Austin, TX
What to expect as the 89th Texas legislative session gets underway
AUSTIN, Texas (KBTX) -The 89th Texas legislative session kicks off Tuesday, with lawmakers set to address major issues ranging from school vouchers and immigration to water policy and sports gambling. With a Republican-dominated legislature and more than 2,300 pre-filed bills, experts predict a high-stakes 140 days.
Legislative makeup and new members
Republicans maintain control of both chambers, holding 20 of 31 seats in the Senate and 88 of 150 seats in the House. Democrats control 11 Senate seats and 62 House seats. The Senate gained one additional Republican member since the last session, and three senators are serving their first term.
The House welcomes 32 new representatives, including Brazos Valley’s District 14′s Paul Dyson, and District 12′s Trey Wharton, while also flipping two seats in November’s elections.
“This session could bring significant changes,” said Kirby Goidel, a political science professor at Texas A&M University’s Bush School of Government and Public Service. “What the state legislature does in Texas is probably even more important to you than what happens in Washington, D.C.”
Key issues on the agenda
Among the most debated topics this session is school vouchers, a priority for Gov. Greg Abbott. Lawmakers have struggled to pass a bill in the last session which included five special sessions, but experts say momentum is growing.
“This should be something that would be easy for them to get done,” Goidel said. “The challenge is really in the details. Should vouchers be everywhere? If they are everywhere, do they hurt rural school districts without as many private school choices?”
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Another focal point will be immigration. Republican lawmakers are considering creating a state agency to handle border security and immigration policies independently of federal initiatives.
“There’s a feeling, I think, on the Republican side that now that you have a Republican in the White House, maybe that maybe there’s a dividend that we that we get back because we don’t have to spend as much time as an energy on immigration,” Goidel said. “Republicans also feel like they owe their voters to show that they are addressing the immigration issue.”
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Sports gambling is also likely to spark debate, with advocates pushing for legalization to recapture millions of dollars currently spent in other states.
“We know people in Texas are gambling on sports,” Goidel said. “There is going to be a big push to try to make that legal.”
Infrastructure and budget surplus
Water export from the Brazos Valley is expected to be a significant issue as lawmakers address statewide water policy during the 89th legislative session. With the region sitting atop critical water resources, local leaders and residents have voiced concerns about plans to transport water to urban areas outside the Brazos Valley. These exports could strain local supplies and impact long-term sustainability for agriculture and growing communities within the region.
“This is gonna be a session that’s going to have to deal with some of the water resources confronting the state,” Goidel said.
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Lawmakers will also contend with a budget surplus, with a key update from the state’s revenue estimating commission expected Monday. The surplus could influence property tax relief and other funding priorities.
“Many people are expecting [the surplus] to be very big—we may all get some property tax relief,” Goidel said.
A busy session ahead
The pre-filing of more than 2,300 bills—over 1,600 in the House and 700 in the Senate—gives a glimpse of the legislative priorities. Topics such as public education funding, social issues, and infrastructure are expected to emerge alongside the core debates.
Incoming state Rep. Paul Dyson weighs in on speaker race splitting House Republicans
The speaker’s race has revealed divisions within the Republican Party, with lawmakers split between the establishment faction and the MAGA-aligned wing, a dynamic that could influence the tone and priorities of the 89th session.
“We walk into the Texas legislative session this year not really sure who the speaker is going to be because there is a division within the Republican Party—between what I don’t really like these terms, but I’ll use them anyway—sort of between the establishment side of the Republican Party and the MAGA side,” Goidel said. “That’s got to be resolved before anything gets done, and how that gets resolved could affect everything else that follows.”
Looking ahead
With a packed agenda and a Republican-controlled legislature, experts say this session will shape Texas’ future on multiple fronts. The session, which runs for 140 days, begins Tuesday. Lawmakers are required to pass a budget before the term concludes, but political observers will also watch closely to see how key debates unfold.
KBTX News 3 will have a team in Austin on Tuesday, bringing you the sights and sounds from opening day.
CONTINUING 89TH LEGISLATIVE SESSION COVERAGE
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AUSTIN, Texas – Central Texans gather to celebrate Juneteenth or “Freedom Day” on June 19 and commemorate the end of slavery.
What you can do:
The Greater East Austin Youth Association (GEAYA) is hosting the Central Texas Juneteenth Parade and Festival today (6/19).
It’s free and taking place at Rosewood Park in East Austin located at 2300 Rosewood Ave.
