Tag: texas

  • Texas to become 16th state to pass universal school choice program

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    What’s the story? The Texas State Legislature passed Senate Bill (SB) 2 on April 24, 2025, and Gov. Greg Abbott (R) has said on social media that he will sign it once it reaches him. Texas is the 16th state to enact a universal education savings account (ESA) program providing public funds for alternatives to…

  • Texas Legislature passes state DOGE and judicial nondeference bill

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    On April 14, 2025, the Texas Legislature approved Senate Bill 14 and sent it to the governor’s office. SB 14 was designed to create a new department tasked with promoting efficiency in the Texas state government and prohibit judicial deference to state agencies. If signed into law, the bill would establish a Texas Regulatory Efficiency…

  • Texas House rejects amendment to universal school choice bill that would have placed statutory measure on statewide ballot for first time

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    In Texas, House Republicans defeated an amendment to Senate Bill 2 on April 16 that would have required the proposed universal education savings account (ESA) program to be placed on the Nov. 4, 2025, ballot for voters to decide. Had it been placed on the ballot, Senate Bill 2 would have been the first statewide…

  • Texas voters in largest cities to decide 42 local ballot measures on May 3

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    Ballotpedia is covering 42 ballot measures in nine counties in Texas on May 3. All 42 ballot measures were referred to the ballot by a vote of a local governing board, such as a county board or city council.  This is an increase in ballot measures compared to the previous even-year May election in Texas…

  • San Antonio’s mayoral election first in 16 years without an incumbent

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    Image of several stickers with the words "I voted"

    Twenty-seven candidates are running in the nonpartisan general election for mayor of San Antonio, Texas, on May 3, 2025. Beto Altamirano, John Courage, Adriana Garcia, Melissa Cabello Havrda, Gina Ortiz Jones, Rolando Pablos, Manny Pelaez, and Clayton Perry are notable candidates based on media attention, polling, and endorsements. Incumbent Ron Nirenberg, elected in June 2017, is term-limited. Though the office is nonpartisan, Nirenberg is a Democrat. He…

  • Voters to decide on creating city of Starbase, Texas, home of SpaceX, on May 3

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    Voters in the unincorporated area of Cameron County, Texas, known as Starbase—home to SpaceX—will decide on May 3 whether to incorporate it as a city. If approved, Starbase would become a Type C general law municipality with a commission form of government comprising a mayor and two commissioners. Elections for mayor and commissioner will be…

  • Texas legislature set to consider universal school choice legislation after 2024 elections replaced Republican opponents with Republican supporters

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    Texas State Senate Republicans introduced a universal school choice bill (Senate Bill 2) on Jan. 24, and the Senate Education Committee approved it 9-2 on Jan. 29. SB 2 was placed on the Senate’s intent calendar for a floor vote on February 4. SB 2 would create an education savings account (ESA) program that, subject…

  • 71% of elections in Texas are uncontested

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    Of 3,285 regular elections in Texas—2,345 (71%) are uncontested. An uncontested election is one where the number of candidates on the ballot is less than or equal to the number of seats up for election.  Of the 26 states where Ballotpedia is covering every election on Nov. 5, Texas has the eighth highest rate of…

  • Four presidential tickets will appear on the ballot in Texas this November

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    Texas’ Nov. 5, 2024, general election ballot will feature four presidential candidates and their running mates. They are: This is the same number of candidates on Texas’ presidential ballot as in each election held since 2012. In 2020, Texas’ ballot had four candidates: Joe Biden (D), Trump, Jo Jorgensen (L), and Howie Hawkins (G). Trump…

  • ESG critics testify in favor of Texas anti-ESG law

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    Two ESG opponents—William Hild (the executive director of Consumers’ Research) and Eric Bledsoe (a senior fellow at the Foundation for Government Accountability)—gave testimonies before the Texas Senate on Oct. 17. They argued the state’s anti-ESG laws produced positive results and said non-ESG investment funds tend to outperform investments that consider other factors. Ballotpedia tracks support…