Which party controls the state government?
Republican trifecta
Texas
Who runs Texas, what is moving in court and at the Capitol, the November 3 ballot, and every Texas rule we track, from voting deadlines to property taxes.
Updated September 28, 2026. Every figure is sourced and dated.
- 21
- fights still moving
- 15
- Texas guides
- 56
- rules tracked
What Is Moving in Texas Now
Fights still in court, at an agency, or proposed, newest first. Settled laws stay on each topic page.
- School VouchersProposal
2027-28 applications
The program site offers an interest list and has not announced the application window. (source)
- Voter RegistrationAgency action
DPS voter registration records stuck since October 2025
At least 200,000 affected; voters whose DPS registration was not processed can cast a provisional ballot that counts once officials confirm it. (source)
- Attorney GeneralAgency action
Investigation of data center developments
Opened September 24, 2026 into hundreds of projects, a week after a separate inquiry into one in Taylor. (source)
- Flooding and the 2025 Hill Country FloodsAgency action
Camp Mystic criminal investigation
Texas Rangers obtained 14 search warrants, reported September 22, 2026. Affidavits name manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide. (source)
- Eminent DomainIn litigation
Big Bend border wall lawsuit
Filed September 14, 2026 in federal court in Washington, D.C., by 6 landowners and Conserve Big Bend, which represents 230 more, against DHS and CBP over the 517-mile Big Bend Sector. No ruling as of the docket's latest entry, September 24, 2026. (source)
All 21 fights
- Attorney GeneralIn litigation
TikTok deceptive-marketing lawsuit
Filed January 2025. A state district judge found TikTok liable for misleading parents about content safety; the office announced it September 10, 2026. (source)
- School VouchersAgency action
First-year waiting list
About 110,000 students were funded as of early September 2026, and the comptroller had begun awarding families in the third tier. (source)
- School VouchersProposal
Request to double the money for 2028-29
Comptroller Don Huffines asked the Legislature for more than $2 billion for the next budget, plus $226 million to cover funding increases for families already in the program. Lawmakers decide in the session that starts January 2027. (source)
- Marijuana and THC LawsPaused
Federal hemp definition change
Due November 12, 2026, then delayed to December 11, 2026 by the funding law signed September 2, 2026 (H.R. 6500), according to the Cannabis Law Blog. Some products may still change on November 12. (source)
- School VouchersAgency action
Awards turned back
Families declined, missed the school-selection deadline, or were not confirmed by a school. Two-thirds of those students had been in public school. (source)
- Marijuana and THC LawsAgency action
Delta-8 and similar THC
DSHS scheduling took effect July 31, 2026, after the Texas Supreme Court ruled for the agency on May 1. (source)
- Marijuana and THC LawsProposal
Federal rescheduling of marijuana
FDA-approved marijuana drugs moved to Schedule III on April 28, 2026; a DEA hearing on marijuana itself began June 29, 2026. (source)
- Marijuana and THC LawsAgency action
Age 21 and ID checks for hemp THC
DSHS emergency rule in effect since October 2, 2025, under Executive Order GA-56; long-term rules since March 31, 2026. (source)
- Death PenaltyIn litigation
Brittany Holberg (Randall County, 1998)
A Fifth Circuit panel overturned her conviction 2-1 in March 2025 because prosecutors hid that a key witness was a paid informant. The full court vacated that ruling and reheard the case on January 21, 2026. (source)
- Attorney GeneralIn litigation
Lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson and Kenvue over Tylenol marketing
Filed October 27, 2025. The office has announced no ruling. (source)
- Death PenaltyIn litigation
Robert Roberson (Anderson County, 2003)
On October 9, 2025, a week before his execution date, the Court of Criminal Appeals voted 5-4 to stay it and sent the case back to the trial court under the junk science law. The conviction rested on shaken baby syndrome. (source)
- Death PenaltyIn litigation
David Wood (El Paso County)
The Court of Criminal Appeals stayed his March 13, 2025 execution and on July 30, 2025 sent his claims of false testimony and hidden evidence back to the trial court. (source)
- Death PenaltyIn litigation
Ruben Gutierrez (Cameron County, 1999)
On June 26, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that he may keep suing over Texas's rules for post-conviction DNA testing. (source)
- Marijuana and THC LawsIn litigation
City decriminalization ordinances
The Fifteenth Court of Appeals held the Austin and San Marcos ordinances conflict with state law, the Texas Standard reported April 25, 2025. (source)
- Mutual AidBlocked by a court
Houston food-sharing ordinance
Blocked by a preliminary injunction on February 14, 2024. The case was still open at its latest filing on February 4, 2026. (source)
- Marijuana and THC LawsBlocked by a court
Smokable hemp sales
Making smokable hemp in Texas is banned, but a lower court order lets stores keep selling it. (source)
What November 3 Decided
Results as certified by the Secretary of State. Nothing here is a projection; each office reads "Not yet certified" until the state certifies it.
