The sweeping rule changes, all enacted outside the typical legislative process, have upended life for noncitizens, including those who are here legally.
Texas Legislature
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State Government
TDCJ official confirms in trial testimony that it could cost $1.5 billion to fully cool Texas prisons
Current and former heads of Texas’ prison system defended asking for lesser amounts to air-condition facilities during a federal trial on extreme heat in TDCJ facilities.
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2026 Texas Elections
Hardline conservative donors Tim Dunn, Farris Wilks ballooned Bo French’s Railroad Commission campaign
Tim Dunn and Farris Wilks made their fortune in the oil business. They’ve deployed millions of dollars to pull the Texas GOP and Legislature toward their hardline stances.
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Texas Legislature 2027
Dan Patrick adds data centers, prediction markets and THC to Senate priorities
Patrick’s Friday release of priorities calls on lawmakers to study the emerging issues ahead of the 2027 legislative session.
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2026 Texas Elections
How a 27-year-old upstart unseated longtime Texas House Democrat Chris Turner
Junior Ezeonu, a Grand Prairie City Council member, defeated Turner in the Democratic primary, becoming the representative-elect for the southeast Tarrant County House district.
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State Government
After Minnesota scandal, Texas reviewed its child care spending. It found little fraud.
An investigation ordered by Gov. Greg Abbott found that less than half a percent of federal money spent on child care scholarships in Texas was considered “improper.”
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Texas Legislature 2027
Speaker Dustin Burrows lists data centers, property taxes and annexing slice of New Mexico among 2027 priorities
The Republican speaker’s interim charges also covered water resources, foreign threats and government accountability.
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Energy
A plan to get more electricity to West Texas may come undone
Oil and gas companies have said the region needs more power. Environmentalists and a conservative think tank worry the state is moving too fast — and ratepayers will see the costs in their bills.
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2026 Texas Elections
Pro-gambling interests fail to gain ground in Texas primaries as legislative roadblocks remain
Despite slow progress, casino empire Las Vegas Sands promised to continue investing in candidates who support bringing destination resort casinos to Texas.
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2026 Texas Elections
Incumbents prevail in Texas legislative races amid proxy battles over casinos, tort reform
The most expensive state House primaries this cycle were proxy wars over issues including casinos, tort reform and a lingering battle between establishment Republicans and more hardline conservatives.