Conservative Highlights of the Special Session
The second special session of the 89th Legislature came to a close last week, with lawmakers sending 21 bills to Governor Greg Abbott’s desk. While several of those bills – such as ones dealing with camp safety, disaster relief, human trafficking, and the Texas court system- passed with strong bipartisan support, the session also saw the passage […]
Republican Leaders Pursue Accountability for Absentee Democrats
As the quorum break by members of the Texas House Democratic Caucus continues into its second week, Republican leaders have pursued various avenues to hold the absentee Democrats accountable for their actions. Here is the latest on those efforts. Texas Supreme Court Sets Briefing Schedule in Litigation to Remove Absentee Legislators The Texas Supreme Court […]
Abbott Sets Agenda for Special Session
Governor Greg Abbott issued a formal proclamation on Wednesday afternoon calling a special session of the Texas Legislature to convene on July 21. Abbott’s proclamation included 18 items for lawmakers to consider during the session. “We delivered on historic legislation in the 89th Regular Legislative Session that will benefit Texans for generations to come,” said Governor Abbott. […]
Abbott Vetoes SB 3, Announces Special Session
Governor Greg Abbott vetoed two dozen bills Sunday night – most notably Senate Bill 3, the controversial ban on hemp-based THC products. Abbott also announced that he would be calling lawmakers back for a special session to begin on July 21. Abbott explained his rationale behind vetoing Senate Bill 3 in a four-page veto statement in which he […]
Weekend Newsbrief: 6/1/25
Legislative Session Winding Down The Texas Legislature is winding down, with the 89th session coming to an end on Monday. Over the next several weeks, The Texas Voice will be taking a closer look at the issues state lawmakers tackled this year – stay tuned! As always, our inbox is open for news tips, story ideas, and other […]
Weekend Newsbrief: 5/18/25
Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo Wants Taxpayers to Foot $23k Bill for Paris Trip Harris County Commissioners Court will meet on Thursday to consider items including a request by County Judge Lina Hidalgo for $23,300 for a trip to Paris, France next month. According to the travel request, Hidalgo is seeking taxpayer funding for herself and […]
“Texas Works at the Speed of Business”: Signing Ceremony Held for Pro-Business Bills
Three significant pieces of legislation that Governor Greg Abbott’s office says will “boost Texas’ capital market environment and cement Texas as the Best State for Business” were signed into law at a signing ceremony Wednesday. The event featured prominent Republican leaders from Texas government as well as representatives from the Texas business community. The bills […]
Weekend Newsbrief: 4/27/25
Patrick and Burrows Continue Show of Unity and Commitment to Conservative Results Despite tension between Lt. Governor Dan Patrick and previous Speakers of the Texas House of Representatives, current Speaker Dustin Burrows has enjoyed a far warmer relationship with Patrick than his predecessors. The show of unity between Burrows and Patrick continued this week, with […]
Texas DOGE Bill Signed into Law
Senate Bill 14, known as the Texas DOGE bill and the Regulatory Reform Act, was signed into law by Governor Abbott at a signing ceremony on Wednesday. Those joining Abbott at the signing ceremony included Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows, Lt. Governor Dan Patrick, Senate Bill 14 author Senator Phil King, Senate Bill 14 House sponsor […]
Governor Abbott Reinforces Support for Bail Reform
This week, Governor Greg Abbott has reiterated his support for bail reform measures that would give judges additional options to deny bail to defendants accused of violent crimes, human trafficking, and first-degree felony sexual offenses. In a social media post on Monday, Abbott wrote, “Texans must have the opportunity to vote on a critical bail reform […]