The Texan Podcast - Daily Rundown - June 20, 2025

Episode Date: June 20, 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/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? 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 Friday, June 20th 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, a little over 48 hours remain before Governor Greg Abbott can either act on a bill that would ban the sale of certain consumable hemp-derived THC products in Texas, or allow it to pass into law without his signature. Senate Bill 3 would completely overhaul the current status of retail THC products in Texas by effectively prohibiting the manufacture, sale, and possession of consumable hemp products containing any cannabinoid other

than cannabidiol, also spelled CBD, or cannabigerol, also known as CBG. While SB3 will allow products containing CBD and CBG to be sold in Texas, it will establish a minimum age of 21 years to purchase such products. It will also include requirements for labeling to be made non-attractive to minors, such as removing bright colors or cartoon logos, and retailers must not be within 1,000 feet of a school. There is currently no age minimum

to purchase consumable hemp products in Texas, but the Texas Hemp Business Council does note that, quote, many businesses voluntarily restrict sales to consumers 21 and older, especially for hemp-derived THC products. Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick named banning THC in Texas as a top legislative priority for the 89th session, and he remained a vocal advocate for the legislation, despite receiving cross-partisan pushback.

Next, three former U.S. Army soldiers have been sentenced to federal prison after facilitating the smuggling of illegal aliens in Texas for financial gain and injuring U.S. immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in a high-speed chase. Enrique Jorgi was the lead organizer of the smuggling scheme in 2024, working with his fellow soldiers Angel Palma and Emilio Mendoza Lopez to smuggle aliens out of Presidio to an undisclosed location in exchange for a financial reward. ICE also said that Jaregui supported Palma and Lopez with encouraging messages and instructions. During an encounter with ICE agents while driving from Fort Hood to Presidio, the defendants

quote, hit a marked border patrol vehicle with an agent inside causing injuries, end quote. After fleeing their vehicle on foot, ICE described, they were all eventually captured and taken into custody. Special agent in charge Jason T. Stevens of ICE Homeland Security Investigations El Paso said in a press release on Wednesday, In other news, the Fort Worth City Council received a briefing before its June 17th meeting from city staff on the development of the fiscal year 2026 budget, which covered various topics related to utilities.

The meeting started with chief transformation offer Christian Simmons giving an overview covering the overall state of the city's utility services and billing rates. The council and city management will be working through the budget during the rest of June as well as the entirety of July to be prepared for a final proposal in August. Simmons added that the average household in Fort Worth pays $1,240 for utility services each year and that this average is lower than Dallas and Austin. Street sweeping, illegal dumping,

and air and water quality measures, among other things. City staff are concerned that there is a lack of funding capacity for capital projects and unforeseen environmental cleanups, and that there is not enough capacity for the increased service levels that the city has recently experienced. Last but not least, now former state senator Kelly Hancock announced his bid for Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts

shortly after joining the agency as an employee, a way to get around the constitutional obstacles related to a direct appointment. He is the third candidate in the race, joining former state Senator Don Huffines and railroad commissioner Christy Craddock. Visit thetexan.news for a transcription of The Texan's interview with Hancock about the race, his time in the legislature, and the transition to a new job. 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.