Texas budget

The dementia fund's approval comes at a critical moment for Texas, which ranks second in the nation in Alzheimer's deaths and third in the disease's prevalence. The need for intervention is especially high in the Rio Grande Valley — a four-county region along the Texas-Mexico border that's become the epicenter of a nationwide Alzheimer's spike.

The bill is moving quickly through Congress and could reshape life for millions of Texans.

The GOP tax and spending bill raises the child tax credit from $2,000 to $2,200, adjusts it annually for inflation, and enshrines it permanently into U.S. tax code. However, another provision requires that the child and both parents all have Social Security numbers.

Texas officials suggested the federal government could pick up construction. However, during President Trump's first term, his administration built about one-third of what the state was able to put up in the same amount of time.

The fate of passenger rail service between Oklahoma City and Fort Worth is on shaky ground after the Texas Legislature declined to fund that state's portion.

Oklahoma only has one Amtrak train route — and its future is now in question.

Lawmakers also continued funding for a farmer suicide prevention hotline.

One of the most highly debated bills in Texas' 2025 legislative session has passed both chambers and heads to Gov. Greg Abbott for his signature. House Bill 2 provides $8.5 billion for the state's public school system.

The bill creates a 10-year trust that could infuse up to $2.5 billion in incentives to TV and film studios that decide to film in Texas.

The Texas Senate on Friday advanced a $8.5 billion public school funding bill, moving it one step closer to Gov. Greg Abbott's desk.