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As the political landscape in Texas continues to shift, recent developments and trends are reshaping how Texans engage with their government and each other. In today’s newsletter, we’ll explore the latest from the Texas Democrats at the DNC, a closer look at the Cruz vs. Allred Senate race, the evolving voter trends across the state, and the ongoing legal battle over Texas’ social media safety law.
This edition draws on insights from the recent voter trends report by the Hobby School of Public Affairs at the University of Houston and the Executive Master of Public Administration Program in the Barbara Jordan – Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs at Texas Southern University, providing a detailed look at the shifting dynamics among Texas voters.
Today’s Insights:
- Texans at the DNC
- Cruz and Allred Neck and Neck in Texas Senate Race?
- Trump and Harris Face Off in Texas Voter Showdown
- Texas Takes on Big Tech with Social Media Law
Texans at the DNC
Texas Democrats’ key policy positions at this year’s Democratic National Convention were immigration reform, healthcare, and the mobilization of Latino voters.
Key Moments:
- Colin Allred, the Democratic US Senate candidate against US Senate Ted Cruz, publicly endorsed Kamala Harris for the 2024 presidential race, praising her leadership and commitment to progressive values. He stated, "Kamala Harris is the leader we need to bring our country together and move it forward. I’m proud to stand with her as she fights for every American."
- Congresswoman Veronica Escobar delivered a speech on the need for comprehensive immigration reform, highlighting the unique challenges faced by border communities. She emphasized that “immigration is not just a border issue, it’s a human issue,” calling for humane policies that respect the dignity of all individuals.
- Congressman Joaquin Castro focused on the importance of voter mobilization, particularly among the Latino community, which he described as "the future of Texas and the Democratic Party." Castro highlighted the strides made in increasing voter turnout in recent elections but stressed the need for continued efforts to engage young and minority voters.
- Beto O’Rourke, former U.S. Rep and 2020 presidential candidate, spoke about healthcare, reiterating his call for expanding Medicaid in Texas, which has not adopted the expansion under the Affordable Care Act. O'Rourke argued that “every Texan deserves access to affordable healthcare.”
Cruz vs. Allred Neck and Neck in Texas Senate Race?
The Senate race between Republican incumbent Sen. Ted Cruz and Democratic challenger Colin Allred is thin. Cruz holds a slight lead with 46.6% of likely voters compared to Allred's 44.5%, while Libertarian candidate Ted Brown captures 2.5%, leaving 6.4% undecided. This data comes from the August survey conducted by the Hobby School of Public Affairs at the University of Houston, in collaboration with Texas Southern University, which focused on 1,365 likely voters with a margin of error of 2.65%. Gender and racial divides are stark: Cruz leads Allred by 13 points among men (52% to 39%), but Allred is ahead by 7 points among women (49% to 42%). Among white Texans, 57% support Cruz, while Allred leads among Latino and Black voters with 46% and 72% respectively. With 93% of voters on both sides certain of their choice, this race will likely hinge on undecided voters and turnout among key demographics.
Trump and Harris Face Off in Texas Voter Showdown
That same poll shows Texas voters with a clear but narrow preference for Donald Trump over Kamala Harris. Trump leads with 49.5% of likely voters, while Harris trails at 44.6%. The August survey, which focused on 1,365 likely voters with a margin of error of 2.65%, reveals that Harris's support has increased by 4.3 points since June, while Trump’s has edged up by 0.6 points. The gender gap is significant: Trump has an 18-point lead among men (56% to 38%), but Harris leads among women by 6 points (50% to 44%). Racial divides are also pronounced—57% of white Texans back Trump, while Harris has overwhelming support among Black Texans (77% to 17%). Among Latino voters, the race is tight, with 47% for Trump and 46% for Harris. Both candidates retain strong loyalty from their bases, but independent voters remain a wildcard, with 41% leaning toward Trump and 39% toward Harris.
Texas Takes on Big Tech with Social Media Law
The Texas social media safety law, often referred to as HB 20 from the 87th Texas Legislative Session - 1st special, has become a flashpoint in the ongoing debate over free speech and content moderation in the digital age. HB 20 is aimed at curbing what the state perceives as censorship by social media companies. However, the law has faced numerous legal challenges, culminating in a significant court case that could have broad implications for the future of online speech and state-level regulation.
Key Provisions of HB 20:
- Content Moderation Restrictions: The law prohibits large social media platforms (those with over 50 million active users in the U.S.) from banning or blocking users based on their viewpoints. This section of the law (Chapter 143A of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code) has been the most contentious, as it directly challenges the content moderation practices of tech giants like Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.
