The Texan Podcast - Weekly Roundup - March 20, 2025

Starting point is 00:00:00 Howdy folks, today is Thursday, March 20th and you're listening to the Texans Daily Rundown. I'm the Texans Assistant Editor Rob Lauschis and here is the rundown of today's news in Texas politics. First up, federal prosecutors announced the convictions of two of the human smugglers responsible for the horrific 2022 mass casualty event wherein 53 people were killed and 11 injured after being locked into a tractor trailer and left in the Texas heat. The U S department of justice described the tragedy as the single deadliest human smuggling case in us history at the time for men, all Mexican nationals were charged in connection with

Starting point is 00:00:45 the crime. Fast forward, and the DOJ confirmed in a press statement that two of the men were convicted for their roles in the alien smuggling conspiracy that led to the deaths. According to trial records, the men loaded 66 men, women, and children, all foreign nationals, into the tractor trailer and drove them into the United States and down the interstate to San Antonio. During this trip, temperatures in the locked trailer rose, causing some to lose consciousness. Others were described as having clawed at the walls in hopes of escaping. Among the 53 casualties were children and a pregnant woman. Adding to the heinous crime, prosecutors showed the smugglers charged each victim

Starting point is 00:01:25 between $12,000 and $15,000 to be smuggled into the US. Stay tuned for more news updates after this short message. Data centers fuel 364,000 Texas jobs, generate $3.5 billion in state and local taxes, and power essential services like banking, healthcare, and video calls. With 21 connected devices per household and soaring data demands, these hubs drive Texas's booming economy, shape its technological future, and keep your data here in the U.S. To learn more, visit centerofyourdigitalworld.org. Now returning to your Daily Texas News.

Starting point is 00:02:05 Next, a Texas House bill that would make non-disclosure agreements null in cases of child sexual abuse and human trafficking, called Trey's Law, was heard and voted out of committee on Wednesday amid a plethora of testimony from survivors. Representatives David Cook, Mitch Little, and Morgan Meyer signed on to Representative Jeff Leach's House Bill 748 as joint authors. Leach said upon introduction of the bill to the House Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence Committee on Wednesday morning, explicitly prohibits the use of non-disclosure agreements or similar confidentiality agreements and clauses as part of a civil suit settlement agreement with victims of sexual abuse. And as a result, many victims feel trapped, silenced, and feel like justice was never truly served. One of the witnesses was Elizabeth Carlock Phillips, the sister of the late Trey Carlock,

Starting point is 00:03:02 after whom the legislation is named. Trey passed away from suicide in 2019 after settling his civil lawsuit, which included an NDA against Canockook Camps, a global network of Christian camps based in Missouri that alleged repeated sexual abuse and negligence by camp counselor Pete Newman. In other news, classroom behavior and providing an orderly learning environment for students in Texas public schools has been an ongoing discussion in the Texas legislature. Now, House Bill 6 by Representative Jeff Leach seeks to address the issue by reforming education policies regarding both in and out of school suspensions.

Starting point is 00:03:42 The priority legislation aims to amend school discipline policies in Texas public schools, particularly in terms of suspension and alternative education programs. Leach has detailed his Teachers' Bill of Rights legislation, writing that its purpose is, quote, ensuring that teachers have the authority and are empowered to maintain a safe and effective learning environment. Under his proposed legislation, principals and administrators may suspend students for violations outlined in the school's student code of conduct. Additionally, the bill expands the definition of an in-school suspension to state that it

Starting point is 00:04:19 is not subject to any time limit. Stay tuned for more news updates after this short message. Texas insurance companies want to help keep premiums affordable. That's why the American Property Casualty Insurance Association supports a competitive marketplace reforms of legal system abuse and better preparedness for the next major storm. For more information visit securingourfuture.com slash Texas. Now returning to your daily Texas news.

Starting point is 00:04:50 Last but not least, two issues have dovetailed together more than most others in the Texas Capitol this session. Water infrastructure and nuclear power. Both bills were heard in House committees on Wednesday, and both are authored by the same person. State Representative Cody Harris laid out the nominally unrelated but inextricably linked package of bills in two committees. In the Natural Resources Committee, which Harris chairs, testimony was heard about House Joint Resolution 7 that would dedicate $1 billion

Starting point is 00:05:20 of state sales taxes per year to the Texas Water Fund. That fund was created in 2023 when the legislature and statewide voters approved the constitutional fund intending to return in 2025 to appropriate money for it. Brian McMath of the Texas Water Development Board said that the state's plans have 200 to 300 projects in each and both would cost a total of $4 billion. He added that the current draft plans from regional water authorities spanning the next 50 years exceed $150 billion. McMathKavy added that those numbers will change as the state board

Starting point is 00:05:58 reviews them. 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.

The Texan Podcast - Weekly Roundup - March 20, 2025

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