Senator Bettencourt introduces bipartisan-supported "Sensible 4" education reform package

Brandon Creighton, State Senator of District 4 in Texas, said that diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) reforms for higher education institutions have made a significant impact at Texas A&M University but emphasized that the work is ongoing.

Dan Patrick, the Lieutenant Governor of Texas, has declared school choice as his primary policy focus.

North Texas lawmaker State Representative David Spiller (R-Jacksboro) has filed two bills aimed at prohibiting foreign land ownership in the state.

Dallas-Fort Worth-area Texas State Representative Jared Patterson (R-Frisco) has introduced a series of bills aimed at protecting minors ahead of the 2025 legislative session.

Dallas-Fort Worth-area Texas State Representative Brian Harrison (R-Midlothian) has introduced a bill ahead of the 2025 legislative session, aiming to abolish regulations that have not undergone review.

Houston-area Texas State Representative Briscoe Cain (R-Deer Park) has introduced legislation aimed at defending Texans' Second Amendment rights ahead of the 2025, or 89th, legislative session.

Texas Sen. Brandon Creighton said the Teacher Bill of Rights addressed teachers' top concerns—safety, validation from administrators, and compensation—but was blocked by unions in the House to prevent a Republican from passing it. Creighton was a guest on a recent episode of the Texas Talks Podcast.

At last week’s Senate Education Committee hearing, Texas Education Agency (TEA) Commissioner, Mike Morath, urged lawmakers to consider legislation that would ban cellphones in Texas classrooms.

During the Senate Committee on Education, chaired by Senator Brandon Creighton, Texas Education Agency Commissioner Mike Morath and Senator Bettencourt discussed ISD lawsuits that continue to block the TEA release of A-F School Accountability system ratings in 2023 and 2024.

On a recent episode of the Texas Talks podcast, Representative Cody Vasut said that he may pursue legislation which makes it easier for the public to access government records.

On Thursday, September 5th at 11:00 AM CST, Chairman Paul Bettencourt (R-Houston) and the Senate Committee on Local Government will host a hearing to discuss how local governments spend funds directly distributed to them by the federal government. The discussion will include Harris County's use of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to set up a guaranteed-income pilot program, local government spending of directly distributed federal funds, and study issues about extra-territorial jurisdictions related to the implementation of SB 2038 and HB 3053.

Texas State Rep. Cody Vasut said that while the government can be a threat to individual liberty if it becomes too large, underfunding it, particularly in judicial pay, can also endanger liberty by affecting the quality and number of judges. Vasut was a guest on a recent episode of the Texas Talks Podcast.

Texas State Rep. Mihaela Plesa said she ran for office after noticing changes in the state, using her legislative experience to win a competitive race in Collin County, and that districts are to be won on policy, not money. Plesa was a guest on a recent episode of the Texas Talks Podcast.

Texas State Senator José Menéndez said that while cannabis remains illegal, the similarity between hemp and cannabis has led to unintended legalization, prompting calls for stricter regulations, especially to protect children and that these products should be restricted to those 21 and over. Menéndez was a guest on a recent episode of the Texas Talks Podcast.

The Texas House Public Education Committee fielded testimony on matters such as vouchers and other education legislation on August 12. The next legislative session will begin in the early part of next year.