Far from the Capitol, students at Texas Tech spend time examining the quality of beef for meat judging competitions.

Lawmakers sought to close gaps in education and support funding for agriculture, disaster preparedness and health care this year.

House Bill 46, which awaits Gov. Greg Abbott’s approval, would include more patients with chronic pain and allow for prescribed vaporized and aerosol products.

Senate Bill 6, which now heads to the governor’s desk, gives the state’s electricity managers the ability to shut power to large consumers during emergencies.

House Bill 46 would increase the number of health conditions eligible and would offer smokeable products under the state’s medical marijuana program.

According to ERCOT, the state’s energy demand may double in six years.

The legislation, which won unanimous approval in both chambers, was written following the state’s historic Panhandle wildfires last year.

As lawmakers work to close loopholes that allow minors access to cannabis consumables, hemp farmers warn a total THC ban would strangle a once-hailed crop.

The legislation was written after the state’s largest wildfire scorched more than 1 million acres in the Panhandle last year.

A proposal to create a statewide system connecting emergency personnel and agencies is among several bills that target problems exposed in 2024.

Among the proposals is a bill that would force more inspections of power lines, which a committee concluded ignited a blaze that burned more than 1 million acres last year.

Mike Morath made the recommendation as concerns rise that phones are harmful to students’ mental health and distract them from learning.

No state agency is taking responsibility for making sure the privately built lines that power many oil and gas sites are safe. Such lines have been blamed for sparking two recent Panhandle fires.

Short of an immediate statewide response, Texans who lost homes and livestock are taking matters into their own hands to better prepare their property for a wildfire.

Thursday’s hearing marked the end of the Legislature’s three-day marathon of public hearings.

The Texas A&M Forest Service concluded that a fallen decayed utility pole caused the Smokehouse Creek fire.

A special legislative committee is investigating what caused the Smokehouse Creek fire, the largest in state history.

The panel of three lawmakers and two residents will also look at disaster preparedness.

With the March 5 election just a few days away, six anti-voucher House GOP incumbents managed to sidestep Abbott’s revenge warpath.

The two new measure could bring $1.3 billion more to schools to pay for security systems, fencing and personnel training.

The bill comes in response to the Uvalde school shooting last year that left 19 children and two adults dead.

The Senate education committee has drastically changed House Bill 100 after Gov. Greg Abbott signaled he would call a special session if a voucher-like program didn’t pass.

Lawmakers have already proposed directing billions of dollars to schools so they can lower property taxes and pay for safety upgrades. But House Bill 100 would be the first to increase the amount of money districts receive to raise teacher pay and cover the actual costs of educating students.

Texas schools could offer up to $25,000 stipends to teachers and staff who accept the dual role of being armed campus “sentinels” with specialized mental health training under a proposal that state lawmakers advanced Tuesday in response to the Uvalde classroom shooting.

Rural school leaders in Texas have been able to stave off the legislative priority of some of the state’s most prominent Republicans. But private school officials hope this year will be different.