The Texan Podcast - Daily Rundown - April 1, 2025

Episode Date: April 1, 2025

Want to support The Texan and help us continue providing the Lone Star State with news you can trust? Subscribe today: https://thetexan.news/subscribe/Learn more about the Data Center Coalition at: https://www.centerofyourdigitalworld.org/texasThe Texan’s Daily Rundown brings you a quick recap of the latest stories in Texas politics so you can stay informed with news you can trust.Want more resources? Be sure to visit The Texan and subscribe for complete access to our in-depth articles, subscriber-exclusive newsletters, videos, podcasts, and more.Enjoy what you hear? Be sure to subscribe and leave a review!

Howdy folks, today is April 1st and you're listening to the Texans Daily Rundown. I'm the Texans Assistant Editor Rob Lauschus and here is the rundown of today's news in Texas politics. First up, the Texas House's first calendar day of the 89th legislative session was chock full of action, votes, amendments, a point of order, and a motion to vacate the chair. When the body gaveled in, State Representative Brian Harrison took to the back microphone and lobbed multiple parliamentary inquiries at Speaker Dustin Burroughs. The line of questioning led to Harrison moving to vacate the chair,

an attempt to remove a speaker from his position. Under House rules, a motion to remove the speaker is a privileged motion, meaning it requires only one member to employ. If denied recognition on a question of privilege, the member can challenge the ruling of the chair, which in most cases requires 10 signatures. But when it pertains to removing the speaker, it requires 76 signatures, non-coincidentally the number of votes it requires to elect a Speaker in the first place.

Burroughs declined to recognize Harrison on the motion, saying, quote, You are not recognized even on April Fool's Day, Mr. Harrison, end quote. Some of the chamber laughed when Harrison made the motion to vacate. The back and forth continued for a few minutes as boroughs told Harrison, quote, Mr. Harrison, a question of privilege must be raised by resolution. If you have a resolution, go ahead and file it. Next,

the highly anticipated Texas House Public Education Committee hearing, originally scheduled to address school choice bills on Tuesday morning, has been postponed and committee substitutes will now wait a few more days before testimony can be heard. Public Education Committee Chair Brad Buckley made the announcement that the committee hearing to take up House Bill 2 and Senate Bill 2 would be held Thursday rather than Tuesday in order to give members, quote, ample time to review and digest the changes in the committee substitute and the district runs.

The upper chamber's fully universal school choice bill, authored by Senator Brandon Creighton, is one of the committee substitutes that will be taken up by the committee. Stay tuned for more news updates after this short message. Data centers fuel 364,000 Texas jobs, generate $3.5 billion in state and local taxes, and power essential services like banking,

healthcare, and video calls. With 21 connected devices per household and soaring data demands, these hubs drive Texas' booming economy, shape its technological future, and keep your data here in the U.S. To learn more, visit centerofyourdigitalworld.org. Now returning to your daily Texas news.

In other news, Superior Health Plan has begun an internal investigation after a recent dust-up at a Texas House committee hearing revealed that the company had hired private investigators to collect data on lawmakers and private individuals, the Texan can confirm. The hearing resulted in the firing of their CEO and the launch of an investigation into the state-contracted insurance provider by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. During a superior staff meeting on Monday, an executive acknowledged their collection of data on certain lawmakers, stating in audio of a private company-wide staff meeting obtained by the Texan that, quote, understanding key facts about those we do business with and our competitors through

public information research is a part of normal course of business and something every Fortune 500 company does. Internal company emails mention Representative Giovanni Capriglione, now General Land Commissioner Don Buckingham, Senator Charles Schwartner, and State Representative Sergio Munoz Jr. A Juan Hinojosa is referenced, but it is not clear if it is meant to be Senator Juan Chuy Hinojosa. Also, residents of Dallas who believe the city is out of compliance with the city charter regarding the police force have sent a notice of claim letter to Mayor Eric Johnson and members of the Dallas City Council. Art Martinez-DeVara, an attorney for Dallas Hero, the nonpartisan group behind several charter amendments on the November 5, 2024 ballot, has written a letter to serve as a notice of claim for the city's failure

to maintain a police force of at least 4,000 officers. Last but not least, the sale, distribution, and consumption of e-cigarette products have sparked a growing conversation about how these products are being marketed and sold. The Texas Senate State Affairs Committee on Monday took up the issue, with lawmakers debating the danger of these items. Senate Bill 1698, authored by Senator Tan Parker, seeks to create an e-cigarette directory where manufacturers must ensure their products are in compliance with U.S. Food and Drug Administration standards, and that out-of-state manufacturers and importers of e-cigarette

products are in active compliance with Texas law. Thanks for listening. To support the Texan, please be sure to visit thetexan.news and subscribe to get full access to all of our articles, newsletters, and podcasts.