- U.S. Senate Not yet certified Ken Paxton (R), James Talarico (D), Ted Brown (L)
- Governor Not yet certified Greg Abbott (R), Gina Hinojosa (D), Pat Dixon (L)
- Lieutenant governor Not yet certified Dan Patrick (R), Vikki Goodwin (D), Kevin McCormick (G), Anthony Cristo (L)
- Attorney general Not yet certified Nathan Johnson (D), Mayes Middleton (R), Tom Oxford (L)
- Comptroller Not yet certified Don Huffines (R), Sarah Eckhardt (D), Shehla Faizi (G), V. Alonzo Echavarria-Garza (L)
Who Runs Texas
The Legislature meets next on January 12, 2027.
- Governor Greg Abbott On the ballot for governor
- Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick On the ballot for lieutenant governor
- Speaker of the Texas House Dustin Burrows
- Attorney General Ken Paxton On the ballot for U.S. Senate
- Comptroller of Public Accounts Don Huffines On the ballot for comptroller
Who Votes in Texas
An estimated 57.9% of Texas's adult citizens voted in November 2024, plus or minus 2.3 points, against 65.3% nationwide.
- 31.3 million Residents, July 1, 2024
- 23.1 million Adults 18 and over (estimated)
- 19.8 million Adult citizens (estimated)
- 13.6 million Registered to vote (estimated)
- 11.4 million Voted (estimated)
- 11,388,674 Ballots counted for president
Texas
United States
- Voted
- Registered, did not vote
- Not registered
Shares of adult citizens. Registered but did not vote: Texas 11.2%, United States 8.3%. Registered and voted are estimates from the Census Current Population Survey, November 2024 (Table 4a); the margin of error for Texas's turnout is plus or minus 2.3 points and for its registration 2.3 points. Residents: Census Vintage 2024 estimates. Presidential count: Federal Election Commission, from each state's certified canvass.
Donald Trump carried Texas by 13.7 points in the certified count, 6,393,597 votes to 4,835,250.
Your Texas Rules
The answers people look up first, chosen by search demand from our 50-state datasets. Each is dated and links to the source and to every state's answer.
- Is there a cap on how fast assessed home values can rise? 10% a year on a residence homestead Yes, on homes only
- Does Texas tax income, and at what rate? No tax on wages or other individual income No income tax
- How far into pregnancy is abortion legal? Banned Banned at all stages
- Has Texas restricted DEI at public colleges? State law SB 17 (2024): bans DEI offices, training, and diversity statements at public universities. Among the broadest in the nation.
- Is marijuana legal in Texas? Illegal for adults, medical use allowed Medical use only
- Do you need an ID to vote in person in Texas? Photo ID requested, with a fallback Without ID: If you cannot get a photo ID, show a supporting document such as a utility bill and sign a Reasonable Impediment Declaration. Seven kinds of photo ID are accepted. Our Texas voting guide covers the reasonable impediment path step by step.
How Texas Ranks
Texas homeowners paid an effective property tax rate of 1.40% of their home's value in 2024, the 7th highest of the 50 states, according to the Tax Foundation.
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| Vermont | 1.51% |
| New Hampshire | 1.5% |
| Nebraska | 1.44% |
| Texas | 1.4% |
| Ohio | 1.36% |
| Iowa | 1.33% |
| Wisconsin | 1.32% |
Texas and the states ranked nearest it. Source: Tax Foundation, Property Taxes by State and County, 2026. Read September 28, 2026.
