Houston Public MediaAug 14, 2025

As students across Texas head back to school, their districts are grappling with how to comply with new state laws. Senate Bill 12 restricts several DEI initiatives in public schools, while Senate Bill 13 introduces new library policies.

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/education/2025/08/14/528670/texas-school-districts-to-face-new-restrictions-on-dei-libraries/

#Education #EducationNews #LGBTQ #Local #News #Politics #Texas #2025TexasLegislature #89thTexasLegislativeSession #SchoolLibraries #SenateBill12 #SenateBill13 #TexasPublicSchools

Texas school districts to face new restrictions on DEI policies, library materials

Under state legislation passed this year and set to take effect Sept. 1, schools will face new policies surrounding library materials, LGBTQ+ clubs and other initiatives.

Houston Public Media
Houston Public MediaJun 23, 2025

Here is a list of the 26 bills vetoed by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, along with his reasons for preventing the proposed legislation from becoming law. 

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/politics/2025/06/23/524701/all-28-bills-vetoed-by-gov-abbott-this-session-and-why/

#News #Politics #Texas #2025TexasLegislature #89thTexasLegislativeSession #AbbottVetos #GovGregAbbott #SpecialSession #Veto

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott vetoed 26 bills. Here are the reasons why

Some of the proposed laws rejected by Abbott, including a ban on hemp products containing THC, will be the focus of a special legislative session he has called for July 21.

Houston Public Media
Houston Public MediaJun 5, 2025

A new health warning label may soon appear on many food and beverage packages in Texas thanks to a bill passed by state lawmakers.

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/arts-culture/food/2025/06/05/523243/many-processed-foods-in-texas-could-soon-include-a-warning-label-under-a-new-texas-law/

#Business #Food #HealthScience #News #Politics #Texas #2025TexasLegislature #89thTexasLegislativeSession #FoodWarningLabels #GovGregAbbott #ProcessedFoods #RobertFKennedyJr

Food warning labels in Texas would appear on many popular products under bill awaiting governor’s signature

Products such as Doritos, Mountain Dew and Pop-Tarts would require warning labels under Senate Bill 25, which also would require nutrition education and physical activity in public schools.

Houston Public Media
Houston Public MediaMay 29, 2025

A new Texas law, prompted by the death of a Houston ISD student in December, will create a multimillion-dollar grant program for safer railroad crossings. 

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/public-safety/2025/05/29/522598/new-law-will-fund-safer-railroad-crossings-following-houston-isd-students-death/

#Houston #Local #News #Politics #PublicSafety #Texas #Transportation #89thTexasLegislativeSession #HoustonRailroadCrossings #RailCrossing #SergioRodriguez #StateSenatorCarolAlvarado #TexasTransportationCommission

Houston ISD student’s death prompts new Texas law that will fund safer railroad crossings

Senate Bill 1555, which was signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott last weekend, was filed after the death of Sergio Rodriguez — a 15-year-old Houston ISD student who was struck by a train while walking to Milby High School.

Houston Public Media
Houston Public MediaJan 14, 2025

The new Texas legislative session is set to test the boundaries between church and state. One of the major efforts will be a fresh bill seeking to mandate the placement of the Ten Commandments in all public-school classrooms.

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/politics/2025/01/14/510777/ten-commandments-in-public-schools-back-on-texas-legislative-agenda/

#EducationNews #News #Politics #Religion #Texas #2025TexasLegislature #89thTexasLegislativeSession #StateRepresentativeJamesTalarico #StateSenatorBrandonCreighton #StateSenatorPhilKing #TenCommandmentsInSchools

Proposal to display Ten Commandments in public schools back on Texas legislative agenda

State Sen. Phil King (R-Weatherford), who led the efforts to pass a Ten Commandments display law in 2023, is set to reintroduce the measure this week.

Houston Public Media
Houston Public MediaJan 2, 2025

Republican state lawmakers will make another push to bar local governments from spending public funds on lobbying.

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/politics/2025/01/01/508391/republicans-prepare-fresh-effort-to-ban-local-governments-from-using-public-funds-for-lobbying/

#News #Politics #Texas #2025TexasLegislature #89thTexasLegislativeSession #DeathStarBill #Lobbying #LocalGovernment #SenMayesMiddleton #UHHobbySchoolOfPublicAffairs

Republicans prepare fresh effort to ban local governments from using public funds for lobbying

State Senator Mayes Middleton has pushed for the ban regularly since entering the Texas Legislature. The fate of Middleton’s latest effort will likely depend on the next Speaker of the House.

Houston Public Media
Houston Public MediaDec 19, 2024

Texas is joining Kentucky and 16 other states in a brief in support of Louisiana’s law mandating the placement of the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms.

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/court/2024/12/19/509288/texas-joins-coalition-backing-louisiana-law-mandating-ten-commandments-displays-in-public-schools/

#Court #EducationNews #News #Politics #Religion #SupremeCourt #Texas #2025TexasLegislature #89thTexasLegislativeSession #TenCommandmentsInSchools #US5thCircuitCourtOfAppeals

Texas joins coalition backing Louisiana law mandating Ten Commandments displays in public schools

A federal district court stayed the Louisiana law on constitutional grounds. The U.S. Fifth Circuit will hear Louisiana’s appeal next month.

Houston Public Media
Houston Public MediaNov 21, 2024

Experts on policies related to children recently discussed what’s on tap for Texas’ youngest residents in the next legislative session. 

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/2024/11/21/506831/whats-on-tap-for-policies-on-children-in-the-upcoming-legislative-session/

#Education #News #Texas #89thTexasLegislativeSession #TexasLegislation

What’s on tap for child-related bills in Texas’ upcoming legislative session

Policy experts discussed a range of issues they hope legislators consider next year, including child care, early childhood education and chronic school absenteeism.

Houston Public Media