As Republican leaders draft President Donald Trump’s big bill of $4.5 trillion in tax breaks and $1.5 trillion in spending cuts, dozens of more moderate Republicans from contested congressional districts have positioned themselves at the center of the negotiating table.

House Republicans appear to be backing off some, but not all, of the steep reductions to the Medicaid program as part of their big tax breaks bill.

While Gov. Greg Abbott steps up his push for stricter bail rules, critics seek a balance between the rights of the accused and the goal of keeping dangerous defendants behind bars.

Pending approval, the $2.8 billion House settlement will allow schools to share revenue with athletes directly for use of their name, image and likeness.

As Congress looks to slash spending and raise revenue for President Donald Trump’s tax bill, Republicans have turned attention to the huge endowments amassed by the country’s wealthiest colleges.

Congress is drafting President Donald Trump’s big bill of tax breaks, spending cuts and beefed-up border security and deportation funds.

Dozens of people who signed up to speak were ready at 4 a.m. to debate whether public school classrooms should have to display the Ten Commandments.

The Texas House passed onto the Senate a proposed ban Tuesday, alongside another bill that would require a social media warning label for minors.

A state lawmaker has demanded that an Iowa immigrant rights organization turn over private details about the nonprofit’s legal clients, donors and list of members.

The measure was briefly delayed by Democrats’ efforts to block the voucher program, but eventually passed with bipartisan support.

Have you ever wondered what's inside Houston's most mysterious home, famously known as the 'Darth Vader House'?

Local prosecutors have used the charge to punish police accused of misconduct. Legislation that would prevent that is advancing through the Legislature.

Houston residents seeking affordable housing will soon have a new opportunity through the Houston Housing Authority’s (HHA) latest rent relief initiative.

The Texas Education Agency has released updated A-F ratings for public schools and districts, after legal delays. The new accountability system shows a drop in student growth scores compared to 2022, leading to lower ratings for many.

The infamous 'Darth Vader House' in Houston has officially sold for $3.35 million! Discover the transformation ahead, including its new owner, international sculptor Enrique Cabrera, and what’s next for this architectural gem. Read on to learn how this iconic home went from a local legend to the 'Black Bull House'!

The lieutenant governor proposes that the Texas Senate adopt the House bill, which would eliminate a negotiation over the two versions and cement the victory for supporters.

House Bill 4572 would introduce new requirements for pits where drillers bury oil and gas waste.

The opening of the college football transfer portal has created a dash for cash.

House Bill 2000, known as Audrii’s Law, which looks to close a loophole for sex offenders, is set for a vote in the Texas House.

A number of Democrats are launching bids in a suddenly competitive House district in Michigan after the Republican incumbent earlier this week announced a run for governor.

Republicans narrowly got their budget plan over the finish line this week.

House Republicans have narrowly approved their budget framework.

The House has passed a bill that limits the authority of federal district judges to issue nationwide orders.

In a story published April 9, 2025, about a House vote on bank overdraft regulations, The Associated Press erroneously reported that Rob Nichols is president and CEO of the American Banking Association.

House Republicans have abruptly postponed a late evening vote on their budget framework as grave misgivings from conservative GOP lawmakers threw it in flux.

The Republican-controlled Senate has approved a budget framework that includes multitrillion-dollar tax breaks and spending cuts.

After a long wait, the Senate is launching action on President Donald Trump’s ”“big, beautiful bill” of tax breaks and spending cuts.

President Donald Trump has endorsed a proposal that would allow new parents in Congress to vote by proxy, rather than in person.

Boxed into a vote on outlawing spending on gender affirming care for transgender prisoners, Georgia Democrats chose a third option Wednesday.

Republican senators unveiled a budget proposal that’s central to President Donald Trump’s agenda of tax breaks, spending cuts and border security.

House Speaker Mike Johnson suffered a decisive defeat after he tried and failed to squash a proposal for new parents in Congress to able to vote by proxy, rather than in person, as they care for newborns.

The House Public Education Committee voted to advance a pair of priority bills to create education savings accounts and to raise how much state money public school districts receive.

