Paxton, Cornyn gear up for primary battle

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton made it official last week, announcing he will challenge U.S. Sen. John Cornyn in next March’s Republican primary. The fireworks already have begun, the Austin American-Statesman reported, with Cornyn calling his rival “a con man and a fraud.”

Appeals court: TEA can release A-F school ratings

A judge with the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled last week that the Texas Education Agency can release its 2023 A-F school accountability ratings, the Houston Chronicle reported.

Senate bill would curb home insurance rates without approval

Lawmakers in the Texas Senate are considering a measure that would require home insurers to get approval from regulators before increasing rates more than 10%, the Houston Chronicle reported.

Senate backs prayer time, Ten Commandments in classrooms

The Texas Senate last week passed a bill to allow school districts to set aside time for in-school prayer and gave initial approval to requiring all schools to post a copy of the Ten Commandments in every classroom.

Texas farmers concerned over growing trade war

Texas farmers are voicing growing concerns about tariffs being enacted by President Trump adversely affecting their ability to sell agricultural goods overseas, the Houston Chronicle reported. Texas Farm Bureau President Russell Boening said the tariffs could be especially tough on younger farmers.

House proposes $7.5 billion in new school funding

Critics say a House bill proposing $7.5 billion in new funding for public education doesn’t go far enough, The Dallas Morning News reported. House Bill 2 would raise the per-student allotment by $220, to $6,360 a year. It would also invest $750 million in teacher pay and $450 million in teacher training. 

Voucher bill has backing of House majority

A slim majority of Texas House members have indicated they will back House Bill 3, which creates education savings accounts that allow families to use taxpayer money for private school education. The Dallas Morning News reported that 75 Republican legislators have signed on with the bill’s author, state Rep. Brad Buckley, R-Salado, to support the measure.

House unveils its voucher version

EDITORS: This is an early bulldog edition of Capital Highlights to accommodate early deadlines for the President's Day holiday. It will be updated Sunday if needed.

Lawmaker calls for probe into $95 million lottery jackpot

Voucher bill passes Senate, arrives in House