Welcome back, friends
In today's newsletter, we cover Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick's new list of interim charges, his first endorsement this general election, fresh polling data ahead of the Trump-Harris presidential debate, Rep. James Frank Announces Bid for Texas House Speaker, and a bold campaign ad from a Texas House candidate advocating for marijuana legalization. Dive into the latest developments shaping Texas politics as candidates vie for support in the lead-up to the November election.
Today’s Insights:
- Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick Endorses Mitch Little in Texas House District 65 Race
- New Poll Shows Trump Leading Harris by 5 Points in Texas
- Texas House Candidate Sally Duval Releases Campaign Ad Advocating for Marijuana Legalization
- Rep. James Frank Announces Bid for Texas House Speaker, Fourth Challenger to Dade Phelan.
- Texas House Committee Zoom Meeting Hacked During Security Hearing on Foreign Threats
- New Interim Charges Announced by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick Endorses Mitch Little in Texas House District 65 Race
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has endorsed Mitch Little, a Republican candidate for Texas House District 65, in the upcoming general election in this competitive district that we have rated as likely Republican. Patrick praised Little as a strong conservative who upholds values such as freedom, family, and traditional Texas principles. This is Patrick's first endorsement for the general election.
New Poll Shows Trump Leading Harris by 5 Points in Texas
A recent analysis by Jim Henson and Joshua Blank at the University of Texas Austin highlights key dynamics shaping Texas public opinion ahead of the anticipated Trump-Harris presidential debate. Polling shows former President Trump maintaining a lead in Texas, with 49% support compared to 44% for Vice President Kamala Harris in a head-to-head match-up, based on an August 2024 University of Texas/Texas Politics Project Poll. The race mirrors past election trends, with Trump holding a smaller margin than his 2016 and 2020 victories. Harris has shown improvement in polling over President Biden's earlier performance, likely boosted by increased enthusiasm among Democrats. However, while Harris remains less defined among Texas voters, Trump’s popularity appears solidified, and he enjoys stronger trust on key issues like the economy, immigration, and inflation. The stakes are particularly high for Harris, who will seek to capitalize on her momentum and potentially sway undecided voters, especially independents, where she has made recent gains.
Texas House Candidate Sally Duval Releases Campaign Ad Advocating for Marijuana Legalization
Texas House candidate for House District 73, Sally Duval released a provocative campaign advertisement in which she is seen smoking marijuana, advocating for more clear regulation of cannabis. Duval, a reform candidate running on a platform of change, argues that Texans should have access to safe, tested marijuana products, positioning herself as a bold reform candidate. We have this district rated as Safe Republican, so she faces an uphill battle in unseating Rep. Carrie Isaac.
Rep. James Frank Announces Bid for Texas House Speaker, Fourth Challenger to Dade Phelan
State Representative James Frank (R-Wichita Falls) has officially entered the race for Texas House Speaker, joining three other Republican challengers aiming to unseat current Speaker Dade Phelan. Frank, known for his work on healthcare and family services, adds further complexity to the leadership struggle within the Texas House.
Texas House Committee Zoom Meeting Hacked During Security Hearing on Foreign Threats
During a Texas House committee meeting on securing the state from "hostile foreign organizations," a Zoom session was apparently hacked, displaying unauthorized content that seemed to be Russian Propaganda. This interruption derailed the meeting, forcing the legislators to shut down the stream. The committee recorded on-site audio of the remainder of the hearing.
New Interim Legislative Charges Announced by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick for 2024
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has released additional interim legislative charges for Texas Senate committees. https://Click here to view interim charges.
The charges are:
Business and Commerce Committee
- Non-Compete Agreements
Criminal Justice Committee
- Supporting Victims of Sexual Assault
- Retail Theft
- Financial Crimes
Education Committee
- Improving K12-College Pathways
- Monitoring:
Finance Committee
- School Enrollment Trends
- Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive Program
Health and Human Services Committee
- Protecting Vulnerable Texans in Emergencies
Higher Education Subcommittee
- Stopping DEI to Strengthen the Texas Workforce
- Core Curriculum Course Accessibility
State Affairs Committee
- Impeachment Reform
- Runoff Elections
- Lottery
- Unmasking Protestors
- Stop Noncitizen Voting
- Beverages with THC
- Public Trust in Government
- Addressing Homelessness
- Election Audit Reports
- Monitoring
🎙️We Have a Podcast! 🎙️
Bills and Business is your go-to podcast for conversations related to Texas legislation and business. Hosted by Laura Carr, Co-Founder of USLege—an AI-driven legislative tracking software—we bring you in-depth analysis on economic trends, impactful legislation, and key developments shaping Texas business.
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#43 - Wes Benedict: Bridging Policy and Community with Texans for Reasonable Solutions
Welcome to Episode #43 of Bills & Business. In this episode, Laura Carr, Co-Founder of USLege, sits down with Wes Benedict, Grassroots Manager at Texans for Reasonable Solutions.
Wes brings years of advocacy experience and a steady, practical approach to community engagement. The conversation explores how Texas communities can navigate political tension, build cross-partisan coalitions, and create space for meaningful dialogue in an increasingly polarized environment.
They dive into the organization’s focus on key statewide issues including housing, infrastructure, water, and the evolving relationship between local and state governments. Wes breaks down why these policies matter for both everyday Texans and the business community, and how reasonable, bipartisan solutions can move conversations forward.
The episode closes with insights on how individuals can get involved, what success looks like in grassroots policy work, and what Texans should be watching as the special session unfolds.
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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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
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!
Texas Political Spotlight
Welcome back friends,
Former Vice President Dick Cheney, one of the most influential and controversial figures in modern American politics, has died at 84, remembered by former President George W. Bush as a “patriot” whose intellect and conviction shaped decades of U.S. policy. In Texas, the Education Agency announced a sweeping takeover of Fort Worth ISD, the state’s second-largest intervention, citing years of academic underperformance and plans to install new local managers. And in Washington, a United Airlines flight was evacuated after a bomb threat, prompting an FBI investigation that later found no explosives, allowing operations to resume safely.
We hope you enjoyed today’s read!
