The Texan Podcast - Daily Rundown - September 28, 2026

Starting point is 00:00:04 Well, howdy, folks. Today is Monday, September 28th, 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 Texan was at both the Texas Tribune's Tribest and Texas Values Faith Fest in Austin this past weekend. Follow the Texans' reporters Meredith Dyer and Steve Kapustka on social media for photos of the events, and what officials had to say about some of the biggest issues in the Lone Star State. In other news, state leaders have been gradually moving forward with a plan to build Texas' first ever 765 kilovolt transmission lines. A key component of the Permian Basin Reliability Plan,

Starting point is 00:00:52 authorized by the Texas legislature in 2023, the lines would link generation in East and Central Texas to the Permian Basin, the West Texas region that's expected to see a height, demand for power. The region is rich in oil and natural gas, and it's also attracted significant data center development. The text of the 2023 bill calls on the Public Utility Commission, the agency that regulates the state's electric, telecommunication, water, and sewer utilities, to, quote, identify each region in which transmission capacity is insufficient to meet the region's existing and forecasted electrical load, end quote, starting with the Permian Basin. When the PUC approved the Permian Basin Reliability Plan in 2024, it specifically cited the expansion

Starting point is 00:01:40 and electrification of Texas oil and gas industry in West Texas as a top need for the infrastructure. The Electric Reliability Council of Texas, the state's main power grid operator, estimated last April that data center's electricity demand would jump by 78,000 megawatts in just five years. Since the legislature passed the law authorizing the plan in 2023, the process has been largely confined to executive branch agencies. However, the legislature may revisit the issue when it reconvenes this January. Last but not least, Harris County Commissioners running for re-election this year are facing public backlash after approving a historic property tax increase, which they say is necessary because of state and federal policies. Commissioner Leslie Breonnaz said in a social media post quote, This is a budget that invests in the critical services

Starting point is 00:02:35 that all of our families depend on, public safety, public infrastructure, flood mitigation, disaster response, and public health. And as your elected official, it was a hard decision. She continued, quote, I will never turn my back on our community.

Starting point is 00:02:51 We must keep investing, especially at a time when the state and federal governments are reducing their commitment, end quote. Briona's defense of the budget in multiple social media posts has drawn thousands of online responses lambasting her for the vote to increase the combined county tax rate from 62.4 cents to 67.1 cents per $100 of a property's appraised value and to increase general fund spending by $325 million. Under the new rule, the average owner with a homestead property valued at $400,000 will see an increase of $193,000. over last year for a combined total of about $2,148. The new rate is the highest property owners have paid in the last three decades. Former Harris County Commissioner Steve Raddock, who is the Republican candidate

Starting point is 00:03:42 challenging Breonnas this year, told the Texan he was not surprised by the public backlash. Radick said, quote, Breonas seems to be very satisfied with raising taxes and she thinks they should be raised. Briona's and Commissioner Adrian Garcia have claimed that the tax increase, along with a county general fund spending increase of at least $325 million, is needed due to unfunded mandates imposed by the Texas legislature. However, neither has provided a specific list of mandates other than a 2025 state constitutional amendment that increased the amount of property tax exemptions businesses may claim. Thanks for listening. To support the Texan, please be sure to visit the texan. News to get full access to all of our articles, newsletters, and podcasts.

The Texan Podcast - Daily Rundown - September 28, 2026

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