Every Texas Guide
15 guides to Texas law and politics, each sourced and dated.
Elections and Who Holds Power
- Texas Voter Registration and How to Vote in 2026 The registration deadline, the ID you need, who can vote by mail, and when to vote early
- Texas Senate Race 2026 Between Paxton and Talarico Who is running for U.S. Senate in Texas, the polls, the money, and how to vote
- Who Runs Texas, From the Governor to the Speaker The governor, lieutenant governor, speaker and other leaders, their powers, and the 2026 ballot
- Texas Attorney General What the office does for you, Ken Paxton's record, and who is running to replace him
- Texas Redistricting The 2025 map, the court fight over it, and how to find your new district
Your Money, Work and Home
- Texas Property Tax and the Homestead Exemption How your Texas property tax bill is built, the homestead exemption, and how to protest
- Texas Minimum Wage What Texas employers must pay, why cities cannot raise it, and how to get unpaid wages
- Texas Power Grid and ERCOT Why Texas has its own grid, who runs ERCOT, what changed after Uri, and what to do in an outage
- Texas School Vouchers and Who Gets the Money Who qualifies for Texas Education Freedom Accounts, how much they pay, and who got funded
Health and Safety
- Texas Medicaid Eligibility and How to Apply Income limits by group, the coverage gap, the enrollment drop, and how to apply
- Texas Abortion Laws Whether abortion is legal in Texas, who the law punishes, and where to get help
- Texas Flooding and the 2025 Hill Country Floods The July 2025 floods, Camp Mystic, the new camp and siren laws, and flood insurance
Guns, Drugs and Criminal Justice
- Texas Gun Laws Who can carry in Texas, where guns are banned, and the age rules for buying
- Texas Marijuana and THC Laws Whether weed is legal in Texas, which THC you can still buy, and the penalties if caught
- Texas Death Penalty Who is on Texas death row, the next execution dates, and how appeals work
Texas Rules at a Glance
56 answers from our 50-state datasets. Each card shows when it was last verified and links to the source and to the Texas guide or every state's answer.
Rule of Law (2)
Is marijuana legal in the state?
Illegal for adults, medical use allowed
Medical use only
Voting (19)
When is the last day to register for November 3, 2026?
In person by Monday, October 5
Deadline before Election Day
Who can vote by mail?
An excuse is required
Are guns banned at polling places?
Banned
Do you have to prove citizenship to register?
No document required; you attest
Is ranked choice voting used or banned?
No state law, not in use
Who draws the congressional map?
State legislature
Did the state draw a new congressional map for 2026?
New map drawn to favor Republicans
Was the state covered by Voting Rights Act preclearance before 2013?
Fully covered until 2013
Did the 2024 presidential campaigns treat the state as a battleground?
Not a battleground
Has the state joined the National Popular Vote Compact?
Not joined
How many electoral votes does the state have?
40 electoral votes
20 or more electoral votes
Did the state gain or lose House seats after the 2020 census?
Gained 2 seats
Can voters recall state officials?
No recall of state officials
Where is the state's guide to running for office?
Ballotpedia, How to run for office in Texas
Guide available
When did the state ratify the 19th Amendment?
Ratified June 28, 1919
Before Tennessee, 1919-1920
Who can vote in a party primary?
Open
Open: any voter, private choice
Can a person with a felony conviction vote in the state?
Lost until parole and probation end
Do you need an ID to vote in person in the state?
Photo ID requested, with a fallback
How many people in the state are eligible, registered and voted?
An estimated 57.9% of adult citizens voted in 2024 (plus or minus 2.3 points)
An estimated under 60% voted
Immigration (1)
Is the state on the Justice Department’s sanctuary list?
Nothing in the state is listed
LGBTQ Rights (4)
Is gender-affirming care for minors banned or protected?
Care ban in effect
Is conversion therapy banned for minors?
No full ban
Must schools tell parents about a student’s gender identity?
No forced-outing law
Does the state constitution still ban same-sex marriage?
