This report highlights key legislation that passed during the 89th Session and will soon become law. For each bill, we’ve included links to our in-depth analysis — typically based on the version considered on 2nd reading. Jump to a specific…
Meeting Texas’ Growing Energy Demands
As Texas grows, the demand on the state’s energy resources and infrastructure is intensifying. At the same time, the state is still addressing vulnerabilities in its power grid exposed by Winter Storm Uri in 2021. This report outlines the challenges…
The Texas Healthcare Crisis: Millions Uninsured, Physician Shortages, and the Fight for Women’s Care
Texas faces a healthcare crisis characterized by three significant challenges: a large uninsured population, adversities in women’s healthcare, and a growing physician shortage. With federal pandemic-era health protections expiring and over half of Texas counties lacking access to primary care…
LSG Analysis of the House-Introduced Budget
Introduction Across the country, states’ revenue growth has been leveling off since 2021, when an influx of federal stimulus funds, increased consumer spending, and a strong labor market boosted revenues (NCSL). Still, most states, including Texas, remain on solid financial…
Understanding the Child Care Crisis in Texas
Introduction Child care programs provide children with safe, nurturing environments to learn and grow, enabling parents to work to support their families and the state’s economy. Recent reports show Texas is home to about 2.3 million children under six, with…
Texas Water Policy Primer
Introduction Water is the world’s most precious resource — crucial for human survival, food production, energy generation, and economic prosperity. However, it is also a finite resource that varies widely by location. Because of our interconnected water systems, any individual…
How Texas can Support our Immigrant Population (Part 3)
Our Constitution grants the federal government the power to enforce immigration. However, the day-to-day lives of non-citizens are impacted by both the federal government and its state and local counterparts. This LSG report will provide an update on recent Congressional…
Dispelling pervasive myths about immigrants (Part 2)
American misconceptions about immigrants are as old as the nation itself. This misinformation can reinforce hateful rhetoric or inspire discriminatory acts against immigrants and result in misinformed policies that are unhelpful at best and harmful at worst. This report dispels…
U.S. and Texas Immigration Background (Part 1)
Introduction Given its global, economic, security, and humanitarian concerns, it’s no wonder that immigration has been a topic of debate for decades. Immigration has also long been a source of partisan fighting, but the upcoming general election coupled with federal…
A Recap of the Third and Fourth Special Sessions
The third and fourth special sessions have ended without passing vouchers and without additional funding for schools. While the former is cause for celebration, it is deplorable that the Governor continues to hold school funding and teacher pay hostage in…