In this weekly post, we feature helpful research tools and recent articles of interest to the legislative community.

• Review the Hourly Wildfire Potential Index. (NOAA Research, August 28, 2025)
• Discover how to avoid healthy eating mistakes. (AARP, September 8, 2025)
• Find the new free anti-tobacco and vaping program. (Texas Department of State Health Services, September 9, 2025)
• Read about the 2025 App Privacy Index. (Tenscope, accessed September 10, 2025)
• Explore the Cooperative National Geologic Map. (U.S. Geological Survey, August 28, 2025)

Librarians review and select articles from more than 1,000 print and online sources to compile a weekly annotated list of Current Articles of interest to the legislative community. View this week's Current Articles.

Members of the Texas legislative community may request articles by using our online form or by calling 512-463-1252.

This entry was posted on September 11, 2025 at 3:15 PM and has received 72 views. Print this entry.

The 89th Legislature, 2nd Called Session, convened on Friday, August 15, 2025, and adjourned Sine Die on Thursday, September 4, 2025.

The last day for the Governor to sign or veto a bill is Wednesday, September 24, 2025 (Texas Constitution, Article 4, Section 14). If neither action is taken, the bill becomes law without the governor's signature.

The following bill statistics were calculated on September 10, 2025, at 8:00 a.m.

This entry was posted on September 10, 2025 at 11:00 AM and has received 414 views. Print this entry.

In this weekly post, we feature helpful research tools and recent articles of interest to the legislative community.

• See county-by-county impacts of Affordable Care Act health insurance enrollment in Texas. (Episcopal Health Foundation, July 21, 2025)
• Review similarities and differences in state-level artificial intelligence (AI) laws. (Center for Data Innovation, August 28, 2025)
• Consider the impact of the end of the de minimis exemption. (CNBC, August 29, 2025)
• Examine victimization rates and crime reporting in immigrant populations in the U.S. (Cato Institute, August 26, 2025)

Librarians review and select articles from more than 1,000 print and online sources to compile a weekly annotated list of Current Articles of interest to the legislative community. View this week's Current Articles.

Members of the Texas legislative community may request articles by using our online form or by calling 512-463-1252.

This entry was posted on September 4, 2025 at 3:15 PM and has received 126 views. Print this entry.

In this weekly post, we feature helpful research tools and recent articles of interest to the legislative community.

• Explore features of congressional districts. (Congressional Research Service, August 21, 2025)
• Map power grid vulnerability throughout the U.S. (Texas A&M University, August 14, 2025)
• Check out the 2025-2026 hunting season dates in Texas. (Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, accessed August 27, 2025)
• Review consumer privacy legislation by state. (National Conference of State Legislatures, updated July 28, 2025)

Librarians review and select articles from more than 1,000 print and online sources to compile a weekly annotated list of Current Articles of interest to the legislative community. View this week's Current Articles.

Members of the Texas legislative community may request articles by using our online form or by calling 512-463-1252.

This entry was posted on August 28, 2025 at 3:15 PM and has received 190 views. Print this entry.

In this weekly post, we feature helpful research tools and recent articles of interest to the legislative community.

• Track flood gages, lake conditions, and weather alerts in real time. (Texas Water Development Board, accessed August 20, 2025)
• Explore data visualizations of SEC statistics. (U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, accessed August 20, 2025)
• Try finding flight deals with AI. (Google, August 14, 2025)
• Read about the national debt. (Pew Research Center, August 12, 2025)

Librarians review and select articles from more than 1,000 print and online sources to compile a weekly annotated list of Current Articles of interest to the legislative community. View this week's Current Articles.

Members of the Texas legislative community may request articles by using our online form or by calling 512-463-1252.

This entry was posted on August 21, 2025 at 3:15 PM and has received 298 views. Print this entry.

In this weekly post, we feature helpful research tools and recent articles of interest to the legislative community.

• Review the dangers of hyperthermia. (Texas Department of State Health Services, © 2025)
• Find recalls from six federal agencies. (Consumer Product Safety Commission, accessed August 13, 2025)
• Read about different online tools to find older versions of internet websites. (How-To Geek, August 4, 2025)
• Look at climate forecasts for cities all over the world. (University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, accessed August 13, 2025)
• See bird migration forecasts as fall migration starts. (BirdCast, updated daily through November 15, 2025)

Librarians review and select articles from more than 1,000 print and online sources to compile a weekly annotated list of Current Articles of interest to the legislative community. View this week's Current Articles.

Members of the Texas legislative community may request articles by using our online form or by calling 512-463-1252.

This entry was posted on August 14, 2025 at 3:15 PM and has received 351 views. Print this entry.

The Library is continually adding new books to its collection. Below are the titles from our August 2025 New & Noteworthy list.

New & Noteworthy titles are available to Legislative offices and agencies. To borrow an item, please submit an online request through the New & Noteworthy page on our website or contact the library at 512-463-1252.

