The Texan Podcast - Daily Rundown - February 7, 2025

Starting point is 00:00:00 Howdy folks, today is Friday, February 7th, and you're listening to the Texans Daily Rundown. I'm the Texans Assistant Editor Rob Lausches, and here is the rundown of today's news in Texas politics. First up, two Texas public schools have been requested by the Texas Office of the Attorney General to provide documentation regarding their policies on transgender youth in interscholastic athletics. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sent letters to both Dallas Independent School District and Irving ISD after undercover videos captured by Accuracy and Media alleged to show employees of each district providing advice on how to allow a hypothetical biological boy to compete on a girls' sports team. In the case of Irving ISD, the video appears to show Rene Lizardo,

Starting point is 00:00:52 the now former executive director of campus operations, giving insight on how to get a child's sex on a state document changed so that they may participate on the school sports team. Irving ISD provided multiple statements to the Texan regarding the views expressed by the employee in the video. Quote, The message conveyed in the video, as presented, does not reflect the view nor policies of the district. End quote.

Starting point is 00:01:16 In another statement, Irving ISD said it would, quote, comply with any request for documentation initiated by relevant authorities. Next, Attorney General Paxton has issued an opinion at the request of Texas Education Agency Commissioner Mike Barath regarding students who have undergone gender transition and their participation in public school sports. The seven-page legal opinion details the University Interscholastic League's legal obligations under the Texas Education Code

Starting point is 00:01:45 regarding illegal steroid use. Steroid use by a student wanting to participate on athletic teams in Texas public schools is explicitly prohibited under the Texas Education Code. The opinion states that, quote, a valid medical purpose under Section 33.091 does not contemplate administration of a steroid to female minors for the purposes of transitioning a minor's biological sex. Texas Education Code states that random steroid testing may be used if a student is enrolled in a public school. Additionally, the opinion answers the question that the UIL can remove a student-athlete from involvement if their eligibility is questioned. The burden of proof falls upon the student-athlete according to the opinion. In other news, the first week of February

Starting point is 00:02:30 is typically when things outside of the initial pleasantries, and in this year's case, a speaker's race, begin to start happening in the Texas legislature. That's particularly true this week in two of the three related channels. The Texas Constitution outlines a weaker governor position than in other states, particularly when the legislature is still in session. He still may veto bills, and his ability to call the legislature into a special session remains unchallenged, but the position is not as constitutionally powerful as it is in Florida, for example. However, one of the governor's most important tasks every session is delineating a list of emergency items, superficially symbolic but practically important,

Starting point is 00:03:11 as policies related therein may bypass the 30- and 60-day moratoriums on legislative action after the start of session. Governor Greg Abbott outlined his 2025 list on Sunday. Last but not least, Tarrant County is the first county in the state to receive all six Transparency Stars from the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. The Transparency Stars program was established by Comptroller Glenn Hagar in 2016 to, quote, incentivize greater transparency amongst local governments because it is paramount for taxpayers to have access to spending data and other financial information, and it must be in a useful format. The criteria that are evaluated

Starting point is 00:03:51 include traditional public finances, contracts and procurement, economic development, public pensions, debt obligations, and open government compliance. Governments that open their books in these areas and provide meaningful and accessible public information are recognized for going above and beyond in their transparency efforts. The Comptroller's website states, quote, meaningful transparency leads to greater accountability. Texans work hard to earn every tax dollar they send to the state and local governments. This is why we publish information about how and where those dollars are spent. Thanks for listening.

Starting point is 00:04:28 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.

The Texan Podcast - Daily Rundown - February 7, 2025

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