April 13, 2025
NEWS DIGEST
by Brandon Waltens
Good morning,
In a marathon session that lasted until after 3 a.m., the Texas House moved forward with its version of the state’s biennial budget, marking the largest budget in state history at $337 billion.
Despite 393 amendments having been pre-filed on Senate Bill 1 ahead of the debate, most never saw the light of day.
Before debate on the bill really began, lawmakers adopted more than 300 of those amendments in a single sweeping motion at the outset, sending the bulk of them to Article XI—the so-called “wish list” portion of the budget reserved for priorities that may or may not make it into the final version.
The budget was approved in a vote of 118-26.
The Senate unanimously passed its version of the budget last month, with a proposal largely similar to the one advanced by the House.
The budget now heads back to the Senate, which is expected to vote not to concur with the House’s changes. That will trigger the formation of a conference committee—a small group of lawmakers from both chambers tasked with negotiating a final version of the budget.
In the coming days, House members will have an opportunity to approve “motions to instruct,” which are non-binding suggestions directing the chamber’s conferees on specific priorities or positions they’d like to see reflected in the final agreement.
Featured
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has officially announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate, challenging incumbent Senator John Cornyn in the upcoming 2026 Republican Primary.
Paxton made this declaration during an appearance on “The Ingraham Angle” with Laura Ingraham on Tuesday evening, saying, “It’s definitely time for a change in Texas.”
Real Texans
In this week's edition of REAL TEXANS, Michael Quinn Sullivan sits down with personal injury attorney Adam Loewy to discuss what happened to the Democrat Party, access to the courts, and the importance of disagreeing agreeably.
New interviews with REAL TEXANS every Sunday!
State
Texas House Overwhelmingly Rejects Motion To Remove Speaker Burrows
The motion was tabled 141-2, with five members present but not voting, and two absent.
Gates of Eagle Pass Park Reopen After One Year of Lockdown
This comes as the Trump administration continues to secure the southwest border.
Texas Teachers’ Retirement System Funded Chinese Firms
State agency hides how much it has indirectly invested in Chinese businesses.
Local
Harris County Sues Over Federal Funding Freeze for Illegal Alien Healthcare
Harris County spends millions of taxpayer dollars every year on services for illegal aliens.
Two Texas Teachers Sentenced in Separate Student Sex Crime Cases
Former Lewisville ISD teacher John Collett was sentenced to 20 years in prison, while ex-Nacogdoches ISD teacher Annaleigh Andrews received just two years.
Mayor: 900 People Charged With Murder Are Free on Bond in Houston
The 248th District Court is known for granting bonds to dangerous criminals.
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