LEGELAND
From the Print Edition
Council Works on Budgeting Around a Steep Deficit
Looking into the causes of a predicament that somehow snuck up on the city
June 6, 2025 BY AUSTIN SANDERS
Under One of the World’s Most Extreme Abortion Bans, Texas Doubles Down
And also clarifies what a “lifesaving” abortion is
June 6, 2025 BY MAGGIE QUINLAN
Texas Schools to Get a Bit More Cash and a Lot More Christian Nationalism
Assessing the 89th Legislature’s effect on public education
June 6, 2025 BY BRANT BINGAMON
Sen. Sarah Eckhardt Analyzes “Gunfire and Fireworks” of This Legislative Session
A Q&A with Austin’s progressive state senator
June 6, 2025 BY MAGGIE QUINLAN
A Medley of Anti-LGBTQ+ Bills That Are About to Become Law
The Lege didn’t lose interest in restricting queerness this year
June 6, 2025 BY LEVI LANGLEY
THC Ban Imminent as Texas House Approves Prohibition Amendment
Fearmongering prevails over pro-business posture and rights of Texans
May 30, 2025 BY KEVIN CURTIN
With 25,000 Empty Seats, AISD Enrollment Factors Into Massive Budget Problem
Falling down an endless budget hole
May 30, 2025 BY BRANT BINGAMON
Educators Hate It, So Why Is Texas Keeping the STAAR Test Alive?
Behind efforts to eliminate the state test that stresses kids out and shuts schools down
May 23, 2025 BY BRANT BINGAMON
Solitary at 11, Dead at 16: One Kid’s Path to Adult Prison
Texas may pass a bill that would put more teenagers in prison with adults
May 23, 2025 BY MAGGIE QUINLAN
How Gov. Greg Abbott Appointees Could Take Over UT
Texas Republicans move forward with new bill attacking academic freedom
May 23, 2025 BY BRANT BINGAMON
Surveying the Litany of Anti-Queer Bills Moving Through the Texas Legislature
The wave includes reboots of drag, book, and bathroom bans
May 9, 2025 BY BRANT BINGAMON
Bill Would Ban Teaching DEI Topics in Many College Classrooms
Proposal targets lessons on systemic racism
May 9, 2025 BY LUCCIANA CHOUEIRY
Sitting Down With Your Senator
Sarah Eckhardt goes deep on democracy, womanhood, and our era
April 11, 2025 BY MAGGIE QUINLAN
School Consolidation Comes to Austin ISD With Funding Down
It’s here
April 4, 2025 BY BRANT BINGAMON
Abbott’s School Voucher Momentum Seems to Slow
And school advocates mobilize against it
April 4, 2025 BY BRANT BINGAMON
Texas Law Would Make Law Enforcement Misconduct Records More Secretive
New law would create “G file” for all state law enforcement agencies
April 4, 2025 BY AUSTIN SANDERS
Controversial Definition of Antisemitism at Universities Would Limit Criticism of Israel
Lawmakers hear testimony on both sides of the proposed law
April 4, 2025 BY MARYAM AHMED
Opinion: Let Trans Athletes Play
Texas’ anti-trans HB1123 doesn’t protect sports. It harms kids.
March 28, 2025 BY SYD YOUNG
Texas House Bill Would Take Kids’ Phones Away During School Hours
Poll shows parents concerned about safety amid shootings
March 28, 2025 BY MATTEA GALLAWAY
Texas Bill Would Require “Biological Sex” on IDs
Critics worry the bill will allow state to form list of trans Texans
March 21, 2025 BY LUCCIANA CHOUEIRY
Taking Stock of Texas Bills Aimed at Cracking Down on Immigration
They include a proposed Texas Homeland Security
March 14, 2025 BY MARYAM AHMED
Bills Reignite Debates Over Church-State Separation
Texas lawmakers revive Ten Commandments and prayer in public schools legislation
March 14, 2025 BY LUCCIANA CHOUEIRY
Unpeeling How Texas Legislators Are Working to Restrict Sex
From porn to sex toys to education to birth control, why does the state hate bodily pleasure?
February 14, 2025 BY THE NEWS STAFF
Night of the Living Dildo Police
How a proposed Texas law would limit sex toy sales
February 14, 2025 BY BRANT BINGAMON
Texas GOP Gets Creative in Crusade Against Sex Education
Next target involves the criminal justice system
February 14, 2025 BY AUSTIN SANDERS
Making Sex Ed Opt-In, For Good This Time
Bill requires written permission for public school sex ed lessons
February 14, 2025 BY MARYAM AHMED
Allowing Doctors and Delivery Drivers to Stop Providing Birth Control
New framework makes it easier to refuse to offer medical care
February 14, 2025 BY MAGGIE QUINLAN
Texas’ Latest Porn Restriction Law Goes to SCOTUS
The 2023 law requires ID to watch porn
February 14, 2025 BY RICHARD WHITTAKER
The Austin Chronic: With Proposed Hemp Ban in Texas, Stakeholders Warn of an Industry Going Under Overnight
Senate Bill 3 would be bad business
January 10, 2025 BY KEVIN CURTIN
With Trump Taking Office, the Texas Lege Is Unleashed
A lot can change in a legislative session. Here’s what we know.
