Texas
DHS asked Texas to hand over driver’s license data for citizenship checks
It’s the latest step to pool confidential data that the Trump administration claims will help identify noncitizens on voter rolls and tighten immigration enforcement.
A new South Texas data center will rely on untapped renewable energy
The new data center will work directly with a nearby windfarm to use energy the windfarm can’t send to the state’s electricity grid.
A North Texas community will vote to form a city in an effort to quiet down a crypto mine
Leaders of the effort say they moved to rural Hood County for its quiet country charm, which was shattered by what locals call “that roar” from the facility.
Texas counties struggle to process voter registrations using state’s new TEAM system
State officials push back on complaints about software problems. Meanwhile, unprocessed applications are piling up.
How tech-assisted care coordination can help communities bounce back after severe storms
Care coordination platforms can assist government and other organizations to more efficiently respond to and plan for an increase in residents’ demand for social services amid natural disasters, a new report says.
Texas educators praise new school cellphone ban
The new state ban took effect on Sept. 1, and Texas’ more than 1,200 public school districts have adopted policies ranging from secure phone pouches to increased monitoring.
Growing Texas city turns to agentic AI to help with customer service
Kyle, Texas recently launched an initiative it dubbed “Agent Kyle,” to help answer questions and resolve issues reported to its 311 call centers. It comes as the city has experienced explosive growth in recent years.
From a cell phone ban to Ten Commandments posters, new state laws bring big changes to Texas schools
Lawmakers also approved new teacher raises, banned DEI initiatives and gave schools more flexibility to discipline students.
Cruz introduces weather radio modernization bill with a new focus on flood communications
This comes after Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, voted in favor of the spending megabill that rescinded funds for NOAA.
How prenegotiated, cooperative procurement helps drive innovation for governments
The Texas Department of Information Resources is leveraging state-level procurement negotiations to help deliver innovative solutions to local public safety organizations.
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Supreme Court upholds Texas online age verification law
Justices said a state law requiring adult entertainment sites to verify users’ ages is constitutional.
Gov. Greg Abbott signs law creating Texas Cyber Command
The Texas governor had declared creating a cyber command an emergency item earlier this year. State officials said it will be the largest state-based cyber department in the U.S.
Texas lawmakers pull funding for child identification kits again after newsrooms report they don’t work
For the second legislative session, lawmakers have withdrawn funding for a company selling kits that promise to help find missing kids after ProPublica and The Texas Tribune reported there’s no evidence to support that claim.
Texas Legislature gives new city of Starbase authority to shut down local beach for SpaceX launches
Local organizations strongly opposed the measure, hosting phone banking events to urge lawmakers to vote against the bill.
Bill that would have banned Texas minors from social media misses key deadline
House Bill 186, approved by the lower chamber in May, never received a vote in the Senate.
Texas Cyber Command will mean ‘expanding’ cybersecurity help, state official says
A bill to create the command is being pushed by Gov. Greg Abbott, and a Texas tech leader said it will help the state better achieve its cyber goals.
Texas lawmakers are poised to ban minors from social media
The Texas Legislature has already passed a bill requiring age verification to download apps and is seriously considering another to ban children from social media.
Ken Paxton says Google will pay Texas $1.4B to settle privacy suit
The state attorney general sued Google in 2022, alleging it unlawfully tracked and collected users’ private data.
Texas lawmakers want to spend millions on Child ID kits. Experts say there’s no evidence they work.
Texas legislators slipped millions for child ID kits into a 1,000-page budget proposal. The move comes two years after they quietly cut funding for such kits following a ProPublica and Texas Tribune report that showed there’s no evidence they work.
SpaceX workers in South Texas vote yes to create City of Starbase
Critics of Elon Musk and SpaceX say that a new city will give more power to a company they believe is harming the environment.
