Texas

The state of Texas is the second largest in the US by area, and population. With nearly 270,000 sq.miles in area, and over 28 million residents living in the state, the south-central state shares borders with Louisiana, Arkansas, New Mexico, and Oklahoma. It is also bordered by Mexican states and the Gulf of Mexico. Houston is the state’s most populous city and 4th most populous city in the country. It was admitted as the 28th state into the union on December 29, 1845.

Texas’ economy was driven by four-prominent industries prior to WWII including cattling, timber, oil, and cotton. The discovery of oil deposits in the state led to the economic boom and was the main driving force in the state throughout the 20th century. Since 2002 Texas has been the leading state in the US in exports, and maintains the second highest GDP in the nation. Today the state is a leading producer in oil, is one of the leading states in government jobs in the tech industry, and has one of the largest economies throughout the US and worldwide.

The government of Texas was set up by the Texas Constitution, and consists of a unitary democratic state government operating under a presidential system that uses the Dillon Rule, as well as governments at the county and municipal levels.  The Dillon Rule is  a legal principle that local governments have limited authority, and can pass ordinances only in areas where they have been granted authority by the larger state government.  The executive branch of the Texas state government includes the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Comptroller of Public Accounts, Land Commissioner, Attorney General, Agriculture Commissioner, the three-member Texas Railroad Commission, the State Board of Education, and the Secretary of State.   The system in Texas limits the power of the Governor, as each executive branch member (with the exception of the Secretary of State) are elected independently.

Much like the federal government, the legislature of Texas has two houses-the Texas House of Representatives and the Senate.  Again, like the federal government, the Speaker of the House leads the House of Representatives, and the Lieutenant Governor leads the Senate. 

Texas boasts one of the most complicated judicial systems in the country.  The system is described in Article 5 of the Texas Constitution and is further defined by statute, in particular the Texas Government Code and the Texas Probate Code.  The system is complicated by multiple levels and overlapping jurisdictions, with different courts often sharing courthouses.  The court levels are: The Supreme Court, Court of Criminal Appeals, Courts of Appeals, District Courts, Probate Courts, Constitutional County Courts, Statutory County Courts at Law, Municipal Courts and the Justice of the Peace Courts.

The National Law Review covers several stories from the state of Texas and the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals. Cases and stories related to telemedicine and healthcare in the state, data and cybersecurity laws, labor and employment laws, paid sick leave, insurance law, bankruptcy and tax cases, are among the different areas of law visitors will find, as they relate to Texas, on the National Law Review site.