Ban still in the constitution, unenforceable
Education (1)
Has the state restricted DEI at public colleges?
State law
Healthcare (1)
Has the state expanded Medicaid?
Not expanded
Economy (8)
What is the state's minimum wage?
$7.25 an hour (the federal minimum)
$7.25, the federal floor
Can cities set a higher minimum wage?
Blocked by state law
Can cities require paid sick leave?
Blocked by state law
Is the state a right-to-work state?
Has a right-to-work law
What would the projected Social Security cut cost a retiree in the state?
About $448 a month
Projected cut at depletion
How much of the state's budget comes from federal money?
35.9% federal money
30% to 40% federal
Does the state tax income, and at what rate?
No tax on wages or other individual income
No income tax
How high is the property tax on a home in the state?
1.40% of home value, 7th highest of 50
Among the 10 highest rates
Ethics (1)
How much does the state require lobbyists to disclose?
Meaningful spending disclosure
Reproductive Rights (1)
How far into pregnancy is abortion legal?
Banned
Banned at all stages
Civil Rights (7)
Does the state have the death penalty?
Has the death penalty
How does the state's civil forfeiture law grade?
Grade D+
D range
Has the state passed anti-protest laws since 2017?
2 laws enacted since 2017
At least one law enacted
Does the state constitution name a right to privacy?
No explicit clause
Does the state have a consumer data privacy law?
Texas Data Privacy and Security Act
Law in force
How much support does Christian nationalism have in the state?
38% support
38% to 44%
Did the state ratify the Equal Rights Amendment?
Ratified by the deadline
Housing (5)
Can a landlord refuse a housing voucher?
Yes, and local laws are blocked
Does the state ban sleeping outside in public places?
Statewide ban passed and signed
How much notice must a landlord give for unpaid rent?
3 days
Does the state give homeowners a homestead exemption?
$140,000 off the value taxed by school districts
Yes, a statewide program for most homeowners
Is there a cap on how fast assessed home values can rise?
10% a year on a residence homestead
Yes, on homes only
Gun Safety (6)
Does the state have a red flag law?
Bans or penalizes enforcing one
Can cities pass their own gun laws?
Broad state preemption
Can you openly carry a handgun in the state?
Yes, no permit needed
Do you need a permit to carry a concealed handgun?
No permit needed (permitless carry)
Does the state require background checks on private gun sales?
No, only the federal dealer check
Is there a waiting period to buy a gun?
No waiting period
The fights below do not have their own Texas guide yet, so they stay here: the state’s border operation and the 2023 law that limits what cities can pass.
Texas Border Enforcement
$11 billion spent on Operation Lone Star since 2021 in state taxpayer funds
That money came from the state prison system ($360 million), Health and Human Services ($210 million), the juvenile justice department ($31 million), and $975 million in federal COVID relief funds.
90% of OLS court hearings were single-charge misdemeanor trespassing cases. Of 170 early cases resolved, roughly 70% were dismissed or dropped.
”This should have been planned. This was just a knee-jerk reaction to get people out there and no one took into account the individual soldier and what their needs are.”
Sgt. Maj. Jason Featherston, former senior enlisted adviser, Texas National GuardBy December 2024, seventeen Texas National Guard members had died on the OLS mission. Seven died by suicide. Sgt. Bishop Evans drowned trying to save two migrants.
SB 4 creates state crimes for unlawful entry and re-entry and lets state judges order people to leave the country. A federal court blocked it in 2024. In June 2026 the Fifth Circuit let Texas enforce it while a new lawsuit continues (JURIST).
Texas Preemption and the Limits on City Ordinances
HB 2127, the “Death Star bill,” strips cities and counties of authority to pass local ordinances that exceed state or federal law. It covers nine areas of the Texas code. Anyone can sue a city to invalidate a local ordinance.
Austin & Dallas Mandatory water breaks for construction workers. Preempted.
San Antonio Paid sick leave ordinance. Preempted.
Austin Local minimum wage. Preempted.
Multiple cities Local fracking bans. Preempted.
”I don’t know of a mayor that’s not opposed to this.”
