The Texan Podcast - Daily Rundown - May 19, 2025

Episode Date: May 19, 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 Monday, May 19th 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 House voted overwhelmingly to approve a proposed state constitutional amendment that will allow denial of bail to certain violent suspects, capping off a reform effort that has been years in the making. In a Monday bipartisan vote of 133 to eight,

House members approved Senator Joan Huffman's Senate Joint Resolution 5 that allows judicial officers the discretion to deny bail to defendants charged with murder or capital murder, aggravated kidnapping, aggravated robbery, aggravated sexual assault, indecency with a child, trafficking of persons, and continuous trafficking of persons. Bail may also be withheld for aggravated assault if the person caused serious bodily injury or used a weapon. Suspects may only be detained without bail after a prosecutor

has demonstrated evidence at a bail hearing that granting bail would not reasonably ensure the defendant's reappearance in court and would endanger the community, law enforcement, or victims. For a full rundown of the other related legislation debated in the House today, read Holly Hanson's coverage at the Texan.News. Next, a federal court in Texas has issued an order to vacate portions of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission 2024 enforcement guidance that interpreted Title VII of the Civil Rights Act to mandate accommodations for transgender employees related to pronouns, dress codes, and bathroom access. The EEOC Enforcement Guidance on Harassment in the Workplace was issued in 2024 and created enforcements for how sex-based

harassment includes harassment based on sexual orientation or gender identity, including misusing pronouns and, quote, the denial of access to a bathroom consistent with the individual's gender identity. Soon after the guidance was issued, Attorney General Ken Paxton and the Conservative Heritage Foundation filed suit, arguing that it unlawfully compels employers

to adopt transgender mandates under the threat of discrimination or harassment lawsuits. U.S. District Judge Matthew Kasmyk issued the order last Thursday, finding that the guidance, quote, contravenes Title VII's plain text by expanding the scope of sex beyond the biological binary male and female. In other news, Texas has launched an investigation into the US master swimming after it allegedly allowed

a biological male to compete in women's events during its 2025 Spring National Swim Meet hosted in San Antonio. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said in a press release, quote, the policy of US master's swimming, which allows men to compete in women's sports, is reprehensible and could violate Texas consumer protection laws. US Master Swimming states that its policy on transgender swimmer inclusion allows transgender swimmers to compete and be recognized for accomplishments in the gender category in which they identify. Male identifying biologically female individuals are allowed to participate and receive official recognition without restriction, while female identifying biologically male participants

must meet certain hormonal-related criteria to compete and be officially recognized for times, medals, and places. Also, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton closed his investigation into Superior Health Plan Insurance on Monday after finding it did not violate Texas law in its use of private investigators to collect data on lawmakers, journalists, and private citizens. Paxton first launched the investigation in late March, shortly after a fiery hearing in the House Committee on Delivery of Government Efficiency, or DOJ, revealed that the insurance company had been performing surveillance on various individuals,

including some of the lawmakers on the DOJge Committee through the use of PIs, which Paxton's investigation confirmed, although not in an illegal manner. The hearing also resulted in the firing of Superior's CEO Mark Sanders after he was interrogated by representatives on the Doge Committee. In addition, a bill by Representative Chris Turner to override the Terrant Appraisal District's board decision to conduct reappraisals of residential homesteads every other year, rather than every year, passed the Texas House on Thursday, May 15th. It clears up what appears to be an inconsistency in state law by amending the Texas tax code

to require appraisal districts to conduct annual reappraisals. Last but not least, senior reporter Brad Johnson sat down with Representative Angela Orr, a Republican representing Texas House District 13, to discuss the intense final weeks of the 89th legislative session, the appropriations process, local government challenges, and the dynamics within the Texas House. Or Or also reflected on her transition from local to state politics, her work on key committees, and her relationships with colleagues across the aisle. Visit thetexan.news or wherever you get podcasts to listen now. 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.