The Texan Podcast - Daily Rundown - August 26, 2025

Starting point is 00:00:00 Howdy folks, today is Tuesday, August 26th, and you're listening to The Texans Daily Rundown. I'm the Texans assistant editor Rob Lauchess, and here is the rundown of today's news in Texas politics. First up, legislation cracking down on chemical abortion pills was favorably reported out of the Texas House Committee after backdoor negotiations were had between pro-life lobbyists and lawmakers. in the wake of a dust-up between Republicans alleging attempts to kill the legislation. The House State Affairs Committee met for a formal meeting on Monday evening to pass pending legislation, including State Representative Jeff Leach's House Bill 7, which aims to curb the production and distribution of chemical abortion pills through civil liability, and additional powers granted to the Attorney General after its public hearing on Friday.

Starting point is 00:00:56 Members of the committee passed the committee substitute out-of-house state affairs by a vote of 8 to 4 shortly after 7 p.m. on Monday. Next, Governor Greg Abbott has ceremonially signed Senate Bill 17, a high-profile piece of legislation that prohibits individuals and entities from federally designated adversarial countries from purchasing land in Texas, which faced an extensive amount of opposition before its passage. joined by members of both the Texas House and Senate on Tuesday, Abbott said that SB 17 is the strongest law in the United States and thanked House Speaker Dustin Burroughs and Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick for, quote, making sure everyone knows Texas is not for sale. Four years ago, the Texas legislature was already seeking to combat hostile foreign countries from owning companies related to critical infrastructure. That bill, SB 2116, was offered to oppose a Chinese-based energy company that was seeking to purchase a wind farm along the Texas-Mexico border next to a U.S. Air Force base. During the 88th legislative session, lawmakers sought to broaden the ban with SB 147, limiting foreign ownership of Texas land in ways tied to national security concerns. In other news, legislation establishing an affirmative defense to prosecution for human trafficking victims who may have committed crimes while in captivity is headed back to Governor Greg Abbott's desk for round two.

Starting point is 00:02:28 Senate Bill 11 by state senator Tan Parker, creating an affirmative defense to the prosecution of suspects who were allegedly coerced into committing crimes or who acted under duress or threat of imminent death or serious bodily injury, was taken up and passed unanimously on second reading by the lower chamber on Tuesday morning. State Representative David Cook, who carried SB 11 through the House, stated upon introduction of the bill for third reading that it, quote, ensures that victims of human trafficking and prostitution are not punished for crimes that they were forced to commit. SB 1278, also authored by Parker, was passed in the 89th regular session, but was vetoed by Governor Greg Abbott.

Starting point is 00:03:12 Also, Carroll Independent School District continues to be one of the most highly rated in the state, even while it has cut its tax rate for four years in a row, over 33 cents since fiscal year 2022. This year, because of state law, it must hold a voter approval tax rate election, even though its overall tax rate will be below the no-new revenue rate. The election will be November 4th with early voting from October 27th through October 31st. Carol ISD has adopted a rate that includes three golden pennies, a portion of the maintenance and operations tax rate that is not subject to school district recapture. The state allows a district to levy up to eight golden pennies. Until this year, Carol had levied five of those. Last but not least, a mere two hours separated events of massive import for two Texas House speakers, one former, one current, who are inextricably tied together in the state's existing political moment.

Starting point is 00:04:11 President Donald Trump has a way of cannonballing into Texas politics. He came in like a meteor last year when endorsing candidates for the upper and lower chambers of the legislature, totally changing the dynamics of many of those races. So when his endorsement came Thursday afternoon for current Speaker of the House, Dustin Burroughs, everyone, proponent and opponent alike, took a beat. Two hours earlier, the man who preceded Burroughs, Dade Phelan, whose name was similarly used as a shorthand for a Republican turncoat, announced that he was not running for re-election.

Starting point is 00:04:46 Visit the Texan.News to read senior reporter Brad Johnson compare and contrast the last two speakers of the Texas House. Thanks for listening. To support the Texan, please be sure to visit the Texan. News and subscribe to get full access to all of our articles, newsletters, and podcasts. Thank you.

The Texan Podcast - Daily Rundown - August 26, 2025

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