The Texan Podcast - Daily Rundown - September 2, 2025

Episode Date: September 2, 2025

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Howdy, folks. Today is Tuesday, September 2nd, and you're listening to the Texans Daily Rundown. I'm the Texans reporter Cameron Abrams, and here's the rundown of today's news and Texas politics. First up, just when it seemed, the Texas legislature's latest property tax reform proposal was over the finish line. It was pulled back toward the brink. The Texas House rejected the conference committee report. for Senate Bill 10 on Thursday by a vote of 60 to 71, in which Democrats and the right flank of the Republican caucus united to halt the proposal. As originally filed, SB 10 would lower

the voter approval tax rate for cities and counties with over 75,000 people from 3.5% to 2.5%. Notably, special purpose districts like municipal utility districts are not included in the limit. That line was established in 2019 within the session's marquee property tax reform proposal. The VATR had to that point been 8% of all localities. School District's VATR, which account for half of the property tax collections in the state, was set at 2.5%. Negotiations over how to salvage the bill are ongoing between the chambers and Governor Greg Abbott. Next, the two Republican candidates buying to fill the vacancy for Texas Senate District 9, vacated by Kelly Hancock, who is now serving as the acting comptroller of public accounts, sparred over several issues, including over events dating back to 2020 at a recent forum. Lee Wamsgons and John Huffman, both residents of South Lake, are running in the special election to be held on November 4th.

There is no primary, so they will face each other and Democrat Taylor Remit to see who can garner a majority of the votes and fill the vacancy. They participated in a candidate forum at the Metroplex Republican Women meeting on August 28th. One major point of contention between the two is casino gambling. Wamskong said she opposed legalizing it in the state, while Huffman believes it should be left up to Texas voters. In other news, a new Texas law shifts book approval for public school libraries from librarians to school boards

and establishes that, quote, parents are the primary decision makers regarding a student's access to library material. Senate Bill 13 was passed during the 89th legislative session and signed by Governor Greg Abbott on June 20th. Under the law, schools must provide a public catalog of their materials, give parents access to their children's check. out records and allow parents to submit book lists restricting their child's access. School District Boards of Trustees must establish local library advisory councils to, quote, ensure that local community values are reflected in libraries. Also, the Texas legislature was busy during the 89th legislative session with more than 830 bills set to go into effect on September 1st, many of which were priority issues for both the upper and lower chambers.

While members are just days away from wrapping up the second special session of the 89th session, addressing issues such as flood disaster relief, congressional redistricting, and a possible ban on T.HC. in Texas during the regular session, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dustin Burroughs put lawmakers to work, passing key conservative priorities. Starting in the Senate, Patrick is known for working fast and on the green calls. carpet, members were able to push through the majority of the 40 priority pieces of legislation that were set by the lieutenant governor. Last but not least, as the Texas legislature hopes to

signy die, the second special session this week, about a fifth of Governor Gray Gabbitt's priorities have arrived at his desk, while some have been left to die in respective chambers or await their show call. Once the absent members of the Texas House Democratic Caucus returned from their two-week quorum bus, employed to avoid a vote on the GOP redistricting, Republican members of both chambers charged full steam ahead on conservative items with more fervor than at the start of the first called special session. Following the deadly floods that occurred on July 4th in the Kerrville area, Abbott shaped five of his priority items to respond to the disaster, whether through legislation-related

to funding for the Hill Country, development of flood. alarm systems, increased camp safety measures, or strengthening of emergency communications. Thanks for listening to support the Texan. Please be sure to visit the texan. News and subscribe to get full access to all of our articles, newsletters, and podcasts.