January 10, 2025 BY THE NEWS STAFF
Texas Lege Preview: Saving Public Education
Vouchers and school funding and never the twain shall meet
January 10, 2025 BY BRANT BINGAMON
Texas Lege Preview: Another Barrage on LGBTQIA+ Texans
“Cruelty tactics” begin again
January 10, 2025 BY BRANT BINGAMON
Texas Lege Preview: Will Abortion Laws Budge?
Texas continued its near-total ban last session. Is 2025 different?
January 10, 2025 BY MAGGIE QUINLAN
Texas Lege Preview: Statewide Change to Housing Rules?
Thanks to HOME, most of that change is already here in Austin
January 10, 2025 BY AUSTIN SANDERS
Texas Lege Preview: GOP Attacks on Local Control Are Limited, So Far
But local leaders fear Lege attempts to kill Project Connect
January 10, 2025 BY AUSTIN SANDERS
Texas’ Hemp Industry Wants Smarter Regulation. Dan Patrick Wants to Nuke It.
Lieutenant governor pushes to ban all THC
December 27, 2024 BY KEVIN CURTIN
Will D.A. Garza Be Removed From Office Over Handling of Drug Cases, Nonexistent Abortion Crimes?
Petitioner hopes so, legal experts say it’s unlikely
April 26, 2024 BY AUSTIN SANDERS
Texas Lege Defeats Abbott’s Voucher Plan – Again
Meanwhile, harsh immigration bill succeeds
November 24, 2023 BY BRANT BINGAMON
Opinion: I’m a Chaplain. Here’s Why I Oppose Replacing School Counselors With Chaplains.
As a chaplain and school volunteer, the Rev. Deborah Reeves explains why school districts should reject the option to install chaplains in public schools
October 27, 2023 BY DEBORAH REEVES
Opinion: Vouchers’ Ripple Effect – How They Threaten Texas’ Teacher Retirement System
Texas state Rep. Vikki Goodwin makes the case against public school vouchers
October 13, 2023 BY VIKKI GOODWIN
From the Newsdesk Blog
The Good, the Bad, and the Unknown of Texas' New Film Incentives
Breaking down what SB 22 does – and doesn't – do for Texas
June 5, 2025 BY RICHARD WHITTAKER
Texas One Step Closer to Film and TV Incentive Increase
House approves fund, but questions remain on billion-dollar boost
May 28, 2025 BY RICHARD WHITTAKER
God, Texas, and Film Incentives
The devil's in the details for Texas' multibillion dollar plan
April 24, 2025 BY RICHARD WHITTAKER
McConaughey and Harrelson Ask Texas Senators for New Film Incentives
New fund would smooth out cash crunches ... for culture warriors
April 1, 2025 BY RICHARD WHITTAKER
Dan Patrick Proposes Massive Boost for Film Incentives ... But There's a Catch
Is Texas' lieutenant governor lining up cash for a culture war?
January 27, 2025 BY RICHARD WHITTAKER
Texas Senate Warms Up to Film Incentives After Taylor Sheridan's Testimony
Yellowstone franchise mastermind makes argument for funding
October 10, 2024 BY RICHARD WHITTAKER
11th Hour School Funding Bill Adds Abbott's Voucher Plan
Democrats in the House ain't gonna like it
May 23, 2023 BY BRANT BINGAMON
The Stars Come Out for Texas Film and Video Game Incentives
Big names in new ad to get big boost over the finish line
May 16, 2023 BY RICHARD WHITTAKER
Will a Tax Credit Make Life Better or Harder for Texas Filmmakers?
