Starting Jan. 1, 2026, Texas will implement a set of new laws that expand inventory tax exemptions for businesses, require most county jails to cooperate with federal immigration authorities, streamline evictions of squatters, mandate age checks and parental consent for app store users, and establish a statewide framework for regulating artificial intelligence and deep‑fake content.
Authorities in Harris County, Texas, report that about 1 million gallons of sulfuric acid leaked into the Houston Ship Channel from an industrial facility, sending two people to a hospital and triggering a multi-agency emergency response. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo says responders contained the incident and began environmental testing, with early indications that the most significant impact may affect water quality and marine life.
A little-known Texas law gives state regulators flexibility over how insurers price Affordable Care Act marketplace plans, using a method known as silver loading. As enhanced federal subsidies expire in the coming days, the law may help some Texans keep net premiums lower by concentrating rate increases in silver-tier plans, which determine federal tax credits. The measure applies to individual and family marketplace coverage across Texas and affects how premium changes interact with federal financial assistance.
Houston sneaker and apparel store Eight One in Texas reported two overnight thefts captured on video, showing three unidentified individuals stealing between $7,000 and $10,000 in hats, sneakers and electronics. Police are reviewing surveillance footage, interviewing staff and investigating forced entry at the shop. The store remains open while management repairs damage, checks inventory and reassesses security systems. No arrests have been announced and authorities have not identified any suspects.
Flu cases are rising sharply across Texas during the holiday season as health officials track a fast-spreading influenza variant. Hospitals, clinics and laboratories report increased patient visits and higher test positivity rates for flu. Authorities urge vaccination, early treatment and basic preventive measures such as handwashing, masking when symptomatic and staying home when sick. Public health agencies continue to monitor hospital capacity and community transmission while providing updated guidance for residents, schools, employers and long-term care facilities statewide.
A Houston family marked its first Christmas after losing its CenterPoint-area home in the July 4 floods. The Cottonware family relocated, received community aid, and rebuilt daily life while local agencies and relief groups continued long-term recovery work in flood-affected neighborhoods.
Fort Bend County officials and community leaders in Kendleton, Texas, have unveiled a new monument honoring African American history and announced plans for a Black cowboy museum and additional memorials. The initiative aims to document the contributions of African Americans, including formerly enslaved people and Black cowboys, through exhibits, artifacts, oral histories and educational partnerships. County leaders plan to use public and private funding, collaborate with historians and schools, and develop heritage tourism sites that connect monuments, museums and historic parks across Fort Bend County.
Texas State Representative Jared Patterson proposes a major change to his plan to restrict teen access to social media, citing rising global moves to limit platforms for minors. He calls social media the most dangerous product legally available to children in Texas and seeks stronger age verification, data protections and parental involvement.
The Republican Party of Texas is pursuing a federal lawsuit to close the state’s open primary system, arguing that crossover voting by Democrats and independents violates its First Amendment freedom of association. Disability advocates and voting access groups oppose a move to party registration, warning it could discourage participation by voters with disabilities through added administrative barriers.
Texas companies reported 27,188 layoffs in 2025 through WARN filings, a slight drop from 2024 but still driven by major cuts at Tyson Foods, FedEx, Chewy, TTEC and Southwest Airlines, along with smaller reductions across logistics, manufacturing and services. The data show how a handful of large events and dozens of moderate layoffs reshaped workforces statewide even as the broader Texas economy continued to add jobs.