The schedule for the events is as follows:
- ACME Juneteenth FunRun – 8:30 AM – 9:30 AM
- Juneteenth Historical Parade – 10 AM – 12 PM
- Park Celebration and Fireworks – 12 PM – 9:45 PM
Other events
On June 20, the Carver Kickback: Juneteenth Edition will be taking place 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the George Washington Carver Museum, Cultural, and Genealogy Center located at 1165 Angelina Street.
It will be a day of celebration and remembrance and there will be BBQ plates and music as well as vendors and hands-on activations.
The backstory:
Juneteenth commemorates the end of formal slavery in Texas on June 19, 1865, two and a half years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, and more than one month following the end of the American Civil War.
Colloquially known as “The Black 4th of July,” Juneteenth marks the beginning of an African American journey to carve a new place in society for free people to shape identities independent of racial caricature, eradicate slave culture, promote ethnic pride, and create economic prosperity.
The Source: Information from City of Austin and Greater East Austin Youth Association and reporting by Jessica Rivera.
Juneteenth celebrations are happening across the city this weekend. The events will mark the 161st anniversary of the day Union troops arrived in Galveston Bay to announce that more than 250,000 enslaved people in Texas were free. The announcement on June 19, 1865, came more than two years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. June 19 — known as Juneteenth — became a federal holiday in 2021.
From historical bike rides to Austin’s annual parade, here are seven events taking place in Austin.
Annual Juneteenth FunRun, June 19
The city of Austin’s African American Cultural and Heritage Facility will host a fun run starting at 8:30 a.m. on Friday at East Martin Luther King Jr. Street and Leona Street, and concluding at Hargrave Street near the Millennium Youth Entertainment Complex. Participants will have one hour to complete the course. The route is the same as the parade through the African American Historical Cultural District that will start later that morning. Runners and walkers of all ages and levels can participate.
Central Texas Juneteenth Parade & Festival, June 19
The annual Juneteenth parade will take place Friday and begin at 10 a.m. at East Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Leona Street and will travel down to Chicon Street before turning on Rosewood Avenue. The parade will feature floats, live music and performers.
A Very Juneteenth Comedy Jam, June 19
The Velveeta Room, Austin’s longest-running comedy club, will have shows highlighting Black voices Friday night at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. The 18+ event will feature comedians like Freddy Do Less and Roderick McDaniel. Tickets for both shows are around $23.
Sistas Walk And Talk: Juneteenth Edition, June 20
Texas Sistas Society will host a 3-mile walk and talk Saturday at 515 S. Pleasant Valley Road starting at 7:45 a.m. Texas Sistas Society is an Austin-based community created for Black women and women of color. Attendees are encouraged to wear Juneteenth colors: red, yellow, green or black, and to RSVP ahead of time.
The Carver Kickback: Juneteenth Edition, June 20
The George Washington Carver Museum in Austin is dedicated to creating a “space where the global contributions of all Black people are celebrated.” The museum is hosting a free celebration from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday with barbecue plates, live music, vendors and activities for all ages.
Black Auteur Film Festival, June 20
The Black Auteur Film Festival, a nonprofit dedicated to uplifting Black filmmakers in Texas, is hosting its third annual film festival to showcase short films directed by Black Texans at AFS Cinema on Saturday. One filmmaker will win the $1,000 “Best of Fest” award, and attendees can enter a raffle for a chance to win Austin Film Society memberships and movie tickets. The festival runs from 2 to 5 p.m. Tickets are $14.
Juneteenth Social Ride, June 21
Black History Bike Ride, an Austin nonprofit teaching people about the city’s Black history through cycling, is hosting its seventh annual Juneteenth ride starting at the Haskell House on Saturday at 10 a.m. Austin-based historian Harrison Eppright will serve as the ride’s guide. Registration is required for all attendees. The event is free, but donations are encouraged.
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Data analyst Corey Yeung created the ATX Running Guide to help runners find community across Central Texas. What started as a personal project has become one of Austin’s most comprehensive running resources.
Looking for a Run Club? There’s a Map for That
When Corey Yeung moved to Austin three years ago, he had a simple question:
“How many run clubs are actually out there?” The answer wasn’t easy to find. While several websites listed local groups, Yeung felt none offered a complete picture. So, he decided to build one himself. What started as a spreadsheet evolved into ATX Running Guide, a website and social media platform that helps runners discover clubs throughout the Austin area.
“The list would be more useful if it were a map and search tool,” Yeung said. “The Instagram page was simply a way to communicate those free resources to the community.”
Today, the guide covers running groups from San Marcos to Hutto and serves as a one-stop resource for runners looking to connect. In this episode of KXAN’S Plus Simple Health, Corey Yeung walks us through everything you need to know about the 200-plus running clubs in Austin.
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