A Georgia bill to codify the right to in vitro fertilization got overwhelming in the state Senate and will likely go to Gov. Brian Kemp’s desk for his signature soon.

The second part of Georgia Republican Gov. Brian Kemp’s top priority to limit lawsuits and large verdicts won final approval from the House on Thursday.

The White House has pulled Rep. Elise Stefanik’s nomination to be U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.

Only Gov. Greg Abbott can call for a special session. But in his role presiding over the Texas Senate, Patrick can block any bill from passing, giving him leverage to compel overtime sessions by killing must-pass legislation.

Next step will be action in the state House, where budget writers have different plans for distributing property tax help.

New Hampshire has tested out its new law requiring people to show proof of citizenship before registering to vote.

The new finding is about 20% higher than previous estimates of the known cost of the effort to remove Paxton from office.

Voters in two Pennsylvania state legislative districts will elect new members in special elections Tuesday.

The gaps over eligibility and on spending levels are narrower than the fundamental differences of the previous session.

Democrats are confronting stark divisions within their party as leaders grapple with their losses in the 2024 election cycle and how to confront an emboldened Trump administration.

If the proposal becomes law, Texas would follow in the footsteps of several Democrat- and Republican-led states that have enacted similar bans.

Kentucky’s Republican lawmakers have passed a bill that protects conversion therapy for LGBTQ+ youths They want to undo restrictions that Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear placed on the practice.

Is it just an expression of freedom or a distraction? Lawmakers want to crack down on students acting like their furry friends during school.

The Senate has passed a bill that would result in more prison sentences for fentanyl traffickers.

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer has announced he's ready to start the process of considering a Republican-led spending bill to prevent a midnight Friday government shutdown.

At least three-quarters of South Carolina’s House members approved the more than 100 sections of the state’s $14 billion spending plan this week.

From requiring law enforcement agencies to cooperate with federal officials to forcing state contractors to use E-Verify to spot undocumented workers, here are the bills that could reshape the state’s immigration policies.

Lawmakers debated on House Bill 3, which would create an education savings account for families to spend taxpayer money on private tuition.

Voters in a Minnesota House district at the center of a post-election drama have decisively chosen Democrat David Gottfried in a race that leaves control of the House tied.

The House has passed legislation to avert a partial government shutdown and fund federal agencies through September.

The chairman of the House Republican campaign committee is already predicting his party will pick up seats in the midterm election that are some 20 months away.

House Republicans have unveiled a 99-page spending bill that would keep federal agencies funded through Sept. 30.

Voters in Minnesota will choose a new representative in a heavily Democratic state House district at the center of a post-Election Day drama to control the chamber.

Mo Jenkins is one of only a few openly transgender staffers working in the Capitol as lawmakers are making headway in restricting rights for LGBTQ+ Texans.

There is little doubt that a ban will sail through the Senate. But its prospects are far less certain in the House.

Rep. Al Green said afterward it was worth it to make his point — even if he is punished by House leaders, who later called for the congressman to be censured.

Rep. Al Green of Texas wasn’t the first lawmaker ever to blurt out a protest during a presidential address to Congress.

In early sign of dissent, Democratic Rep. Al Green removed from House chamber after disrupting Trump address to Congress.

President Donald Trump vowed to keep up his campaign of “swift and unrelenting action” in reorienting the nation’s economy, immigration and foreign policy as he delivered an unyielding address Tuesday night to Congress and the nation.

Some Georgia lawmakers are trying to get rid of automated cameras that enforce school zone speed limits, saying the cameras are more about making money than the safety of children.

House and Senate lawmakers plan to spend at least $6 billion on property tax cuts, but haven't yet agreed on how much relief should go to homeowners over businesses.

At a public event last week, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said higher ed would get less funding if they don’t “kick DEI out of their schools,” a few weeks after lawmakers proposed a massive cut to public universities.

Another $500 million would be spent toward Hurricane Helene recovery efforts in North Carolina in legislation approved unanimously by the state House.

The commemoration of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine three years ago was mostly a Democratic affair at the U.S. Capitol.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune has teed up a vote on a budget plan that sets the stage for a massive boost in defense and border security spending, and leaves a looming tax cut fight for later this year.