Advocates worry plan would increase production but hurt local talent
April 18, 2023 BY RICHARD WHITTAKER
Advocates Scrutinize Sweeping Senate Water Supply Bill’s Strategy
Environmental impacts still need to be assessed
March 23, 2023 BY LINA FISHER
Here's What a New Border Bill Would Do to Texas
"Most dangerous" immigration bill ever takes the stage
March 22, 2023 BY BENTON GRAHAM
Texas House Passes Anti-Trans Sports Bill
HB 25 bans trans students from teams matching their gender identity
October 15, 2021 BY BETH SULLIVAN
Texas House Passes Near-Total Abortion Ban
SB 8 allows anyone the right to sue a provider
May 5, 2021 BY MARY TUMA
Local Legal Leaders Come Out Swinging Against Anti-Abortion Bills
Proposals let literally anyone drag providers into court
April 30, 2021 BY MARY TUMA
LGBTQIA Advocacy Groups Navigate COVID Restrictions While Keeping Texans Engaged This Lege Session
Equality Texas, TENT go online to boost queer, trans voices at Capitol
March 19, 2021 BY LILLI HIME
UPDATE: #SaveChickFilA Bill Moves Closer to Adoption in a Blow to LGBTQ Rights
SB 1978 passes House despite heart-wrenching testimony
May 17, 2019 BY SARAH MARLOFF
Texas Senate Education Committee Advances Its Own School Finance Plan
SB 4 would essentially gut the House version of the bill
May 1, 2019 BY AUSTIN SANDERS
Meet the Texas Lawmaker Working to Ban Conversion Therapy
Rep. Celia Israel on politics, queerness, and transportation
April 2, 2019 BY LILLI HIME
Sweeping Religious Freedom Bill Heads to Senate
The Senate State Affairs Committee approves a license to discriminate
March 26, 2019 BY SARAH MARLOFF
Equality Texas Promotes LGBTQ Friendly Legislation
Report finds “stark gap” between acceptance and lack of protections
February 27, 2019 BY LILLI HIME
Group Calls for Legislative Action to Address Texas’ High Maternal Mortality Rate for Black Women
Black Mamas Community Collective says, “We must do better.”
February 26, 2019 BY ALEX PUENTE
Far-Right Texas Legislator Files Bill to Completely Outlaw Abortion
HB 896 too fanatical even for extreme anti-choice groups
February 4, 2019 BY MARY TUMA
False Confederate Capitol Plaque Removed – And It Only Took Six Decades!
Efforts by Democrat Rep. Johnson led the way
January 14, 2019 BY MARY TUMA
Dawnna Dukes' Charges Dropped
13 felonies gone, two misdemeanors resolved
October 24, 2017 BY RICHARD WHITTAKER
Dukes Deal Off. Next Stop: Court.
District Attorney confirms state rep will stand trial
August 2, 2017 BY RICHARD WHITTAKER
Updated: Plea Deal for Dukes Expires
State rep had until close of business Tuesday to accept D.A.'s offer
August 1, 2017 BY RICHARD WHITTAKER
Abbott Announces Special Session
Eye-popping 20 item sprint begins July 18
June 6, 2017 BY CHASE HOFFBERGER
Last Day at the Lege
Sine die arrives as threat of a special session looms
May 29, 2017 BY RICHARD WHITTAKER
“Cruel” Anti-Abortion SB 8 Sent to Gov’s Desk to Become Law
Expect a court challenge over "unconstitutional" bill
May 26, 2017 BY MARY TUMA
Numbers Don't Lie, Film Rebates Work
Which films and TV shows quit Austin over lack of rebates?
May 25, 2017 BY RICHARD WHITTAKER
Uber, Lyft Return to Austin Monday
Gov. Abbott expected to sign rideshare bill
May 25, 2017 BY RICHARD WHITTAKER
Texas Legislators Push Through Two Anti-LGBTQ Bills Sunday Night
Bathroom and religious freedom bills both likely to become law
May 22, 2017 BY SARAH MARLOFF
Protesters Stage Sit-in at Governor's Office to Oppose Sanctuary Cities Bill
Activists won't move until Abbott vetoes "racist" bill
May 1, 2017 BY MARY TUMA
Marathon House Debate Yields “Show Me Your Papers” Sanctuary Cities Bill
Amendment lets cops question detainees' immigration status
April 27, 2017 BY MARY TUMA
Still No Vote on the Bathroom Bill "Compromise"
After five hours of public testimony, HB 2899 sits in limbo
April 20, 2017 BY SARAH MARLOFF
Court Rules: Texas Voter ID Still Racist
Second ruling finds GOP deliberately suppressed minority vote
April 11, 2017 BY RICHARD WHITTAKER
Bathroom Bill Flushed to Senate
Despite 21 hours of testimony, SB 6 goes to chamber floor
March 8, 2017 BY SARAH MARLOFF
Texas Vets Push for Marijuana Reform
Veterans Lobby Day held Wednesday at the Capitol
February 23, 2017 BY MONTINIQUE MONROE
Straus Announces House Committees
Lots of seats but no chair positions for reps in Travis County
February 9, 2017 BY RICHARD WHITTAKER
Reproductive Rights Advocates Prepare for the Fight
Groups, lawmakers relaunch "Trust. Respect. Access." campaign