at UT-Austin in 2024. view article

The new punishments, however, are not binding on future legislative sessions.  After Democrats staged a walkout earlier this summer to block congressional redistricting, the Texas House has moved to ensure such quorum-busting tactics carry heavy consequences in the future.  In one of its final actions before adjourning sine die, the chamber adopted House Resolution 128 by State Rep. Cody Vasut (R–Angleton). The measure rewrites House rules to increase fines and add new punishments for members who absent themselves without leave to deliberately break quorum. view article

The new accountability system increases overall testing in public schools throughout the year.  The Texas House voted to concur with Senate amendments to House Bill 8, sending the STAAR-testing overhaul to Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk.  The bill replaces the current State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) year-to-year growth model, which relies on predictions from one end-of-year test to the next, with a new “three-year growth measure” that uses beginning-, middle-, and end-of-year assessments to track student progress more directly. view article

The special sessions were marked by a two-week quorum break by Democrats, as well as a slew of new laws.  The Texas House and Senate have adjourned sine die, bringing to a close the second special session of the summer called by Gov. Greg Abbott.   The session followed a tumultuous first special session in which Democrat members of the House broke quorum for two weeks to delay passage of a new congressional map. When lawmakers eventually returned for the second 30-day session, that map was quickly approved and sent to Abbott’s desk for his signature.  view article

The Texas Legislature ended another legislative overtime round without banning or further regulating most THC products after a monthslong fight between lawmakers to rein in the exploding hemp industry.   The Texas House gaveled out of the second special session late Wednesday, leaving behind Senate Bill 6, which would have broadly banned consumable hemp products with any "detectable amount of any cannabinoid." Only those with cannabidiol or cannabigerol, which are both non-psychoactive, would have stayed legal.  That means most forms of consumable hemp-derived products stay legal in Texas. There also remains no age limit on who can purchase these goods, which come in the form of gummies, smokeable flowers and drinks. Yet it is now illegal to sell — but not possess — THC vape pens under a separate law, passed earlier this year, that went into effect Monday. view article

A lawmaker will now be tasked with implementing the law he wrote.   State Sen. Brandon Creighton is expected to be named the sole finalist for the Texas Tech University System’s Chancellorship.  Cody Campbell, chairman of the Texas Tech Board of Regents, announced August 31 that “after a lengthy, thorough, and comprehensive search, I expect that the Texas Tech University System Board of Regents will unanimously name Senator Brandon Creighton as the Sole Finalist for our Chancellor of the Texas Tech University System.”  Campbell further called Creighton “a strong voice in the fight to get our colleges and universities back on track and clearly shares the values and the vision of the Texas Tech community.” view article

Allen, known for her focus on public education issues, announced her retirement after 20 years in the House. She endorsed her son, Lawrence Allen Jr., to succeed her. view article

On September 1, hundreds of new laws took effect in Texas. view article

Paxton suggested students start with the Lord's Prayer, a prayer that is core to Christianity. view article

Despite strong support within the chamber, State Affairs Chairman Ken King is reportedly blocking it. view article

After months of controversy, the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation must tackle poor sales and legislative scrutiny as it takes over the games on Sept. 1. view article

The company is looking to increase production of diesel and base stocks. ExxonMobil is bringing hundreds of new jobs to Texas as the company announced plans for a major reconfiguration to its Baytown campus, the oil giant said earlier this week view article

Despite explosive growth turning Tarrant into a racially diverse swing county, two new political maps will leave it with whiter, more Republican representation.Despite explosive growth turning Tarrant into a racially diverse swing county, two new political maps will leave it with whiter, more Republican representation. view article

Conroe Independent School District is moving ahead with implementing a new state law requiring Ten Commandments displays in K-12 public classrooms, despite opposition from some parents and the absence of penalties for non-compliance. The law, known as SB10, mandates that all K-12 public classrooms display a 16-by-20 copy of the King James Bible version of the Ten Commandments. view article

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Saturday promised to quickly sign off on a new, Republican-leaning congressional voting map gerrymandered to help the GOP maintain its slim majority in Congress.  “One Big Beautiful Map has passed the Senate and is on its way to my desk, where it will be swiftly signed into law,” Abbott said in a statement.  Texas lawmakers approved the final plans just hours before, inflaming an already tense battle unfolding among states as governors from both parties pledge to redraw maps with the goal of giving their political candidates a leg up in the 2026 midterm elections. view article