Texas governor

A federal appeals court will hear arguments in lawsuits seeking to block Texas and Louisiana from requiring classroom displays of the Ten Commandments.

In a letter sent to state officials Friday, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said he wants state agencies to investigate the Medicaid program after the Trump administration identified potential fraud in other states. He directed the agencies to implement several additional anti-fraud measures in the program.

Abbott raised almost $23 million from July through December, while his leading Democratic challenger, state Rep. Gina Hinojosa, brought in $1.3 million in the last 10 weeks of 2025.

Hemp advocates say raising annual licensing fees for retailers from $150 to $20,000 and for manufacturers from $250 to $25,000 would shutter small businesses.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott wants state agencies to implement new "strong anti-fraud measures" to a program that providers financial support to eligible families to pay for child care. It comes after the Trump administration froze federal funding to Child Care Services programs after a viral video claimed widespread fraud in Minnesota.

Conservative and liberal tax policy experts said Abbott's proposal would lead to higher housing costs and tax benefits flowing disproportionately to wealthy homeowners.

The governor must first win over lawmakers who have rejected similar proposals. The state may have to backfill more than $17 billion for school funding alone.

Republican officials in Oklahoma and Florida have also launched plans to expand the presence of the conservative youth organization founded by Charlie Kirk.

An approaching primary election was a factor in Thursday's Supreme Court decision to set aside a lower court's ruling that had blocked the Republican-backed map from taking effect. A key question moving forward is whether the lines were redrawn based on race or partisan politics.

Muth left the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services in July.