Here’s what’s in Trump’s GOP megabill and how it will affect Texans

Latest News

• Paxton drops appeal: Texas to pay $6.6 million to whistleblowers

  By Eleanor Klibanoff 9 hours ago

  The Legislature will still have to appropriate the funds to pay the judgment, either during the upcoming special session or during the next regular session. Full Story 

• Wealthy families are buying homes to get in-state tuition at Texas universities

  By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT News July 3, 2025

  A niche but growing industry specializes in helping students buy Texas homes to save tens of thousands of dollars in tuition at public universities. Full Story 

• Elon Musk hired a dozen Texas lobbyists this year. State law keeps the extent of their influence under wraps.

  By Lauren McGaughy, Texas Newsroom July 3, 2025

  How the billionaire businessman’s lobbyists helped him get so many state Legislature wins is something of a mystery. Full Story 

• Texas’ public ed funding boost brings some relief but erodes districts’ independence, school leaders say

  By Jaden Edison July 3, 2025

  A law providing $8.5 billion in new funding for Texas public schools lacks the spending flexibility that previously let districts address their campuses’ needs as they saw fit. Full Story 

• Texas coastal town in “David and Goliath” fight against planned ammonia plant

  By Clare Carlile and Sara Sneath, DeSmog July 3, 2025

  Ingleside residents are resisting a “charm offensive” as Europe’s largest gas user plans a new facility in their small community across the bay from Corpus Christi. Full Story 

• Judge blocks Trump order barring asylum access at southern border

  By Rebecca Santana and Elliot Spagat, Associated Press July 2, 2025

  U.S. District Judge Randolph Moss postponed his order for two weeks, giving the Trump administration time to appeal it. Full Story 

• Texas says undocumented immigrants visited local hospitals 80K times in three months. That’s 2% of all visits.

  By Terri Langford July 2, 2025

  While the state says undocumented patients cost hospitals $329 million over three months, critics say the data lacks payment information and more context. Full Story 

• More parents sue to stop Texas’ Ten Commandments requirement in public schools

  By Eleanor Klibanoff and Alejandro Serrano Updated: July 2, 2025

  The ACLU has filed a new lawsuit on behalf of 16 parents of various religious faiths, the second such suit against the new law. Full Story 

• Renewing our commitment to political and investigative journalism

  By Matthew Watkins July 2, 2025

  In the last few months, we’ve restructured our teams and made new hires that will help us build on our reputation as the state’s go-to source for news on Texas government and politics. Full Story 

• Texas lawmakers update sexual assault laws, allowing more survivors to pursue justice

  By Jessica Shuran Yu July 2, 2025

  After three sessions, Texas lawmakers passed a bill last month that defines consent and fixes what advocates called a loophole in Texas sexual assault laws. Full Story 

• Inside Elon Musk’s stellar year at the Texas Capitol

  By Lauren McGaughy, Texas Newsroom July 2, 2025

  While Elon Musk took Washington, D.C., by storm, his company representatives and lobbyists were also notching up big political wins in Texas. Full Story 

• Oil companies want to sell their wastewater. The Texas Supreme Court decided who gets the profits.

  By Martha Pskowski, Inside Climate News July 1, 2025

  The ruling comes as more companies are seeking to turn a profit on what has long been considered a vexing waste stream. Full Story 

• TribCast: A very unusual Supreme Court term

  By Eleanor Klibanoff July 1, 2025

  The TribCast gang is finally reunited, just in time to dive into the big cases and unresolved questions from the term. Full Story 

• Senate passes GOP’s tax and spending bill with Cornyn, Cruz priorities included

  By Owen Dahlkamp July 1, 2025

  The package includes $13.5 billion to reimburse states for border spending. It is expected to meet resistance in the House from some Texas Republicans. Full Story 

• A Texas boy needed protection from measles. The vaccine cost $1,400.

  By Julie Appleby, KFF Health News July 1, 2025

  Because their insurance did not cover the cost of vaccinations, the family qualified for a variety of options to help lower the cost, but they were not offered assistance. Full Story 

• Texas medical marijuana industry to push for hemp age restrictions and delta-8 ban

  By Stephen Simpson July 1, 2025

  Medical program leaders want a ban on synthetic delta-8 THC, which makes up the bulk of consumable hemp products. Full Story