1. Politics of the Rio Grande Valley: An Insider's Perspective to Regional Politics
By Carlos D. Gutierrez-Mannix and Alexandre Couture Gagnon, editors
Offers a nuanced examination of regional politics in the Rio Grande Valley in a series of essays. Provides comprehensive analysis of the region and the social, political, and historical contexts in which it developed. Addresses a variety of issues, including immigration; border security; poverty and social economic conditions; environmental justice; social movements; Hispanic attitudes; and the power of local elected officials.
Lexington Books, 2025, 218 pages
320.9764 G984 2025

 

 

2. River Authority Uniformity Study: Staff Study With Final Results
By Texas Sunset Advisory Commission
Summarizes the 89th Legislature’s final actions on recommendations proposed in the Sunset Advisory Commission’s uniformity study on the operations and structures of river authorities. Reports that the Legislature acted on board terms but not on three proposed opportunities for improvement. Includes an appendix with summaries of the standards-based actions the Sunset Commission and Legislature applied to river authorities reviewed from 2015 through 2023.
Texas Sunset Advisory Commission, 2025, 16 pages
S1500.8 R621 2025

 

 

3. Birth in Times of Despair: Reproductive Violence on the US-Mexico Border
By Carina Heckert
Discusses the effects of the ongoing border crises and U.S. policies on the state of maternal health care in El Paso, Texas, and the US-Mexico border region. Examines how anti-immigrant policies, inadequate access to health services, and harmful sociocultural environments are a detriment to pregnant women and new mothers. Relies on interviews, surveys, and medical records to reflect the emotional experiences of pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period. Suggests a series of policy modifications to mitigate the suffering of this group of at-risk women.
New York University Press, 2024, 247 pages
362.1982009721 H449B 2024

 

 

4. Infinite Hope: The Story of One Man’s Wrongful Conviction, Solitary Confinement, and Survival on Death Row
By Anthony Graves
Presents the memoir of Anthony Graves, a former wrongfully convicted death row inmate in Texas, who was incarcerated for nearly two decades. Details how he prevailed against a flawed criminal justice system to prove his innocence and to achieve exoneration and release. Addresses the failures of the Texas criminal justice system, the harm of solitary confinement, and Graves’ continued advocacy for criminal justice reform.
Beacon Press, 2018, 197 pages
345.764 G776IN 2018

 

 

5. Dolph Briscoe: My Life in Texas Ranching and Politics
By Dolph Briscoe
Reflects on the life and experiences of Governor Dolph Briscoe through transcribed oral history interviews. Details Briscoe’s personal life through his familial roots and his experience working and managing ranches. Discusses his political career in the Texas House of Representatives from 1949 to 1957 and his return to public service as Governor from 1973 to 1979. Highlights some of Briscoe’s legislative priorities including the Constitutional Convention of 1974.
Center for American History, University of Texas at Austin, 2008, 284 pages
923.2764 B774B 2008

 

 

6. Indomitable Sarah: The Life of Judge Sarah T. Hughes
By Darwin Payne
Explores the life and careers of Judge Sarah Tilghman Hughes. Chronicles her early life in Baltimore; her law school experience; and her move to Dallas to begin her law career. Details Hughes’ campaigns for the Texas legislature and her service in the House of Representatives from 1931 to 1935. Addresses her judicial gubernatorial appointment and the Senate confirmation conflicts that occurred while she was still a legislator. Presents Hughes' many accomplishments, including being the first woman to serve as both a state district judge and federal district judge in Texas.
Southern Methodist University Press, 2004, 467 pages
923.2764 H874P 2004

 

 

This entry was posted on August 13, 2025 at 3:25 PM and has received 265 views. Print this entry.

In this weekly post, we feature helpful research tools and recent articles of interest to the legislative community.

• Read about online scams and attacks experienced by Americans. (Pew Research Service, July 31, 2025)
• Explore U.S. Supreme Court oral argument transcripts. (Free Law Project, July 31, 2025)
• Review the Trump Administration’s tariff actions from January 20, 2025 through July 28, 2025. (Congressional Research Service, July 30, 2025)
• Consider special registration fees for hybrid and electric vehicles by state. (National Conference of State Legislatures, updated July 27, 2025)

Librarians review and select articles from more than 1,000 print and online sources to compile a weekly annotated list of Current Articles of interest to the legislative community. View this week's Current Articles.

Members of the Texas legislative community may request articles by using our online form or by calling 512-463-1252.

This entry was posted on August 7, 2025 at 3:15 PM and has received 265 views. Print this entry.

In this weekly post, we feature helpful research tools and recent articles of interest to the legislative community.

• See which weekend is the upcoming Sales Tax Holiday in Texas. (Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, accessed July 30, 2025)
• Consider which cities have the worst traffic. (Consumer Affairs, July 16, 2025)
• Explore legal issues related to automated license plate readers. (Congressional Research Service, July 21, 2025)
• Read about reductions of the IRS workforce. (Treasury Inspector General For Tax Administration, July 18, 2025)

Librarians review and select articles from more than 1,000 print and online sources to compile a weekly annotated list of Current Articles of interest to the legislative community. View this week's Current Articles.

Members of the Texas legislative community may request articles by using our online form or by calling 512-463-1252.

This entry was posted on July 31, 2025 at 3:39 PM and has received 328 views. Print this entry.

In this weekly post, we feature helpful research tools and recent articles of interest to the legislative community.

• Consider potential changes to environmental reviews for spaceport launch sites. (ProPublica, July 22, 2025)
• Read about Social Security’s imminent funding shortfall. (Cato Institute, July 22, 2025)
• Explore questions raised by generative artificial intelligence (AI) relating to copyright law. (Congressional Research Service, July 18, 2025)
• Examine changes over time to religious services attendance. (Heritage Foundation, July 17, 2025)

Librarians review and select articles from more than 1,000 print and online sources to compile a weekly annotated list of Current Articles of interest to the legislative community. View this week's Current Articles.

Members of the Texas legislative community may request articles by using our online form or by calling 512-463-1252.

This entry was posted on July 24, 2025 at 3:15 PM and has received 302 views. Print this entry.