In 2023, Texas overcame lawsuits that sought to prevent constitutional amendments from going into effect, but one that voters approved in 2021 is still blocked.
state agencies
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Health care
Stephanie Muth, former foster care head, named Texas health commissioner
Muth left the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services in July.
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State Government
A slate of new Texas laws goes into effect December and January. Here’s what to watch.
Laws include restricting transgender people’s access to public bathrooms, allowing lawsuits against abortion pill providers, and replacement of the STAAR test.
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Investigations
Gov. Greg Abbott was ordered to release emails with Elon Musk. Most of the 1,400 pages are blacked out.
The heavily redacted emails reveal little of the two men’s relationship.
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Hill Country floods
Texas youth camps say cost of implementing new safety requirements will force them to close
During a Friday state hearing, parents of July 4 flood victims said camps should prioritize the safety even if costs are high.
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Texas Legislature 2023
Texas House approves $302.6 billion state budget with tax cuts and teacher and state employee raises
After a marathon debate, the bill will head to the Senate, where lawmakers have been crafting their own version of the spending plan.
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Foster Care in Texas
In abrupt retirement letter, an investigations director decries Texas’ “untenable” child welfare agency
Sharon Fonvielle-Baughman said Texas Department of Family and Protective Services leadership has failed to support the special investigators division, a unit created in 2005 to handle the most high-risk cases.
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Health care
Jennifer Shuford named commissioner of Texas public health agency
The infectious disease doctor has been at the helm of the department in an interim capacity since the fall, replacing longtime commissioner Dr. John Hellerstedt following his retirement.
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Criminal Justice
Texas will resume inmate transportation after completing review of convicted murderer’s escape
The review came after Gonzalo Lopez escaped on May 12 and eventually killed five people.
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Graphics and data reporting
T-Squared: Introducing our new salaries explorer
The Texas Tribune is excited to launch a new and revamped version of our Government Salaries Explorer.