The Texan Podcast - Daily Rundown - July 25, 2025

Episode Date: July 25, 2025

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Howdy folks, today is Friday, July 25th, 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, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced Thursday that his office has successfully halted Harris County's guaranteed basic income program that would have awarded monthly stipends to selected low-income residents.

Paxton said in a statement, quote, "'This unlawful free handout scheme pushed by champagne socialists like Lena Hidalgo has now been completely defeated,' end quote. The Supreme Court of Texas halted the county's first version of the GBI program in April, 2024, leading the commissioner's court

to revamp the program last summer. Although a trial court dismissed the case, the Office of the Attorney General filed an appeal and last December, the 15th Court of Appeals issued an administrative stay. Earlier this year, the 15th Court of Appeals issued an administrative stay. Earlier this year, the court heard oral arguments, but in June, commissioners voted to reallocate previously approved GBI funding. Next, Fort Bliss Army Base

in El Paso is set to house a new 5,000-bed U.S. immigration and customs enforcement detention facility. According to the Department of Defense contract notice, the nearly $232 million facility contract was awarded to Virginia-based Acquisition Logistics LLC, coming via the US Army, to build a quote, single adult short-term detention facility, end quote, that will temporarily house 5,000 individuals. Multiple outlets have confirmed with DoD sources

that the total facility contract is worth $1.26 billion. In a statement to Bloomberg, an ICE official said it is, quote, indeed pursuing all available options to expand bed space capacity. This process does include housing detainees at certain military bases. The facility will be the largest in the U.S. and is scheduled for an estimated completion date of September 30, 2027. In other news, a Liford man is facing a 20-year

prison sentence after being found in possession of images depicting the sexual exploitation of children, following an investigation launched by Rio Grande Valley Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Jose Rodriguez Jr., also convicted on separate charges for human smuggling, was found guilty after a 15-minute deliberation by the jury on April 15th after they heard his criminal history involving the sexual assault of children, including a prior conviction for sexually assaulting a nine-year-old and tying up both the victim and an eight-year-old witness. His phone was seized after law

enforcement encountered him in connection with an alien transportation event on August 12, 2024, which was used as evidence during his trial as it contained, quote, numerous files depicting the sexual assaults of prepubescent children. Rodriguez was given 240 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Drew Tipton on July 16th. Also, Conroe Independent School District's Board of Trustees approved a policy that prohibits parents from providing written consent for their children to socially transition their gender. This vote took place at a July 15th board meeting, where trustees reviewed Conroe ISD's policy in compliance with Senate Bill 12, which Governor Greg Abbott signed into law

on June 20th. SB 12 states that every Texas school district must, quote, adopt a policy prohibiting an employee of the district from assisting a student enrolled in the district with social transitioning. The law defines the means of social transitioning as, quote, adoption of a different name, different pronouns, or other expressions of gender that deny or encourage a denial of the person's biological sex at birth.

Last but not least, state lawmakers are considering making certain portions of police personnel records exempt from Texas Public Information Act requests over concerns for privacy and abuse of the system. But opponents say that would make law enforcement less accountable. Introduced by Senator Phil King, Senate Bill 14 resurrects legislation that failed to pass during the regular session regarding files maintained by a law enforcement agency. Governor Greg Abbott included the issue

in the agenda for this year's special legislative session. Under the measure, law enforcement agencies would maintain both a personnel file and a department file on each employee licensed by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement, or TECOL. The employee's department file would include any letter, memorandum, or document relating to alleged misconduct for which the agency determines there is insufficient evidence. While department files would be available to TECOL for investigations and to other law

enforcement agencies seeking to hire the employee, it would not be disclosable under a TPIA request. Department files would be disclosed for criminal investigations such as a death in custody or in relation to meet and confer agreements completed before September 1, 2025. 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.