- Transparency Requirements: HB 20 mandates that social media companies disclose how they moderate content, including how they handle complaints and the criteria used for content removal or user bans. This requirement aims to increase accountability and transparency in how platforms enforce their community guidelines.
- Appeal Process: The law establishes a process for users to appeal content removal or account suspensions, requiring companies to provide clear reasons for their decisions and offer a way for users to challenge those actions.
Legal Challenges and Court Case:
- The law was immediately challenged by tech companies and free speech advocates, who argue that HB 20 violates the First Amendment by compelling platforms to host speech they may find objectionable. Critics also contend that the law is overly broad and could lead to unintended consequences, such as the proliferation of harmful content online.
- In a recent court case, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit upheld parts of the law, allowing certain provisions to take effect while leaving others in limbo. The decision has been appealed, and the case could eventually reach the Supreme Court, setting a national precedent.
Impacted Sections of Texas Code:
- Chapter 143A, Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code: This chapter, created by HB 20, outlines the restrictions on content moderation and the transparency requirements for social media platforms. It is at the heart of the legal challenges, with opponents arguing that it infringes on the platforms’ rights to manage their services according to their terms.
National Impact:
- The outcome of the legal battle over HB 20 could influence similar legislation in other states. States like Florida have passed comparable laws, which are also being challenged in courts, making the Texas case a critical test for state-level regulation of social media.
What’s Next?
- As the case progresses through the courts, both sides are preparing for what could be a landmark decision. If upheld, HB 20 could dramatically alter the landscape of content moderation, forcing platforms to reconsider how they manage speech on their services. The law’s supporters argue it is necessary to protect free speech online, while opponents warn it could lead to a flood of harmful or extremist content.
Quote of the Day
“Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” - Theodore Roosevelt
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Texas Political Spotlight
Welcome back, friends
Texas is facing a pivotal legal test over its election system as Republicans seek to end open primaries, a move that supporters frame as protecting party autonomy and critics warn could create new barriers to voter participation. At the same time, federal officials are considering a land exchange that would allow SpaceX to expand its South Texas launch site, renewing debate over how to balance economic growth with the preservation of sensitive wildlife habitat along the Gulf Coast. Lastly, a federal judge has blocked a new Texas law regulating children’s access to app stores, underscoring the ongoing uncertainty over how far states can go in policing online safety without infringing on constitutional rights.
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#44 - Hope Osborn: Building Community for Women in Texas Politics with Pink Granite
Welcome to Episode #44 of Bills & Business. In this episode, Laura Carr, Co-Founder of USLege, sits down with Hope Osborn, Co-Founder of The Pink Granite Foundation.
Hope brings more than a decade of experience across the Texas Capitol, having worked in both chambers, both parties, and in the advocacy world. She shares the story behind The Pink Granite Foundation and how it has grown into a nonpartisan force for uplifting, connecting, and supporting women in Texas politics. From its grassroots beginnings to the impact of the 2025 Pink Granite Party, Hope provides an inside look at how the organization strengthens the political ecosystem.
Laura and Hope explore the nonprofit’s mentorship programs, year-round community-building efforts, and the unique pressures women face working under the dome. Hope offers insight into why women’s leadership in politics matters, how to break down persistent barriers, and what the future looks like for the next generation of female leaders in Texas policymaking.
Don’t forget to subscribe to Bills & Business on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube for more deep dives into Texas policy and business news.
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How to Choose the Right Legislative Bill Tracking Software for Your Organization
Legislative bill tracking software now sits at the center of how modern organizations monitor public policy.
With fast-moving legislation across states and at the federal level, even a single missed update can derail compliance, strategy, and stakeholder communication.
For government affairs, public affairs professionals, and policy professionals, the challenge is no longer finding information.
The real challenge is staying up to date, sorting through massive amounts of data, and acting fast enough to stay ahead of regulatory developments.
Organizations that still rely on manual tracking often miss hearing schedules, committee assignments, and vote movement during an active legislative session.
Those delays lead to rushed analysis, weak talking points, and reduced control over regulatory strategy.
This guide explains how modern legislative and regulatory tracking works, what features matter most, and how to evaluate legislative bill tracking software with confidence.
It also outlines how the right tools help organizations save time, stay informed, and work smarter with fewer resources.
What a Legislative Tracking Platform Actually Does
A legislative tracking platform collects bills, executive orders, and regulatory updates from Congress and state agencies.
It organizes full text, status, hearing schedules, and vote outcomes into a searchable structure.
Instead of searching dozens of sites, users access critical information in a single workspace.