Custom text Title Organization
Apr
11
2021
Business Divorce: Court Affirms Denial Of SLAPP Motion Regarding Partnership Divorce Suit Winstead
Apr
8
2021
Vehicle Inspections in Multiple States Disrupted by Malware Robinson & Cole LLP
Apr
7
2021
SEC Investment Advisers: Texas says “April Fools!” to Federal Preemption? Winstead
Apr
5
2021
Lone Star Solar: Challenges and Opportunities in Post-Blackout Texas Mintz
Apr
3
2021
The Energy Market in 2021: Reenergizing after the Storm [PODCAST] McDermott Will & Emery
Mar
30
2021
Telehealth Update: States Move to Permanently Expand Access to Telehealth Mintz
Mar
30
2021
Price Gouging Weekly Roundup: March 30, 2021 Proskauer Rose LLP
Mar
30
2021
Texas Supreme Court Clarifies Scope of Property Owners' Statutory Protections Bracewell LLP
Mar
29
2021
Courts Rule On Jurisdictional Issues Involving Probate Orders Winstead
Mar
29
2021
Business Divorce: Court Held That Parties Did Not Form A Partnership Where Certain Express Conditions Precedent Were Not Met Winstead
Mar
29
2021
How Little May an Employee Allege for Retaliation Protection? Jackson Lewis P.C.
Mar
28
2021
Move Over Marshall, There’s a New Sheriff in Town—The Rise of Waco and the Western District of Texas Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP
Mar
26
2021
Texas Fifth District Court of Appeals: Texas Law Prohibits Sexual Orientation Discrimination Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C.
Mar
25
2021
Texas Court Upholds San Antonio’s Sick and Safe Leave Ordinance Injunction Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C.
Mar
23
2021
Maritime Workers Now Eligible for COVID-19 Vaccine in Louisiana Jones Walker LLP
Mar
16
2021
New Texas Legislation Would Reallocate Risk for Design Defects Barnes & Thornburg LLP
Mar
16
2021
New Texas Bill Would Provide Release Relief To Trustees Who Deliver Adequate Accountings Without A Timely Objection By The Beneficiary Winstead
Mar
14
2021
Court Affirmed Trial Court’s Reformation Of A Will To Omit The Word “Personal” From The Term “Property” In A Residuary Clause Winstead
Mar
13
2021
Texas Discrimination Laws Protect Intention to Become Pregnant, State Court Rules Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C.
Mar
8
2021
Business Divorce: Court Found That There Was A Fact Question On Whether Officers Violated Fiduciary Duties By Obtaining A Side Bonus From A Purchaser When Negotiating A Sale Of The Company’s Assets Winstead
Mar
8
2021
Sued Again: National Republican Senatorial Committee Hit with Another TCPA Suit For Unwanted Robotexts Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP
Mar
5
2021
COVID-19 Update: Federal Eviction Moratorium Struck Down Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP
Mar
5
2021
Texas Governor Ends COVID-19 Restrictions, but Employers May Want to Remember OSH Act’s General Duty Clause Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C.
Mar
4
2021
G.I. Bro Is a Go: Copyright Dispute over Call of Duty Poster Survives Summary Judgment Finnegan
Mar
4
2021
Utilizing Tax Credits to Finance Renovation for State Institutes of Higher Education Winstead
Mar
4
2021
Case Notes: Brazos Electric's Bankruptcy Filing K&L Gates
Mar
3
2021
Texas Governor Lifts Mask Mandate, but Employers Must Still Comply with the Occupational Safety and Health Act Bracewell LLP
Mar
3
2021
GA 34 COVID-19 Executive Order March 2, 2021 Winstead
Mar
3
2021
How to Freeze a Case: Defending a Price Gouging Suit after the Winter Storms Proskauer Rose LLP
Mar
3
2021
Governor Abbott’s Executive Order Related to Reopening Texas 100% Foley & Lardner LLP
Mar
3
2021
COVID-19: US State Policy Report – March 2, 2021 Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP
Mar
2
2021
Wait, Why Am I Picking Up Your Tab? Iowa Considers Requiring Equipment Repurchases Where the Dealer Initiates Termination Foley & Lardner LLP
Mar
2
2021
Top Ten Tips for Seeking Enforcement Discretion and Preserving a Weather Disaster Force Majeure Affirmative Defense before the TCEQ Beveridge & Diamond PC
Feb
26
2021
Golden Rules for Preparing a Business Interruption Claim - Texas Bracewell LLP
Feb
23
2021
The Great Texas Freeze: Insurance Policies May Leave Landlords Out in the Cold Winstead
Feb
23
2021
Green Sprouts McDermott Will & Emery
Feb
22
2021
Winter Storms Projected to be Largest Insured Loss in Texas History: Secure your Safety and Property and Preserve your Insurance Rights Gilbert LLP
Feb
20
2021
EPA Approves Emergency Fuel Waiver for Texas U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Feb
19
2021
Power Struggles: Maximizing Insurance Recoveries from Winter Storms Bracewell LLP
Feb
19
2021
Severe Winter Storm in Texas: Insurance Coverage Considerations K&L Gates
Feb
18
2021
Regulators to Review Market Design and Reliability Following 2021 Polar Vortex Bracewell LLP
Feb
18
2021
Where to Open Shop: New Report Ranks the Best Places to Do Business in the U.S. Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C.
Feb
16
2021
TCEQ Issues Revised Penalty Policy Beveridge & Diamond PC
Feb
16
2021
February 16, 2021: Price Gouging Weekly Roundup Proskauer Rose LLP
Feb
15
2021
Eastern District of Texas Holds that Professional TCPA Litigant Can Face Counterclaims for Fraud Faegre Drinker
Feb
14
2021
Court Reversed Jury Trial And Determined That Settlement Agreement Dividing Real Property Owned By Trusts Was Not Ambiguous Winstead
Feb
12
2021
Notice of EPA Approved Texas NPDES Oil and Gas Program Authorization Published in Federal Register on February 12, 2021 Bracewell LLP
Feb
11
2021
Standing – When the FDCPA and FCRA Collide Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP
Feb
10
2021
New Indictments Raise Antitrust Issues in Employment Settings ArentFox Schiff LLP
Feb
8
2021
The “State” of Telehealth: Texas Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP
 

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