The Texas Legislature made a host of major decisions in 2025, as The Dallas Morning News reported.
Here are the highlights:
• Homeowners received a break on their proper -
ty taxes after approving a proposed constitutional
amendment in November.
The homestead exemption was increased to $140,000 from $100,000. People 65 and older were given an ad- ditional $60,000 exemption on top of that.
A major public school funding bill was passed, pumping $8.5 billion into raises for teachers and sup -
port staff and additional operational funding. Law - makers also approved a statewide school voucher plan with $1 billion in ini tial funding. Eligible fami- lies can use public funds for private schools.
• The Texas Lottery Commission was abolished, with oversight moved to the Department of Licens ing and Regulation. Online ticket sales were banned, as were courier services.
• After devastating floods in the Hill Country, especially along the Gua -
dalupe River, killed at least 135 people, lawmakers ap - proved funding to strength - en flood warning systems, expand river and rainfall gauges, and speed updates to flood-risk mapping.
Warm, dry holiday weather elevates
wildfire risk
Texas A&M Forest Service is warning that unseasonably dry and warm weather conditions are rais- ing the risk of wildfire as the New Year approaches.
“We have seen above-normal grass pro duction across large areas of Texas, especially near Abilene, Wichita Falls, Lubbock, Childress and Amarillo,” said Luke Kanclerz of the forest service.
“These grasses are now dormant and freeze-cured, which means they dry quickly and can support wildfire activity when wind speeds increase."
About 90% of wildfires in the state are caused by human activity, with debris burning and equipment use accounting for the majority.
Before traveling, drivers are urged to inspect their vehi cles to make sure tires are properly inflated and trailer safety chains are secure to prevent creating sparks that can cause wildfires.
A total of 103 T e x a s count ie s are currently under a burn ban. A list of counties under a burn ban can be found at https://tfsweb. tamu.edu/.
Judge blocks app store age verification law
A federal judge tempo rarily blocked a new state law that would require app stores to verify the ages of users and restrict use by those under 18, the San Antonio Express-News re - ported. U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman granted an injunction against the law, which was set to take effect Jan. 1, saying it likely vio - lates free speech rights un der the First Amendment.
“The act is akin to a law that would require every bookstore to verify the age of every customer at the door and, for minors, require parental consent be fore the child or teen could enter and again when they try to purchase a book," Pit man wrote.
Attorney General Ken Paxton said he would ap -
peal the ruling.
The law would require
app store users to be over 18 or to have parental con sent before downloading or purchasing an app. Tech companies such as Apple and Google objected, call - ing it a violation of privacy and saying it would affect
all apps, including those dedicated to news, sports or
weather.
Paxtons’ divorce files unsealed
After months of legal wrangling, the files in the divorce case of Angela and Ken Paxton have been released. The files show Angela Paxton contended the marriage has become "unsupportable" in part be -
cause of his infidelity, the Houston Chronicle report ed. Several media compa nies sued to force the re- lease of the files, contend - ing the public had a right to know since both parties are public elected officials. An - gela Paxton is a Republican state senator from McKinney. Ken Paxton is leaving his attorney general post in a bid to unseat incumbent U.S. Sen. John Cornyn in the March GOP primary.
The couple in mid-De cember agreed to make the files public just before a scheduled hearing on whether the records should remain sealed.
In her motion for divorce, Angela Paxton said the 38-year marriage had become insupportable and asked for a larger portion of their assets. Ken Paxton responded that his wife should “take nothing.”
South Texas builders: ICE arrests upend industry
Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents have arrested more than 9,100 people in South Tex as, The Texas Tribune re- ported, and builders say the arrests are slowing construction of new homes.
The arrests account for nearly one-fifth of all ICE arrests in the entire state.
Mario Guerrero, exec utive director of the South Texas Builders Association, said ICE agents were operating without arrest warrants — which they can do legally — but are also detaining people who have proper authorization.
"It's what's happening across the Rio Grande Val ley at construction sites,” he said.
Data from the Federal Reserve of Dallas indicates a 5% drop in construction jobs during the third quarter of 2025.
New refuge for whooping cranes on Texas coast Conservation groups have purchased more than 3,000 acres of prairie on an isolated stretch along the Gulf of Mexico to pre serve as habitat for the en- dangered whooping crane, The Tribune reported. The $8 million purchase of two tracts in Calhoun County provides winter grounds for the world's last wild flock of whooping cranes.
“Large, intact coastal landscapes are disappear - ing fast, and protecting this one is a major win,” said Julie Shackelford, Texas state director of The Con- servation Fund, which pur chased the 2,200-acre Cos- ta Grande Ranch. Another coastal property consisting of 1,100 acres was bought by the International Crane Foundation.
Barely two dozen whooping cranes remained a century ago. Conservation efforts have increased the last wild flock to near - ly 600. The flock migrates annually from Canada’s bo- real forest to the Texas Gulf Coast.
"As the populations have
grown, they have expanded more and more off of those protected lands," said Car ter Crouch of the International Crane Foundation.
“If we want to have a continually growing and recov- ering population, we need to secure sufficient winter ing habitat.”
Gary Borders is a veteran award-winning Texas journalist. He published a number of community newspapers in Texas during a 30-year span, including in Longview, Fort Stockton, Nacogdoches, Lufkin and Cedar Park. Email: gborders@ texaspress.com.