Arlington Mayor Jim Ross (Republican)The law was signed during a weeks-long heat wave. After preemption, documented heat deaths of Texas workers include Danny Nolasco, 18, who collapsed mixing cement; Ethan Mackay, 21, who died installing fences; and Jose Gallegos, 51, an oilfield worker who died on a rig in South Texas.
A Travis County judge ruled HB 2127 unconstitutional. The appeals court reversed. Bipartisan cities including Arlington, Denton, Plano, and Waco filed letters supporting the challenge.
Contact Your Officials
Call your two U.S. senators, the governor's office, or look up your own state legislators.
Governor Greg Abbott (R) 512-463-2000
Your State Legislators
Every address in Texas sits in one district for each chamber of the Legislature, and each district elects its own member. Enter your address in the Legislature's own lookup to see who represents you.
Chamber leaders
- Dan Patrick, Lieutenant Governor of Texas
- Dustin Burrows, Speaker of the Texas House
Events
Show Up Locally
November 9 Meeting of Bellaire/Braeswood and West U Area Dems with Jeremy Wallace
Community Event · Harris County Democratic Party
6104 Auden St, Houston, TX, 77005
Come join the Bellaire/Braeswood Democrats and the West University Area Democrats at the November 9, 2026 meeting with Jeremy Wallace of the Houston Chronicle. Jeremy will analyze what just happened.
Humble Area Democrats - November Mtg
Community Event · Harris County Democratic Party
9520 N Sam Houston Pkwy E, Humble, TX, 77396
Save The Date! Program details coming soon! The Humble Area Democrats meet on the 2nd Monday of the month so that we can meet candidates who are running for local office, hear from inspiring guest.
Rush Hour Resistance This Tuesday
Visibility Event · Indivisible Rosedale Huddle
Far West Boulevard & North Mopac Service Road, Austin, TX, 78731
In CELEBRATION of TURNING TEXAS BLUE one last bannering for the year [We will be BACK!] We will provide the Banners, Signs and Flags to fly over MOPAC at Far West Bring a friend and ...Join us.
Weekly Cornyn Corner Protest
Rally · Indivisible Katy
5300 Memorial Dr, Houston, TX, 77007
We meet at 5300 Memorial Drive every Tuesday from 11:30 - 1:00 (fit it into your own schedule!) protesting whatever national, state, or local horror is being played out. This begins our tenth year.
Protest at John Cornyn’s Houston Office
Rally · Indivisible
5300 Memorial Dr, Houston, TX, 77007
Join other Houstonians in protesting outside John Cornyn’s Houston office (on Memorial Drive) to raise awareness of your objection to recent government actions. Signs available or make your own. Do.
Rush Hour Resistance. South / Wednesdays
Visibility Event · Indivisible Rosedale Huddle
This event’s address is private. Sign up for more details, Austin, TX, 78746
Its a Wake Up Call for Austin South Join Us and "Speak Out"! With our banners, signs and flags Like ICE OUT/ Hands Off Our Rights/ He's Nuts! 8 am Set up [chose your message from the array we bring ].
FAR WEST Dems & Friends: "Coffee & Conversation"
Community Event · Bexar County Democrats
12820 Potranco Rd, San Antonio, TX, 78253
Come grab a cup of coffee or tea, enjoy some good conversation, and meet new friends. Hope to see you Wednesday morning at 10am! Black Rock Coffee Bar, right off Potranco & Talley Mary Mihara FWD&F.
Wednesdays @ TSU
Voter Registration · Powered by People
3100 Cleburne St, Houston, TX, 77004
Ready to do the work that actually works? Sign up here to join us at TSU’s Hump Day and March to the Polls. We will assist by handing out flyers to promote the March, enter students into Reach, and.
Voter Tools
Voter Registration and Resources
Find Your Texas Legislators Track Texas bills before calling about vouchers, civil rights, or state agency oversight. Check Texas Voting Rules Texas has strict registration and ID rules. Verify your status before the deadline window gets tight. Current Texas Actions Start with curated letters and campaigns tied to Texas fights.
Don't see a letter on your issue? Text RESIST to 50409 to write your own to any official.