Texas Democrats began putting their election agenda into legislation this week, filing bills to repeal abortion bans, remove restrictions on sex-rejecting procedures for minors, end school choice and add gun restrictions. Other proposals would limit border-wall agreements on state park land and spend $17 billion on household checks without an express citizenship requirement.
Gov.-elect Gina Hinojosa (D-Texas) also pledged to remove CAIR’s Texas terrorist designation as a third county denounced Sharia. Across DFW, Dallas approved the Preston-Royal towers amid neighborhood opposition, McKinney’s recall effort cleared its signature threshold, and DFW Airport announced a $194 million hotel purchase.
Here are the stories and updates that helped shape the week.
Abortion, children, school choice and gun rights
- Texas Democrats File Pro-Abortion Bills Targeting State Bans, Restrictions On Sex-Rejecting Procedures For Minors
- Texas Parents’ Group Warns Of Wider Rollbacks As Democrats File 7 School Choice Repeal Bills
- Texas Gun Bills Would Reverse Red Flag Ban, Add New Restrictions
- Texas’ Next Chief Justice Targets Judges’ Religious Opt-Out For Same-Sex Weddings
Why It Matters: Democrats’ bills would undo abortion bans, parental-consent rules for minors’ abortions, restrictions on sex-rejecting procedures for minors and school choice, while adding gun restrictions. The incoming chief justice also wants to end judges’ religious accommodation for declining same-sex weddings. These changes still require legislative or court approval.
Border barriers, immigration and taxpayer-funded benefits
- Texas Democrat Seeks Border Wall Limits Despite Security Concerns
- Texas Democrat Revives Mexico Guest Worker Plan As H-1B Scrutiny Intensifies
- Texas Democrat’s $1,500 Household Payment Bill Omits Citizenship Requirement
- Texas Democrats File Two Medicaid Expansion Bills, One Tied to Voter Approval
Why It Matters: The border bill would bar state and local agreements for barriers on state park land. Separate proposals would spend $17 billion on $1,500 household checks without an express citizenship test, expand Medicaid and recruit temporary workers from Mexico with federal permission. Eligibility, enforcement and taxpayer costs are central to these proposals.
CAIR, Sharia and a third county’s rejection
- Hinojosa Vows To Strip CAIR’s Texas Terror Label
- 3rd Texas County Denounces Sharia Law In Unanimous Vote
- ‘Confront The Disbelievers’: Imam Behind Richardson Mosque Touts Sharia
- Packed Courtroom Applauds As East Texas County Denounces Sharia Law
Why It Matters: Hinojosa would reverse Texas’ designation of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, which disputes it. U.S. Rep. Keith Self (R-Texas) announced Hopkins as the third county to denounce Sharia, following Van Zandt’s October 7 proclamation. Imam Karim AbuZaid promoted Sharia and confrontation, then told The Dallas Express he rejected violence and forced conversion and meant no physical confrontation.
Who holds power in Austin
- 15,000 Petitions Demand Abbott Rein In Emergency Powers Before Hinojosa Takes Over
- Three Former Republican Speakers Join Democrat’s Texas House Transition Team
- Exclusive: Texas Democrat’s House Win Faces Felony Challenge; Attorney Says No Pardon Found
Why It Matters: Republicans want Gov. Greg Abbott (R-Texas) to limit emergency powers before Hinojosa takes office. Three former GOP speakers joined state Rep. Senfronia Thompson’s (D-District 141) transition team, though the House has not elected its next speaker. Democrat Ericka Lomick disputes a felony-based challenge to her House eligibility.
DFW city halls, neighborhood fights and public assets
- Dallas OKs $800M Preston-Royal Towers 9-6 As Willis Faces Recall Drive
- McKinney Confirms Enough Signatures For Recall Vote On Mayor, 3 Council Members
- Dallas Zoning Draft Raises New Questions Over Duplexes And Neighborhood Protections
- DFW Airport Buys $194 Million Hyatt Regency: What The Deal Means For Dallas And Fort Worth
Why It Matters: Dallas approved the $800 million Preston-Royal towers 9-6 as Council Member Gay Donnell Willis faced a recall drive. McKinney’s recall cleared its signature threshold. Dallas’ zoning rewrite remains a draft, while DFW Airport announced a $194 million hotel purchase. These decisions and proposals affect neighborhood protections, public assets and residents’ control over local government.
Dallas police staffing, Deep Ellum and DART safety
- Two Years After Prop U, Dallas Still 557 Officers Short
- Dallas Police Academy Funding Gap Raises New Prop U Questions
- 18-Year-Old Faces Capital Murder Charge In Deep Ellum Triple Killing
- DART Approves $47.4M For Safety; 24/7 Officer Plan Still Missing
Why It Matters: Dallas remains 557 officers below Proposition U’s minimum, and the police academy still faces a funding gap. Police charged an 18-year-old in the Deep Ellum triple killing. DART has approved $47.4 million for security and cleanliness, but still lacks an identified, funded plan for protection officers on every bus and train around the clock.
American workers, property taxes and Y’All Street
- H-1B Reform Deadline Arrives As North Texas Fraud Investigations Raise Alarm
- Texas Bill Would Cut Homestead Appraisal Cap To 3%. What About A $200,000 Exemption?
- Frost Leaves Wall Street For Y’All Street As Dallas Exchange Lands $54.5 Billion Banking Giant
Why It Matters: Visa rules, worker protections and property taxes remain live policy fights. The visa-extension proposal’s comment deadline passed November 13. A Texas bill would lower the homestead appraisal cap to 3%, subject to legislative and voter approval, while Frost’s move to the Texas Stock Exchange marks another gain for Dallas’ financial sector.
Travel warnings, holiday help and a South Dallas landmark
- ‘Extraordinary Circumstances’: FAA Lifts Rare Coast-To-Coast Halt To Takeoffs
- The Big Bird Day: American Airlines Plans 7,021 Flights On Thanksgiving’s Busiest Sunday
- BMW Owners Urged To Park Outside As 720,796 Vehicles Face Repeat Recall
- More Than 37,000 North Texans Seek Christmas Help Through Angel Tree
- Free H-E-B Holiday Dinners Return To Fort Worth And Dallas
- South Dallas Takes Center Stage: Historic Forest Theater Begins A New Era
Why It Matters: The FAA lifted Friday’s nationwide ground stop that night, while BMW urged affected owners to park outside. Holiday travelers face a busy American Airlines schedule. Closer to home, Angel Tree gifts are due December 5, Dallas’ free Feast of Sharing takes place November 18, and the restored Forest Theater has reopened.
That was the week. If you missed it, now you are caught up.