Senate Republicans have pushed ahead on a scaled-back budget bill.

Teachers with three and five years of experience would qualify for raises under Senate Bill 26. Instructors in smaller school districts would get bigger pay bumps.

Republicans are weighing billions of dollars in cuts to Medicaid, jeopardizing health care coverage for some of the 80 million U.S. adults and children enrolled in the safety net program.

There were only so many chair positions to go around, with 30 committees for 88 Republicans, making it inevitable that some would miss out on plum appointments.

Georgia’s state Senate has passed a bill that would cut off public funding for gender affirming care for adults.

From teacher pay and preparation to special education and DEI, here are issues Texas lawmakers are prioritizing this legislative session.

As Republicans in Congress look for ways to slash spending, some legislators are floating new taxes on college scholarships, an end to student loan repayment plans and a big hike in taxes on university endowments.

States are absorbing substantial increases in health care costs for the poor, as they realize that the people remaining on Medicaid rolls after the COVID-19 pandemic are sicker than anticipated and costlier to care for.

The NCAA has settled the lawsuit with the attorneys general of Tennessee and Virginia and other states over its rules prohibiting name, image and likeness compensation for recruits.

After successful campaigns for House allies, the governor is in a position to set an ambitious course for the legislative session.

South Carolina Treasurer Curtis Loftis says calls for him to resign over an accounting error that left the state sorting out what happened to a $1.8 billion fund amounted to a witch hunt.

President Donald Trump’s administration is offering buyouts to federal employees to quickly reduce the government workforce.

The Democratic Party has so far been splintered in responding to President Donald Trump’s push against illegal immigration.

Rep. Cody Harris had accused Abraham George of improperly threatening to send mailers and censure lawmakers who backed Rep. Dustin Burrows as House speaker.

A court settlement that would require colleges to pay athletes billions for their play is not going to settle the debate over amateurism in NCAA sports.

House Speaker Mike Johnson is removing the GOP chairman of the powerful House Intelligence Committee, who was a vocal supporter of assistance for Ukraine and held other views that put him at odds with President-elect Donald Trump.

As the Texas legislature kicks off the 89th session, lawmakers have introduced more than 2,400 bills across both the House and Senate. There was a flurry of bills filed November 12, 2024, the first day lawmakers could file.

The 89th Texas Legislature is kicking off with a $194.6 billion budget for 2026-27, marking a slight decrease from previous years.

The Supreme Court has upheld a North Dakota state House district on an American Indian reservation, rejecting a challenge by local Republican officials.

Congress has certified Donald Trump as the 2024 presidential election winner without challenge.

Four years ago, then-President Donald Trump rallied his supporters to march to the U.S. Capitol and urged his vice president to stop the congressional certification of Democrat Joe Biden's victory.

The congressional joint session to count electoral votes is expected to be much less eventful than the certification four years ago.

Mike Johnson is fighting for his political life, again.

Democratic Rep. Barbara Lee of California has always stood apart.

President-elect Donald Trump has endorsed House Speaker Mike Johnson, providing crucial backing as the Louisiana Republican prepares for what is expected to be another contentious speakership race this week.

Starting January 1, 2025, Texas will implement several legislative changes, including the elimination of annual safety inspections for non-commercial vehicles under House Bill 3297, though emissions testing may still be required in certain counties.

Texas is no longer requiring drivers to get a vehicle safety inspection in order to get their car registered with the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles.

One of the most turbulent sessions of Congress in the modern era is about to make way for the next one.

A debate over the debt ceiling is at the center of a dispute over funding that is pushing the possibility of a federal government shutdown to the brink in Washington.

Nearly 3 million people could receive a boost in Social Security payments under legislation that's set for a final vote in the Senate.

The House has passed legislation requiring more oversight of youth residential treatment facilities.

The Senate has passed a defense bill that authorizes significant pay raises for junior enlisted service members and boosts overall military spending to $895 billion.

This is the latest example of the Republican Party of Texas spending its resources attacking its own members.