Acting Texas Comptroller Kelly Hancock announced today that more than 42,000 students applied for Texas Education Freedom Accounts (TEFA) on Feb. 4th, the first day of the program’s launch. The total represents a nationwide record for most enrollments for day one of a new school choice program, surpassing Tennessee’s 33,000 student applications in 2025. As of 11 a.m. today, more than 46,000 students had applied.

Governor Greg Abbott and the Texas Military Preparedness Commission (TMPC) today announced a $17 million loan from the Texas Military Value Revolving Loan Fund (TMVRLF) to the city of Del Rio. The funds will be used to rehabilitate the San Felipe East Springs Containment Wall and expand and modernize the City of Del Rio’s Water Treatment Plant. The two water projects will add resiliency to the water capacity of the City of Del Rio and the Laughlin Air Force Base. 

Harmony Public Schools–Central Texas will host the third annual Central Texas Math Carousel on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026, bringing together fifth-grade students from across the Austin metroplex for a high-energy academic competition focused on mathematics. The event, held at Harmony School of Endeavor, features individual- and team-based challenges designed to strengthen problem-solving skills, encourage collaboration, and build students' confidence in math.

"When violence or terror strikes, the best-trained men and women need to be able to respond without hesitation about the bureaucratic backlash,” said Cong. Tony Gonzales as he introduced  the "Homeland Threat Response Act" to close a longstanding gap in Federal Law. "With the Super Bowl around the corner, this is timelier than ever and would ensure that Law Enforcement can do their jobs,” Gonzales said. 

Texas families began submitting applications today for the state’s new Education Freedom Account (EFA) program. The application window opened February 4, 2026, and runs through March 17, 2026. Awards will be determined through a lottery process conducted by priority category. We believe every kid is capable, is worthy of respect, and deserves educational opportunities that treat them with dignity, foster the free movement of ideas and promote self-actualization.

By enforcing the immigration laws against those who are violating them in this country, the Trump administration has deterred illegal border crossings. According to DHS, the Border Patrol encountered a daily average of 5,110 individuals at the southwest border during the Biden administration, while daily encounters averaged only 251 in the first year of Trump's second term. This country must never go back to former President Joe Biden's open borders.

“It's ridiculous that we need to pass a bill to ensure that Americans alone are the ones voting in our Federal Elections, but thanks to Joe Biden’s reckless open-border policies and Democrat-run Sanctuary Cities, this is the reality we live in,” said Sen. John Cornyn, as he, Utah Sen. Mike Lee & Cong. Chip Roy launched a renewed push to pass the "SAVE America Act" to require proof of citizenship when registering to vote, photo ID before voting in Federal Elections, and states to maintain accurate voter rolls.

Under the Working Families Tax Cuts Act, millions of Americans are expected to see significantly larger refunds. Economic analyses project average refunds rising by $1,000 or more, with some estimates showing increases of 15 to 30 percent. In total, taxpayers could receive up to $50 billion more in refunds this year. That means more money staying where it belongs, with families, workers, and seniors who earned it.

"As always, Texans can rest assured the Senate will hit the ground running on day one of the 90th Texas Legislature to ensure the priorities of the conservative majority of Texans are accomplished including, but not limited to, continued property tax relief via ‘Operation Double Nickel,’ eliminating fraud and abuse in state government, strengthening the power grid, and promoting a Texas-first agenda across the board.”

Governor Greg Abbott today announced that the Texas Health & Human Services Commission has received federal approval to extend the time Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients can apply for replacement benefits for food lost or destroyed as a result of the January winter storm. Texas SNAP recipients have until February 23rd to apply.

Texas added 19,700 nonfarm jobs in December to reach a total of 14,341,000 positions. Over the year, the state added 132,500 jobs for an annual nonfarm growth rate of 0.9 percent, outpacing the national growth rate by half a percentage point. Texas’ civilian labor force registered at 15,964,000 after adding 25,000 people over the month. This marks a new record-high level for the series. Over the year, Texas’ civilian labor force has added 236,300 people.

"Although the New World screwworm fly is not yet present in Texas or the U.S., its northward spread from Mexico toward the Southern Border poses a serious threat to Texas' livestock industry and wildlife. State law authorizes me to act to prevent a threat of infestation that could cause damage to Texas property, and I'll not wait for such harm to reach our livestock and wildlife."

Trump tapped Kevin Warsh to be the next Fed chairman. He’s a superb choice, and one we’ve been pushing for more than a year – Congrats, Mr. President, you hit the bullseye. Unlike Jerome Powell, Warsh is not political; he's not an inflationist, and he rejects the economic mysticism that printing money causes growth. It causes inflation!

At the midway point of National School Choice Week and with just a week remaining before applications open on Feb. 4, Acting Texas Comptroller Kelly Hancock is encouraging families to visit Education Freedom website to get ready for the launch of Texas Education Freedom Accounts (TEFA). More than 1,400 private schools and education providers across Texas have already registered to participate, with the number growing daily. 

​​​​​​​"Under Texas law, ‘the Texas Attorney General is the only elected official charged with regulating’ non-profits that may be violating the law – including examining their records and stripping their Corporate Charters," said Gov. Greg Abbott earlier today, demanding that Ken Paxton and the Office of the Attorney General use its authority to strip the non-profit status of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and eliminate its ability to operate in Texas.

“Democrats are using this tragedy to try to force government funding changes that they know can't be done before the current Continuing Resolution expires,” said Sen. Cornyn today from the Senate Floor. "In order for President Trump to continue the work he's started, and to restore trust between Local & Federal Officials in Minnesota, the Department of Homeland Security – and yes, that includes ICE & Border Patrol – must be funded.

At first glance, capping credit card interest rates sounds like a simple solution to a real concern as households face rising costs and mounting consumer debt. Families are feeling stretched and policymakers are right to look for ways to provide relief, but good intentions do not always lead to good outcomes. And, over the past several decades the U.S. financial system has made meaningful progress in expanding access to credit across income levels and communities.

This bill is designed to ensure that U.S. businesses are not unfairly targeted or stripped of their assets when operating abroad. The need for this legislation is clear. For years, the Mexican government has been attempting to seize control of a deep-water port owned by U.S.-based Vulcan Materials Company. This action directly violates the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) that governs trade between our countries, and threatens American jobs and economic interests.

The new 2025 State Population Data has just been released by the Census Bureau, and our world-class demographer Wendell Cox has analyzed the numbers. Nine of the 10 fastest growing states were in the Southeast & Southwest, and two of the surprise winners were the Carolinas - North and South. Texas ranked 2nd for new arrivals, and the 5-year net domestic migration numbers confirm the sad, ongoing collapse of California.

Four student drone teams from Harmony School of Excellence – a Title 1 Campus serving a high percentage of Economically Disadvantaged Students – have qualified to compete at the 2026 Aerial Drone Competition Championship in Frisco, Texas. The teams — the Flying Chihuahuas, Flying Raccoons, Pixie Pilots, and the Rotor Monkeys — earned their spot through strong performances in Regional Competitions.