Legal News
Latest updates from Houston & Texas
TexasLaw News
Legal and political developments related to TexasLaw, analyzed from a civil rights perspective.
Articles tagged "TexasLaw"
Texas Legal Battles: Social Media, Elections, and Public Safety Face Scrutiny
Houston and Texas are grappling with significant legal challenges ranging from corporate accountability in social media addiction to government oversight in public safety. Courts are examining tech company responsibilities to users and state officials' duties to citizens, alongside emerging legal questions in election integrity and autonomous vehicle liability. These cases stand to redefine consumer protection, election rules, and regulatory frameworks across the state.
Texas Primary Propositions: What Your 'Opinion Poll' Vote Means for State Law
Texas primary ballots include non-binding propositions that act as crucial public opinion polls for political parties, directly shaping their platforms and influencing future state legislation. Your vote on these proposals, covering issues from property taxes and healthcare to immigration and voting rights, helps signal policy priorities for the state. Understanding these propositions is key to seeing potential legal and public policy shifts in Texas.
Federal SNAP Rule Changes Hit Older Texans: What It Means for Your Benefits
New federal law expands SNAP work requirements for adults aged 55-64, demanding 80 hours of monthly work, training, or volunteering to maintain eligibility. This policy change also removes key exemptions for vulnerable populations like veterans and the homeless, impacting over 60,000 older Americans and raising concerns about due process and public policy for the social safety net.
Texas Gov. Abbott Ramps Up DPS Border Presence Amidst Mexican Cartel Violence, Raising Legal Questions
Governor Abbott has deployed the Texas Department of Public Safety to the southern border to prevent cartel violence from Mexico, following the killing of a major cartel leader. This action highlights significant legal and public policy questions regarding state versus federal jurisdiction in border security and international incidents.
Texas Lieutenant Governor Race Heats Up: Legal Stakes for Houston and Beyond
Texas State Representative Vikki Goodwin's campaign for Lieutenant Governor highlights critical legal and public policy issues for the state. The Lieutenant Governor's office significantly influences legislative outcomes, impacting everything from state budgets to voter rights. Voters need to understand the profound legal implications of this race.
Texas Legal Brief: Supreme Court Tariffs, LG Race, and Houston's Economic Strain
This report unpacks the legal and policy impacts of recent events, from the Supreme Court limiting presidential tariff powers to the ongoing debate about executive authority in foreign policy. It also highlights the public policy implications of Houston's rising cost of living and the potential legislative shifts arising from the Texas Lieutenant Governor's race.
Texas Regulators Restrict Classroom Topics, Sparking Academic Freedom Debate
The University of Texas System Board of Regents has approved a new policy limiting 'controversial topics' in classrooms, sparking concerns over academic freedom and free speech. This move is part of a broader trend in Texas higher education to increase state control over curriculum, with vague definitions posing potential challenges for faculty and students.
Texas Sues Dow: Is It a Win for the Environment or a 'Sweetheart Deal' Shielding Industry?
Texas has sued Dow Chemical Co. over hundreds of alleged water pollution violations at its Gulf Coast facility, but the state's action might legally prevent a separate, potentially stronger lawsuit from an activist citizen group. This legal move raises significant public policy questions about the effectiveness of state environmental enforcement versus citizen-led actions under the Clean Water Act, and whether it genuinely protects the environment or inadvertently shields corporate polluters.
Texas Voter Rolls in Chaos: Flawed Federal Tool Flags Citizens, Sparks Legal Headaches
A new federal tool, SAVE, meant to identify noncitizen voters, has repeatedly and wrongly flagged naturalized U.S. citizens in Texas and Missouri, sparking widespread confusion among election officials. This flawed rollout challenges constitutional voting rights, due process, and equal protection for citizens, while raising concerns about privacy and the accurate maintenance of voter rolls. Legal experts and local clerks criticize the system as unreliable, potentially leading to the disenfranchisement of eligible voters.
Texas AG Ken Paxton Enters Legal Fray, Backing Doctor Against State Medical Board Over Ivermectin Dispute
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has intervened in a lawsuit, backing a Houston doctor against the Texas Medical Board. The doctor was reprimanded for prescribing ivermectin without hospital privileges, prompting Paxton to claim her constitutional rights were violated by the state agency. This case pits a state's top lawyer against a regulatory board, raising critical questions about medical freedom, doctor autonomy, and administrative oversight in Texas healthcare.
Texas AG Paxton Steps into Medical Board Dispute Over Ivermectin Prescriptions
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is supporting a doctor against the Texas Medical Board, challenging the board's reprimand over ivermectin prescriptions. This action ignites a significant legal and public policy debate concerning the scope of medical authority, doctor-patient autonomy, and the state's regulatory power over physicians.