In a case with wide-ranging consequences for the State of Texas, Attorney General Paxton successfully stopped the Biden Administration’s judge-shopping efforts and secured the stay of an Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) action that would have imperiled the State’s ability to properly manage its environment. 

“I'm proud that 1,000s of Texans with disabilities have opened a 'Texas ABLE Account' over the past five years — expanding their opportunity to live a more independent life and save toward a better financial future. Being able to save for qualified disability expenses, while maintaining eligibility for critical means-tested state & federal benefits is a game changer for a better quality of life and greater financial security,” said Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar.

The Texas House was active this week as it kicked off the final month of the 88th Legislative Session. House Republicans worked diligently on the floor and in committees throughout the week, and the efforts will go a long way toward keeping Texas the greatest state in the nation. Of the many bills making their way through the House, we’ve recapped the priorities that were up for consideration this week. 

Currently, cities in the extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) and counties in unincorporated areas are abusing their authority to approve plats by not following current restrictions in the Local Government Code. Senator Bettencourt’s office was made aware of many instances of cities and counties using roundabout methods to impose minimum lot sizes as a way to decide who and what they want in their backyard.

“A State Trooper was assaulted in the Texas Capitol earlier this week by a participant in the demonstrations by transgender activists who were attempting to disrupt the proceedings of the Texas House of Representatives. The individual was arrested, and charged with assault on a Peace Officer, resisting arrest, and was booked into the Travis County Jail. Within hours, Travis County DA Jose Garza dropped the charges," said Paxton.

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission is reminding Medicaid recipients who received renewal packets in April to return their information to the agency to avoid potential gaps in coverage if they are still eligible.

Governor Greg Abbott pledged to expand the availability of educational freedom options for all Texas Students at a Parent Empowerment Event last night before a packed audience of over 350 parents, students and educators in Houston – noting that a majority of rural, urban, and suburban Texans want to protect parents' right to access their children’s curriculum, school libraries, and classroom materials.

You need to come to the Negotiating Table, Mr. President. All we're asking you to do as President is exactly what you did as Vice President, and exactly as you did when you were a member of the Senate – come to the table and work with us to enact common-sense spending controls as we raise the debt ceiling, pay our bills, and protect the credit security of the United States. Come negotiate in good faith.

Given the unprecedented political power and influence over the Federal Government's ability to coerce compliance with unjust & illegal COVID-19 interventions – even at the cost of citizens’ employment – means this investigation into potential manipulation of vaccine trial data, as well as the scientific and ethical basis on which public health decisions were made, is more important than ever.

"This bill creates targeted funding to address the education of our most vulnerable kids in a more individualized way than ever before. It also incorporates the input of the people who know the kids the best: their parents," said Sen. Angela Paxton, as she and Sen. Paul Bettencourt passed their bill to dramatically improve special ed in Texas for students with disabilities based on their individual needs.

In an effort to reveal the details of a hidden pressure campaign run by environmental activists and the Biden administration to ban gas stoves, U.S. Senate Commerce Committee Ranking Member Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and House Committee on Oversight and Accountability Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) have sent bicameral letters to Consumer Reports, the Climate Imperative Foundation, and Stacey Abrams’ Rewiring America group.  

"You're right – 'this situation is completely untenable,' but its not a Texas problem. This is a problem for the entire United States. Texas began busing migrants to Sanctuary Cities like your 'Welcoming City,' along with Washington, D.C., New York City & Philadelphia to provide relief to our overrun Border Communities. ​​​Until President Biden secures the border, Texas will continue this necessary program," said Gov. Abbott.

Total sales tax revenue for the three months ending in April 2023 was up 8.8% compared with the same period a year ago, with April 2023 revenues up 6.7% more than in April 2022, said Comptroller Glenn Hegar. Sales tax is the largest source of state funding for the Texas State Budget, accounting for 56% of all tax collections.

"She did enormous work deepening the U.S.-Israel Alliance, which is critical to the National Security of both our countries – and the safety & security of Americans," said Sen. Ted Cruz, as he and Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD) today introduced bi-partisan, bi-cameral legislation directing the Treasury Dept. to mint a Commemorative Coin in honor of Golda Meir, Israel’s 4th Prime Minister and the first woman to lead the Jewish State.

Last week's Small Business Committee hearing explored how reckless government spending is wreaking havoc on American's Pocketbooks, and how its causing inflation. We also looked at how to help strengthen small businesses across the country – and how not every student needs to take on piles of debt to secure a promising career. We need to assure them there are other additional ways.

House Republicans passed a plan to fix the national debt crisis last week, saving nearly $5 trillion over the next ten years — while ending government programs being used against our own citizens, protecting Medicare & Social Security, and restoring American energy dominance. Now its up to President Biden to make the right choice for Americans and come to the table to negotiate.

This bill includes significant spending cuts that align with our commitment to fiscal responsibility and is vital in preventing a debt crisis and maintaining our nation's economic stability. . . President Biden has repeatedly called for a clean increase in the debt ceiling without any conditions. We cannot allow him to continue recklessly spending American tax dollars. Congress must address the growing federal deficit by implementing responsible spending reductions.

“The City of Amarillo should never have gone behind their voters back's to finance a project that they'd overwhelmingly voted down. It’s an appalling – an Elected City Council & Mayor thwarting the will of the voters!” said Sen. Paul Bettencourt, as his bill protecting the will of the voters by prohibiting a taxing entity from issuing public debt to finance a voter rejected project within five years of rejection moved out of the Senate.

According to the reports, upstream (exploration and production) jobs increased over the year by 20,000—or 11.2%. Since an industry low point because of COVID in September 2020, upstream employment has grown by a factor of 26 to 4 and has had an average growth of 1,390 jobs per month. Texas oil and gas companies pay some of the highest job wages in the state with an average salary of about $115,000.

Here at the Texas Veterans Land Board (VLB), we constantly strive to not only uplift the service of our Veterans and Military Members, but also recognize the sacrifices of the families of our nation’s heroes. In honor of the bravery and strength of military families, the VLB observes April as the Month of the Military Child and April 5th as Gold Star Spouses Day.