My how time flies when you’re having fun! The first half of 2025 has flown by! I want to thank each of you for allowing me to serve as your TPA president. This organization has great leadership, a great board and most importantly an enthusiastic, engaged, and excited membership!

By BILL PATTERSON, TPA President 2024-25

The entire TPA staff deserves a big “thank you” for all they do for our organization and Texas newspapers. Thanks to Mike, Joel, Fred, Donnis, Sue, Stephanie, Priscilla, Candace, and Joanna.

Abbott has until June 22 to sign or veto bills

Texas legislators wrapped up the 89th session last week, passing more than 1,200 bills — 800 of which were sent to Gov. Greg Abbott in the last 10 days of the session, The Dallas Morning News reported. 

Legislative session wraps up

The dust hasn’t quite settled on the 2025 legislative session, but here’s a sampling of bills already sent to Gov. Greg Abbott.

• A ban on clubs supporting gay teens in public schools won final legislative passage on Saturday. The measure sponsored by state Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, would prohibit schools from authorizing or sponsoring student clubs based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

Several Democrats argued passionately against the bill, the Texas Tribune reported.

Editors: This is an early bulldog edition of Capital Highlights to accommodate early holiday deadlines. It will be updated Sunday if needed.

Less than a week remains in legislative session

Editors are regularly challenged: What mix of stories and photos will collectively make this edition a “must see” for readers and advertisers? There is no universal formula.

The first step in any market, however, is to know your community. Fundamental to providing pertinent coverage is living in the neighborhoods where your readers work and play.

By JIM PUMARLO, consultant

It is that time of year. 

The bluebonnets are in bloom, the hummingbirds are on the move, the days are longer and the afternoons are warmer. 

By Austin Lewter, director, Texas Center for Community Journalism

Spring of the year is upon us, but in the newspaper business that means a whole lot more than just the blooming of the cotton woods. 

It’s convention season. 

Press associations and trade groups are holding their summits and trade shows and awards dinners.

By BILL PATTERSON, TPA president 2024-25

Recently we have had several “hot button” issues come up with Texas publishers. It has been great to see the use of the publisher listserve to discuss various situations and feedback from your peers.

Your Texas Press Association was established for a number of reasons, one of which is interaction regarding market situations. At the same time, TPA members help each other deal with other important issues.

Abbott signs voucher bill into law

Gov. Greg Abbott last week signed a $1 billion private school voucher bill into law in front of a large crowd at the Governor’s Mansion, the San Antonio Express-News and other media outlets reported. Abbott called the new law the biggest legislative win of his time in the governor’s office and touted the new program as the largest in the nation.

House bill proposes new standardized test

A Texas House bill would eliminate the State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness test and replace it with a test comparing students’ performance to one another rather than state-set standards, the Austin American-Statesman reported.

House Bill 4 would also create benchmark tests to measure students’ academic performance throughout the year.

TEA releases 2023 A-F accountability ratings

After a prolonged delay because of a lawsuit filed by about 100 school districts, the Texas Education Agency has released the 2023 A-F accountability ratings, indicating the share of campuses that received a passing ranking dropped by 14% from 2022.