The Texan Podcast - Daily Rundown - February 24, 2025

Episode Date: February 24, 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 Monday, February 24th 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 Senate State Affairs Committee is meeting in the Senate chamber to discuss Senator Bob Hall's Senate Bill 28, which would prohibit the ability of Texans to play the lottery or purchase a ticket through internet and mobile applications known as lottery couriers. These third-party services purchase physical tickets from licensed retailers on customers'

behalf and collect any winnings for them. Hall accused the system of being gamed by organized crime, saying on the floor, quote, I want to thank our Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick for recognizing the seriousness of possibility of an organized crime ring being embedded in the Texas government. The bill is a priority of the lieutenant governor, who has been vocal in his opposition to gambling expansion and posted a video on social media of his in-person visit to a location where a winning ticket was sold via a courier service. 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's booming economy, shape its technological future and keep your data here in the US. To learn more, visit centerofyourdigitalworld.org.

slash Texas. Now returning to your daily Texas news. Also enhanced library oversight, stronger protections for minors, and increased parental involvement have become hot button topics for lawmakers and citizens alike. And now, a bill has been proposed that intends to regulate the accessibility of sexually explicit materials to minors in public libraries. Freshman Texas Legislator Representative Daniel Alders seeks to establish a rigorous framework to shield minors in public libraries. Freshman Texas legislator Representative Daniel Alders seeks to establish a rigorous framework to shield minors

from such explicit materials. By imposing strict review processes, clarified definitions, and increased parental involvement, his bill aims to protect youth from exposure to explicit content while also providing a structured path for libraries to follow. Alders told the Texan, quote, the debate has been occurring over the last few years as parents have been

getting more engaged in their communities and paying more attention to what their kids are exposed to. House Bill 3225 would broadly define access to include any method by which a library obtains materials, whether physically, electronically, or otherwise. It also specifies that the law would apply to libraries that are municipally financed and operated and are free to the public. The legal standard for sexually explicit material is defined to include, quote, written description, illustration, photographic image, video image, or audio file that describes, depicts, or

portrays sexual conduct. In other news, one of Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick's top legislative priorities, the Dementia Prevention Research Institute of Texas, or DPRIT, has been filed in the Texas Senate. Patrick first proposed DPRIT in November 2024 to draw leading dementia researchers and companies to the state, and it has now been filed by Senate Committee on finance chair Joan Huffman as Senate bill 5 per Patrick's prior indication the two purposes of deep writ are described in SB 5 as to quote create an expedite innovation in research on dementia and related disorders to improve the health of residents of this state

Enhance the potential for a medical or scientific breakthrough in research on dementia and related disorders and improve the health of residents of this state, enhance the potential for a medical or scientific breakthrough in research on dementia and related disorders, and enhance the research superiority of this state regarding dementia and related disorders. Additionally, SB 5 seeks to quote attract, create, or expand research capabilities of eligible institutions of higher education and other public or private entities End quote through the awarding of grants that will further the mission of deep red last but not least Speaker Dustin burrows has said that he expects this session to be more than anything else an education session and last week the Texas House dropped a payload of bills to that effect the two pronged centerpiece of that package from Chai house bills two and three

for school finance, teach savings accounts, calling Burroughs told reporters very proud of what this e Included in the two bills from 3000 to $36,000, depending on a teacher's performance, experience level, and location, a $220 boost to the basic allotment, and an ESA program with roughly $10,600 per account, increases to which would be tied

to overall education funding. In all, the amount of funding coming with the two-step is around $10 billion. That is more than the fiscal note attached to 2023's Education Omnibus package of $7.5 billion. 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.