This creates comprehensive coverage across jurisdictions and timeline stages.
Manual Monitoring vs Automated Systems
Manual tracking depends on email newsletters, website checks, spreadsheets, and delayed reports.
Automated tracking legislation systems rely on structured data feeds, continuous search processing, and AI-powered tagging.
This shift allows teams to track bills in real time while reducing reporting lag.
Who Relies on Legislative and Regulatory Tracking Every Day
Government Affairs Teams
Government affairs teams track legislation to advise internal leadership and shape outreach strategy.
They monitor committee hearings, regulatory changes, and voting calendars to anticipate outcomes.
Government Affairs Professionals
Government affairs professionals depend on real-time alerts to prepare briefings, manage stakeholder communication, and coordinate advocacy activity.
Public Affairs Professionals
Public affairs professionals use legislative tracking to stay informed on pending legislation that affects public positioning.
They use alerts, bill summaries, and reports to guide messaging and response timing.
Policy Professionals
Policy professionals analyze regulatory and legislative movement for forecasting and risk modeling.
Core Functions Every System Must Deliver
Real Time Alerts and Notifications
Real-time alerts ensure that no major event is missed.
Users receive status change alerts, hearing alerts, committee movement alerts, and vote alerts.
Many systems also deliver real-time legislative alerts and real-time notifications to multiple team members at once.
Email alerts remain a core communication channel.
Search and Filtering Tools
Strong search features allow users to search by keyword, bill number, sponsor, topic, and date.
Advanced filters allow professionals to track across Congress, agencies, and jurisdictions without manual sorting.
Bill Summaries and Full Text Access
Clear bill summaries help professionals review large volumes of legislation quickly.
Full text access supports detailed analysis when a deeper review is required.
Tracking Across the Full Legislative Process
The legislative process unfolds across many stages.
A strong tracking system follows every phase without delay.
Stages include introduction, committee hearing, committee vote, floor vote, reconciliation, and enactment.
Tracking each stage allows organizations to act with speed and precision.
Why Organizations Struggle Without Proper Tracking
Without reliable legislative tracking, organizations often miss key vote windows and fall behind on regulatory changes.
They lose early access to hearing schedules and waste time on manual legislative research.
Manual tracking also weakens stakeholder engagement and limits the ability to anticipate outcomes.
How AI-Powered Tracking Improves Speed and Accuracy
AI-powered systems classify bills by topic, industry, and risk level.
They reduce noise while increasing signal clarity.
Key AI-powered functions include automated tagging, predictive analysis, sentiment scoring, and impact forecasting.
This allows teams to anticipate policy shifts instead of reacting after passage.
Staying Ahead in Fast-Moving Legislative Environments
Fast-moving legislation often changes direction within days.
Organizations that stay ahead rely on continuous data intake and structured alerts.
To stay ahead consistently, teams must track daily activity, review bill movement, monitor committee assignments, and track hearing schedules.
Teams that do not stay ahead often miss early influence windows.
Jurisdictional Scope and Data Integrity
Federal Level Coverage
Federal-level tracking focuses on Congress, agencies, and executive orders.
These updates guide national strategy and compliance planning.
State and Local Monitoring
State and municipal legislation often moves faster than federal legislation.
Multi-jurisdiction tracking legislation tools allow organizations to track overlapping regulatory exposure while staying fully up to date.
The Role of Data in Modern Bill Monitoring
Data drives every element of tracking software.
It supports alerts, reports, dashboards, and compliance workflows.
Reliable data strengthens legislative analysis, regulatory monitoring, stakeholder analysis, and long-term strategy planning.
Reports, Analysis, and Action Planning
Strong report functions turn raw data into usable insights.
Reports guide leadership decisions at every level of the organization.
Common reports include daily legislative summaries, weekly regulatory reports, stakeholder briefings, and executive updates.
Advanced analysis allows teams to compare date ranges, sponsors, committees, and historical vote behavior.
Supporting Advocacy and Government Relations
Advocacy relies on early awareness and quick response.
Government relations teams depend on tracking to coordinate outreach tools, stakeholder engagement, and talking points.
Legislative tracking strengthens government relations by improving access to bill summaries, hearing schedules, and pending legislation updates.
Real Time Workflow Management
Real-time alerts flow into shared team workflows.
Every alert triggers review, analysis, and response.
Real-time notifications help assign internal owners, trigger review cycles, support rapid response, and prevent missed deadlines.
This structure allows the organization to maintain control under pressure.
Managing Regulatory Risk Through Continuous Monitoring
Regulatory risk increases when organizations track sporadically.
