The Texan Podcast - Daily Rundown - July 9, 2026

Episode Date: July 9, 2026

The 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? Visit The Texan for complete access to our in-depth articles, newsletters, videos, podcasts, and more.Enjoy what you hear? Be sure to follow us and leave a review!

Well, howdy folks. Today is Thursday, July 9th, and you're listening to The Texans Daily Rundown. I'm the Texan senior editor Rob Lauchess, and here is the rundown of today's news in Texas politics. First up, the Texas Senate Health and Human Services Committee held a hearing on Tuesday to address the societal impacts of THC, following Governor Greg Abbott's veto of the legislature's bill banning THC products that passed last year, led by committee chair Lois Colchorst and vice chair Charles Perry, the committee heard testimony from representatives from the medical, law enforcement, and advocacy communities. Perry announced he will file another THC ban in the 90th legislative session, renewing efforts that came up short in 2025. Perry said, quote, as a state legislature, I'm tired of chasing addiction with another addiction and

having the taxpayers fund it. He highlighted $562 million in public spending on substance abuse disorders, excluding Medicaid. Perry added, quote, the taxpayer is going to stop funding at a minimum next session. Colchorst added, quote, I've probably never gone into a hearing that I'm more nervous about, because this is such a large issue. Next, the Democratic nominee for comptroller in the November 26th election, state senator Sarah Eckhart, expressed support for Democratic gubernatorial candidate State Representative Gina Hina Hosa's campaign pledge to send each Texas household $1,500, but also suggested an alternative use for the money. The $17 billion needed for such a move would come from the Economic Stabilization Fund, also known as the Rainy Day Fund, managed by the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts.

Eckhart told the Texan on Wednesday, quote, Gina has a proposal for $1,500 checks, which would take up about half of the current rainy day fund. She continued, quote, But let me just put that in perspective. That fund is so big that we could pay down the debt of every single school district that's running a deficit in the state of Texas, and we would still have roughly $24 billion in that reserve. In other news, an association of professors sued the Texas Tech University System and Chancellor Brandon Craton this week. accusing the former state senator of, quote, imposing a straight jacket on faculty members.

The Texas American Association of University Professors, an affiliate of the American Federation of Teachers Union, and its parent group sued Creighton and the TTIU System Board of Regents on Wednesday, alleging that Creighton issued two memoranda to faculty that violate the first and 14th amendments. The memoranda forbid faculty from promoting or inculcating certain racial beliefs and require faculty to recognize only two sexes, male and female, Creighton left the Texas Senate to head the university system in September 2025. A former chairman of the Senate Committee on Education, Creighton authored Senate Bill 17 in the 88th legislative session, described as a ban on diversity, equity, and inclusion offices at Texas public universities. Also, a special tribunal appointed by the

Supreme Court of Texas has upheld a public reprimand of Harris County Criminal Court Judge Natalia Cornelio, who was sentenced last year for bias and for issuing a false bench warrant for death row inmate Ronald Lee Haskell. According to the special Court of Review opinion issued Wednesday, Cornelio's actions alarmed the victim's family and cast a, quote, black eye on the judiciary. Haskell was convicted in 2019 for the brutal murders of his ex-wife, her husband, and four of their five children in 2014. The fifth was shot in the head, but survived. Haskell pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, but prosecutors alleged he methodically planned and carried out the mass murder of his ex-wife's family. Last but not least, the Texas

Stock Exchange officially opened this week to begin trading a designated group of test securities. Thousands of companies will be continually introduced through a gradual rollout approach after the opening on Monday, and by July 31st, all national market system symbols will be live. Exchange traded products will be available later in the year. Touting itself as the only National Securities Exchange built, headquartered, and incorporated in the state of Texas, the Texas Stock Exchange also claims to be the, quote, most well-equipped securities exchange to ever be approved by the SEC.

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