Welcome back, friends
Texas lawmakers are pushing to eliminate the $423 million institutional enhancement fund, a large source of funding for higher education, which could lead to significant cuts for major universities like Texas A&M and the University of Texas. State higher education officials say the potential funding loss would affect faculty recruitment, course offerings, and student services. At the same time, tensions surrounding school choice policies reached a boiling point at a town hall in Palastine, Texas, where Rep. Cody Harris walked off stage after heated opposition from the crowd.
Today’s Insights:
- Universities Sound Alarm as Texas Legislators Propose Funding Cuts
- Tensions Flare at Palestine Town Hall as Rep. Harris Walks Off Stage
Universities Sound Alarm as Texas Legislators Propose Funding Cuts
Ahead of the legislative session, Texas lawmakers proposed eliminating the institutional enhancement fund, a $423 million higher education funding source, which provided valuable financial support to universities in the last budget cycle. If approved, this move would result in significant funding cuts for major institutions, including Texas A&M University, the University of Texas at Austin, Texas Tech University, and the University of Houston. Higher education leaders have raised concerns that losing this funding would impact faculty hiring, reduce course offerings, and weaken student services, particularly as schools face restrictions on raising tuition.
The decision aligns with ongoing legislative efforts to reshape higher education policy in Texas, particularly regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has publicly stated that universities failing to fully eliminate DEI programs will face financial consequences, reinforcing his broader push to influence campus governance.
“If they don’t kick DEI out of their schools, they’re going to get a lot less”
- Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, TPPF Summit 2025
Some lawmakers argue that universities should provide more transparency on how institutional enhancement funds are used before any consideration of reinstating them. University leaders, meanwhile, have warned that these cuts could significantly impact academic programs and student success. Higher education leaders have pointed to the role of these funds in supporting academic initiatives, advising programs, and faculty recruitment.
“Our universities use that mostly for faculty and to teach our students and eliminating it will have a heck of an impact”
- John Sharp, Texas A&M University System Chancellor
» Keep up with all floor debates, committee hearings, and agency meetings live on USLege.ai
Tensions Flare at Palestine Town Hall as Rep. Harris Walks Off Stage
A school choice town hall at Palestine High School ended abruptly on Friday after audience members expressed strong opposition, leading Rep. Cody Harris to end the event an about an hour into the scheduled two-hour runtime. The meeting, titled “A Time for Truth and Facts,” was intended to provide information and discussion on the issue, but tensions escalated as some attendees jeered, disrupting the conversation.
» See the town hall footage here
In a statement on Saturday, Harris described the crowd’s reaction as “troubling” and criticized the disruption, stating that it prevented a meaningful exchange of ideas. He emphasized the importance of respectful discussion and expressed concern that the behavior at the meeting did not reflect the standards expected in civic discourse. Despite the heated exchange, Harris reaffirmed his willingness to engage in further conversations with constituents in a setting that promotes constructive dialogue.
We hope you enjoyed today’s read!
🎙️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.
Subscribe on Youtube and Spotify for weekly episodes!
- 01 First
Subscribe to our Newsletter
Read more news
.avif)
#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.
📲 Follow Laura Carr
🐦 Twitter: @Laura_USLege https://x.com/Laura_USLege
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurauslege/
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thereallauracarr/
🛍️ ShopMy: https://shopmy.us/shop/lauraluise?Section_title=latest-finds&tab=collections
✍️ Substack: https://lauraluise.substack.com/
🔗 Links: https://lauraluise.carrd.co/
📲 Follow USLege
✨ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uslege.ai/
📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/USLegeai
🐦 Twitter: @USLege_ai https://x.com/USLege_ai
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uslege-ai/
🎧 Subscribe to Bills & Business
🌐 Website: https://www.uslege.ai/
▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BillsandBusiness
🎵 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/22ZWg9VVb2AEGqyV14osNi?si=effe3795f8414171
🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/bills-and-business-by-uslege/id1781059329
🎥 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@uslege
📲 Follow Wes Benedict
🐦 Twitter: https://x.com/Wes_Benedict
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wes-benedict/
🎬 Produced by USLege
📞 Want to see USLege in action? Schedule a demo today! https://www.uslege.ai/demo
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!
