State Sen. Bryan Hughes, R-Mineola, and Perla Hopkins, a former teacher and Republican candidate for Texas House who supported Senate Bill 797, which requires school districts to post signs with the national motto, In God We Trust, in conspicuous places on campus, provided that the signs are donated.

Texas State Sen. Bryan Hughes, (R-Mineola), addresses the media during a press conference at the State Capitol. Joining him was Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick.

Hype Freedom School students Hailee Brown, 15, center, reads with Treyson Hall, 7, of Houston, during the Texas Freedom Network read-in demonstration on Tuesday, July 26, 2022, in Austin, Texas. The children read from some of the books being targeted for banning during a read-in demonstration held at the Texas State Capitol Rotunda.

The Texas State Capitol photographed on Monday, Feb. 24, 2025 in Austin.

I know all too well that getting sued is no fun.

A few years ago, a journalist from Art News emailed to ask my co-authors and me to comment on a defamation lawsuit filed by two antiquities dealers over our book “Forget the Alamo” and a Texas Monthly cover story. They were angry about our investigation into allegations that some items rock singer Phil Collins donated to the Alamo might not be authentic.

As journalists, it pained us to say we had no comment,........

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