Continuous regulatory tracking reduces exposure by keeping leadership informed of regulatory changes.
Regulatory monitoring supports compliance alignment, internal controls, and audit readiness.
Integration With Internal Systems
Modern tracking software integrates with CRM systems, internal dashboards, compliance platforms, and reporting tools.
This improves access to legislative and regulatory data across the organization while reducing manual data entry.
Search, Review, and Control Functions
Search tools help teams locate relevant bills quickly.
Review workflows to ensure accuracy and relevance.
Control layers protect access across departments.
Key Evaluation Criteria for Selecting a Platform
Usability for Professionals
Professionals require intuitive dashboards, fast search, clear alerts, and low learning curves.
Usability directly impacts adoption and performance.
Customization for Each Organization
Every organization tracks different legislation.
Customization allows industry-specific focus, regional tracking, alert priorities, and tailored reports.
Cost, Spend, and Resource Allocation
Pricing affects total spend.
Automation reduces manual effort and helps teams save time while operating with less time investment.
Team Collaboration and Communication
Tracking systems support collaboration across the full team.
Shared alerts, shared reports, and shared review processes improve transparency and alignment.
Stakeholder Management and Client Communication
Stakeholders expect timely updates.
Clients rely on clear reports to guide compliance and planning.
Tracking platforms support stakeholder trust, client communication, and strategic confidence.
Avoiding Missed Opportunities and Compliance Failures
Organizations without structured tracking often miss hearings, deadlines, amendments, and engagement windows.
Every missed update increases both legal and operational risk.
Staying Informed in High-Volume Legislative Cycles
High-volume legislative sessions demand continuous monitoring.
To stay informed, teams rely on automated alerts, daily reports, and real-time legislative alerts.
Strategic Use of Legislative and Regulatory Tracking
Legislative and regulatory tracking supports long-term policy strategy, compliance planning, advocacy positioning, and organizational risk management.
Using Tracking to Anticipate Policy Shifts
Anticipation depends on trend analysis, sponsor behavior review, historical vote patterns, and committee movement tracking.
These insights help organizations remain one step ahead.
Managing High Bill Volume With Limited Resources
Congress and state legislatures introduce thousands of bills each year.
Tracking software allows organizations to manage this volume with fewer resources and stronger control.
Accuracy, Speed, and Critical Information Flow
Accuracy ensures trust in decisions.
Speed ensures timely action.
Critical information must flow without interruption to all stakeholders.
Supporting Long-Term Strategy With Continuous Data
Continuous data monitoring aligns regulatory planning with business strategy.
It prevents reactive behavior and supports proactive positioning.
Future Direction of Legislative and Regulatory Monitoring
The future is driven by deeper AI-powered analytics, faster real-time alerts, broader data interoperability, and stronger predictive analysis.
These advances will further improve organizational readiness.
Texas Political Spotlight
Welcome back, friends
Texas is facing a pivotal legal test over its election system as Republicans seek to end open primaries, a move that supporters frame as protecting party autonomy and critics warn could create new barriers to voter participation. At the same time, federal officials are considering a land exchange that would allow SpaceX to expand its South Texas launch site, renewing debate over how to balance economic growth with the preservation of sensitive wildlife habitat along the Gulf Coast. Lastly, a federal judge has blocked a new Texas law regulating children’s access to app stores, underscoring the ongoing uncertainty over how far states can go in policing online safety without infringing on constitutional rights.
We hope you enjoyed today’s read!
Texas Political Spotlight
Welcome back, friends
Michael and Susan Dell’s unprecedented $6.25 billion pledge to expand federal “Trump Accounts” aims to boost long-term savings for 25 million American children. In Lubbock, Texas Tech’s new classroom restrictions on race, gender identity, and sexuality have ignited an immediate clash over academic freedom and curriculum control. And in Northeast Texas, Rep. Gary VanDeaver’s decision not to seek reelection opens a pivotal Republican primary.
We hope you enjoyed today’s read!
Texas Political Spotlight
Welcome back, friends
Texas voters approved one of the largest property tax relief packages in state history on Tuesday, raising the homestead exemption to $140,000 and granting new tax breaks for seniors, people with disabilities, and small businesses. In Austin, residents rejected Proposition Q, a plan to fund public safety, homelessness programs, and city facility initiatives through a property tax hike, forcing city leaders to rework the budget and brace for service cuts. Meanwhile, Bexar County voters narrowly passed Propositions A and B, greenlighting up to $311 million in tourism-funded support for a new downtown Spurs arena and upgrades to the Freeman Coliseum grounds.
We hope you enjoyed today’s read!
