Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton quickly pushed back. On August 28, 2024, he filed a lawsuit against the City of Dallas and the State Fair of Texas, arguing the ban violated state law. Paxton said in a press release:
“Earlier this year, the State Fair announced that it would be banning people with license to carry permits from exercising their rights at Fair Park. Such a policy directly violates state law.”
However, both the Texas Supreme Court and a Dallas County district judge dismissed Paxton’s efforts. The Texas Tribune reported that the lawsuit was struck down in late June 2024 before it could proceed to trial.
No More Free Tickets for High School Students
Another major change this year is the end of free admission for high school students in grades nine through twelve. While Pre-K through eighth graders and teachers still qualify for free tickets, older students will need to pay the $12 weekday entry fee.
According to fair officials, more than 2 million free tickets were printed annually for high schoolers, but only about 10% were used. With many school districts removing “Fair Days” from academic calendars, officials decided to end the program.
