State of Texas

Texas officials are eying ways to protect a massive state-funded school property tax cut from being eroded by local bond issues and tax increases.

Governors in the drought-prone region are asking their legislatures for funding to boost future water supply or to repair aging water infrastructure.

The Lone Star State is expected to add 225,000 jobs in 2025, down from 244,000 last year, according to the Dallas Federal Reserve's annual forecast.

Legislation to create an education savings account program that would cost an initial $1 billion and serve nearly 100,000 students advanced out of a committee.

The state House and Senate announced their spending plans for the upcoming biennium, including funding to continue and increase 2023's state-funded tax cut.

The state comptroller forecasts a $23.8 billion budget balance at the start of fiscal 2026-27, down from a record $39.4 billion for fiscal 2024-25.

The Texas Attorney General will end reviews of Bank of America, Morgan Stanley and JP Morgan after the banks recently left the Net-Zero Banking Alliance.

The bank, which has been under review by the Texas attorney general over its involvement in the Net-Zero Banking Alliance, said it is leaving the group.

BofA and Morgan Stanley left the Net-Zero Banking Alliance, but there was no word from the Texas attorney general on their status as bond underwriters in the state.

Six Texas cities sued the state comptroller over a rule that altered where sales taxes would be collected on certain online purchases.

The bank's termination of its membership in the Net-Zero Banking Alliance ended a state review that could have led to a ban for governmental contracts.

A lawsuit filed by a business group in federal court in August claims a 2021 Texas law violates free speech protections.

General fund revenue growth of only 1.1% in the fiscal year that ended Saturday, marks a continued slowdown since fiscal 2022's 26.4% increase.

The lawsuit contends a state law that punishes banks and others for "boycotting" the fossil fuel industry violates free speech provisions in the U.S. Constitution.

The Texas Water Development Board expects to sell up to $1.8 billion of tax-exempt and taxable bonds in September.

Overall state general fund revenue is on track with an October estimate, while the projection for the fiscal 2024-2025 yearend balance faces changes.

The state's new law requires companies like investment banks to provide written verification of their positions, part of a trend among similar bills aimed at preventing Wall Street banks from lying about their positions, said a firearms industry lobbyist.

Its state university systems face a funding freeze for noncompliance with a 2023 state law banning diversity, equity, and inclusion offices.

The state's transportation commission took action to end a comprehensive development agreement for a partially bond-financed toll lane project on State Highway 288.

Laws banning banks from underwriting municipal bond deals because of their fossil fuel or firearm policies dramatically boosted underwriting spreads, a business group's study said.