When Texas joined the Union she was allowed to keep her lands. The other states would have turned their lands over to the National govt. The Acts that Congress implemented to get the western lands(beyond the 98th meridian)settled did not allow these lands to be turned over to settlers in large enough acreages. Texas did not make the same mistake and did allow large ranches to be formed.
All of the land problems, such as the one in this article, that are becoming worse and worse can be traced back to these old federal land policies.
Little wonder then that so many are fleeing to Texas.