Houston Public MediaSep 5, 2025

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed sweeping new measures aimed at tightening youth camp safety and strengthening the state's flood preparedness. The legislation was crafted in direct response to the July 4 floods that left more than 130 people dead.

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/flooding/2025/09/05/530217/gov-abbott-signs-texas-camp-safety-flood-protection-bills-following-deadly-july-floods/

#Flooding #News #Politics #PublicSafety #Texas #Camping #CentralTexasFlooding #GregAbbott #TXLegislature

Gov. Abbott signs Texas camp safety, flood protection bills following deadly July floods

The legislation was crafted in response to the state's historic July 4 floods which killed more than 130 people, including nearly 40 children.

Houston Public Media
Houston Public MediaSep 2, 2025

A new Texas law lets public schools set aside time for prayer in classrooms — and Attorney General Ken Paxton is urging them to do it.

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/education/2025/09/02/529891/ag-ken-paxton-urges-texas-schools-to-allow-prayer-in-classrooms-under-new-law/

#Education #News #Politics #Religion #Texas #KenPaxton #TexasPolitics #TexasPublicSchools #TXLegislature

AG Ken Paxton urges Texas schools to allow prayer in classrooms under new law

Senate Bill 11, which went into effect on Monday, allows school boards to set aside time for voluntary prayer or the reading of religious texts during classroom time.

Houston Public Media
Houston Public MediaAug 29, 2025

Gov. Greg Abbott signed House Bill 4 into law Friday, approving a new congressional redistricting map that will create up to five new Republican-held U.S. House seats from Texas.

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/politics/2025/08/29/529760/amid-pending-lawsuits-texas-gov-abbott-signs-republican-backed-congressional-redistricting-bill/

#Houston #Local #News #Politics #Texas #CongressionalRedistricting #GregAbbott #REDISTRICTING #TexasPolitics #TXLegislature

Amid pending lawsuits, Texas Gov. Abbott signs Republican-backed congressional redistricting bill

The plan redraws Texas' congressional districts, potentially shifting several seats from Democratic to Republican control in the 2026 midterms.

Houston Public Media
Houston Public MediaAug 29, 2025

The Texas House passed Senate Bill 8, the so-called "bathroom bill" that would restrict access to public restrooms for transgender people. The measure needs one more procedural vote in the chamber before heading to Gov. Greg Abbott's desk.

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/lgbtq/2025/08/29/529702/texas-bathroom-bill-with-new-restrictions-on-transgender-people-nears-governors-desk/

#LGBTQ #News #Politics #Texas #BathroomBill #Lgbt #TexasPolitics #Transgender #TXLegislature

Texas ‘bathroom bill’ with new restrictions on transgender people nears governor’s desk

After six hours of debate, the Texas House gave initial approval to Senate Bill 8. The so-called "bathroom bill" restricts access to public restrooms for transgender people. The measure is now just one procedural vote away from heading to Gov. Greg Abbott's desk.

Houston Public Media
Houston Public MediaAug 21, 2025

The Texas House on Thursday passed several bills aimed at responding to the devastation caused by the July 4 floods in the Hill Country. This comes as private donors pledged $40 million to support long-term housing recovery in the region.

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/texas/2025/08/21/529209/texas-house-passes-flood-relief-bills-as-private-donors-announce-40-million-for-housing-assistance/

#Flooding #News #Politics #Texas #CentralTexasFlooding #TexasHouseOfRepresentatives #TexasPolitics #TXLegislature

Texas House passes flood relief bills as private donors announce $40 million for housing assistance

It's been nearly two months since floodwaters tore through the Texas Hill Country, leaving more than 130 people dead.

Houston Public Media
Houston Public MediaAug 20, 2025

A state judge has temporarily blocked Texas AG Ken Paxton from pursuing a case against Powered by People, the political group founded by Beto O'Rourke, after Paxton accused the group of improperly funding a Democratic quorum break in the Texas House.

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/politics/2025/08/20/529091/judge-blocks-ag-ken-paxton-from-targeting-beto-orourkes-political-group/

#Court #News #Politics #Texas #BetoORourke #KenPaxton #REDISTRICTING #TexasHouseOfRepresentatives #TexasPolitics #TXLegislature

Judge blocks AG Ken Paxton from targeting Beto O’Rourke’s political group

Paxton accused O'Rourke's group of improperly funding the quorum break by Texas House Democrats.

Houston Public Media
Houston Public MediaAug 19, 2025

At least three Texas House Democrats, including Rep. Gene Wu of Houston, spent the night inside the state Capitol in protest of a Republican-backed redistricting plan, which they say would diminish the voting power of minority communities.

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/texas/2025/08/19/529031/texas-democrats-spend-night-at-capitol-to-protest-gop-redistricting-state-trooper-escorts/

#Houston #Local #News #Politics #Texas #CongressionalRedistricting #REDISTRICTING #TexasHouseOfRepresentatives #TexasHouseRepresentativeGeneWu #TexasPolitics #TXLegislature

Texas Democrats spend night at Capitol to protest GOP redistricting, state trooper escorts

Dozens of Democrats left the state earlier this month to block a redistricting plan that would add up to five GOP-held congressional seats in Texas.

Houston Public Media
Houston Public MediaAug 12, 2025

The Texas Legislature is preparing to adjourn early this week amid a continued quorum break by House Democrats. But Gov. Greg Abbott says he'll "immediately" call lawmakers back to the state Capitol for another special session.

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/texas/2025/08/12/528512/texas-lawmakers-prepare-to-end-session-early-as-gov-abbott-vows-to-immediately-call-another/

#News #Politics #Texas #DanPatrick #GregAbbott #REDISTRICTING #TexasHouseOfRepresentatives #TexasPolitics #TXLegislature

Texas lawmakers prepare to end session early as Gov. Abbott vows to ‘immediately’ call another

It's been more than a week since Democrats fled the state to block a Republican-backed redistricting map.

Houston Public Media
Houston Public MediaAug 8, 2025

Ken Paxton filed lawsuits escalating the state's response to a Democratic walkout that's stalled the Legislature, accusing former U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke of illegally supporting absent lawmakers and seeking to remove 13 House Democrats from office.

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/politics/2025/08/08/528347/texas-ag-sues-beto-orourke-for-alleged-bribery-seeks-removal-of-13-democrats-over-quorum-walkout/

#Court #Houston #Local #News #Politics #Texas #BetoORourke #KenPaxton #REDISTRICTING #TexasHouseOfRepresentatives #TexasPolitics #TXLegislature

Texas AG sues Beto O’Rourke for alleged bribery, seeks removal of 13 Democrats over quorum walkout

Legislative activity continues to stall at the Capitol after more than 50 Texas House Democrats fled the state to block a Republican-backed redistricting plan.

Houston Public Media
Houston Public MediaAug 7, 2025

U.S. Sen. John Cornyn said the FBI has agreed to assist in locating dozens of Democratic Texas lawmakers who recently left Texas to block the passage of a Republican-backed redistricting plan.

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/politics/2025/08/07/528132/sen-cornyn-says-fbi-will-help-track-down-texas-democrats-who-fled-state-over-redistricting/

#LawEnforcement #News #Politics #Texas #Fbi #REDISTRICTING #SenatorJohnCornyn #TexasHouseOfRepresentatives #TexasPolitics #TXLegislature

Sen. Cornyn says FBI will help track down Texas Democrats who fled state over redistricting

More than 50 Texas House Democrats left the state to stall a Republican-backed redistricting plan, effectively shutting down legislative business at the state Capitol.

Houston Public Media