March 16, 2025
NEWS DIGEST
by Brandon Waltens
Good morning,
The Texas legislative session has reached another key milestone: the deadline for lawmakers to file bills. With the session lasting 140 days, legislators have had the first 60 days to introduce their proposals, and as of 6 p.m. on Friday, that window has officially closed.
In total, 5,646 bills were filed in the Texas House and 3,028 in the Senate, excluding resolutions. From this point forward, new bills can only be introduced if a lawmaker secures a four-fifths majority vote in their respective chamber to suspend the rule—a high hurdle that ensures only the most urgent or widely supported measures can still be considered.
The 60-day mark also signals another major shift: all filed legislation is now eligible for debate and votes. Until now, lawmakers could only take action on bills designated as emergency priorities by Gov. Greg Abbott or those that received the rare four-fifths approval to bypass the restriction.
So far, the Senate has wasted little time advancing Abbott’s legislative priorities, including property tax relief, school choice, increased teacher pay, and bail reform. In contrast, the House has yet to pass a single bill.
With the bill-filing deadline now behind them, lawmakers will turn their attention to committee hearings and floor debates before the regular session adjourns on June 2.
Featured
Former House Speaker Dade Phelan isn’t backing down from his controversial push to regulate political memes and altered images.
House Bill 366, which would require disclosures on altered media used in political advertising, received a hearing in the State Affairs Committee on Wednesday morning.
During the hearing, Phelan (R–Beaumont) insisted the bill was about addressing artificial intelligence in political advertising. But as critics have pointed out, the legislation itself doesn’t distinguish between AI-generated content and simple Photoshop edits—meaning it could criminalize even rudimentary image manipulation in political speech.
Real Texans
In this week's edition of REAL TEXANS, Dr. Mary Talley Bowden talks about being targeted by the medical establishment because she has been successfully treating her patients.
New interviews with REAL TEXANS every Sunday!
State
F.U.R.R.I.E.S. Act Would Ban Animal Behavior in Class
The proposal would require all public school districts to include prohibitions on “non-human behavior” in their student codes of conduct.
Letter Highlights Challenges for Gambling Lobby Amid Lottery Scandal
Several House lawmakers are calling for the rejection of all gambling expansion attempts.
School Choice Battle Intensifies as Texas House Committee Hears Testimony
The proposal is a key priority for Gov. Greg Abbott, who made school choice a central issue in last year’s Republican primaries.
Local
Harris County Employees Working From Home Found Living in Austin and Dallas
More than 2,000 Harris County employees work from home while federal, state, and Houston’s city governments return to the office.
Attorney General Paxton Investigates Dallas Over Potential Sanctuary City Policies
Paxton seeks documentation and communications between the City of Dallas and the Dallas Police Department about immigration enforcement.
Blue Ridge Residents Convince City To Pause Muslim-owned Developments
City council tabled a vote on two proposed communities pending a review of annexation agreements with the properties’ owners.
Federal
Texas Congressman Proposes Ban on Foreign Adversaries Buying US Farmland
The proposal would ban U.S. land purchases by hostile foreign countries that prevent Americans from purchasing their land.
ICE Reportedly Maxes Out Detention Capacity
Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham said she is standing by and prepared to help however she can, having offered state land for additional facilities.
Trump Administration Converts CBP One App to Self-Deportation App
Over one million foreign nationals have utilized the CBP One app to enter the United States.
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