Texas state budget

On Wednesday, Texas Governor Greg Abbott released his official proclamation announcing a special legislative session. Texas lawmakers will be back in Austin starting on July 21. The session, which originally looked like it would focus on regulating THC, now includes several emergency preparedness topics.

Residents say Kerr County's use of CodeRED alerts was sporadic and inconsistent. Local officials have not answered questions about when and how they utilized the system, which has been in place since 2009.

The very qualities that draw people to the beautiful Texas Hill Country — rolling terrain, limestone formations and lazy rivers — also make the area deadly during heavy rainstorms.

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.

Gov. Greg Abbott on Sunday signed Senate Bill 3070, which will also criminalize the online sale of lottery tickets through couriers.

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 state's contribution brings the Juneteenth museum's funds to $50 million — more than two-thirds of its $70 million goal.

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.