Constitutional carry since 2021 (HB 1927). No AWB, no mag limit, strong preemption. Stand-your-ground codified. Suppressors legal (Texas-made suppressor exemption). No waiting period, no red-flag, anti-red-flag enforcement statute 2025.

Compassionate Use Program (low-THC, very limited). No state-level decriminalization (Austin, Dallas, San Antonio and other cities only - state has sued some). No recreational. HB 1535 expanded conditions. Drug courts available. No psychedelic reform though state-funded psilocybin/MDMA research underway.

State minimum wage $7.25/hr (state matches federal). MIT living wage for 1 adult: $16.42/hr. Ratio 0.44 — minimum-wage workers earn 44% of what's needed to live there alone.

No state income tax, but high property taxes balance overall burden to moderate. NAEP scores near national average; high uninsured rate (highest in nation historically) and infrastructure under strain are drags. Reasonable value but healthcare gap penalizes.

IJ grades TX D+ (heavy forfeiture, low burden, very heavy equitable-sharing - among nation's worst). No QI reform. SB 23 (2021) gave LE additional protections. HB 829 (2021) Botham Jean Act partial body cam mandate. No comprehensive privacy law (TDPSA 2023). SB 4 (2017) anti-sanctuary mandates ICE cooperation. Heavy ALPR and gang database (TXGANG).

Excuse required for absentee voting (over 65 or specific reasons). Early voting 12 days (slight positive). No same-day registration. Strict photo ID. SB 1 (2021) added severe restrictions on assistance, drop boxes, drive-through voting. Felons vote after sentence completion. Republican-drawn maps with extreme partisan bias and racial gerrymander claims. Massive polling closures since Shelby v. Holder.

Has NOT adopted Medicaid expansion (largest coverage gap; 42% of national gap population). Total abortion ban with narrow life exceptions; SB 8 bounty law. Trans youth gender-affirming care ban (SB 14). Highest uninsured rate. Worst Commonwealth Fund ranking range. Maternal mortality crisis.

No qualified immunity reform. No statewide BWC mandate (some grant programs). Civil Service personnel records confidential under G-File / 143.089(g). TCOLE decertification with public database. No no-knock ban. No necessity standard. Local DAs prosecute (Texas Rangers investigate some). Chokeholds restricted by some agencies only. Largest absolute number of police killings; per-capita above median.

Total abortion ban with SB 8 bounty enforcement. Ten Commandments classroom mandate signed June 2025 (5th Cir. upheld April 2026). Bible-infused curriculum funding incentives. Gender-affirming care ban for minors. No LGBTQ+ protections. Religious refusal expanded by 2025 TX Supreme Court rule. School chaplain law. Library/book bans. Worst-tier Christian-nationalist legislative momentum alongside Louisiana.

Right-to-work state. No paid family leave. No paid sick leave (state preempts locals via HB 2127 'Death Star' bill 2023). Federal OSHA only. Prevailing wage limited. Very weak wage theft enforcement. HB 2127 also preempted local heat/water break rules. Above-median fatal injury rate. No domestic worker or scheduling protections.