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President-elect Donald Trump has nominated former Texas state lawmaker Scott Turner to lead the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Today’s Insights:
- Trump Appoints Former State Lawmaker to Cabinet
- University of Texas System Expands Free Tuition Program
- Freeman Martin to Serve as New DPS Director
Trump Appoints Former State Lawmaker to Cabinet
President-elect Donald Trump has nominated former Texas state lawmaker Scott Turner to lead the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Turner, who served in the Texas House from 2013 to 2017 and previously worked as executive director of the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council, will oversee HUD and advise on housing issues if confirmed. A University of Illinois graduate and former NFL player, Turner also founded the Community Engagement & Opportunity Council and holds leadership roles in organizations focused on education and economic opportunity. Other Texans nominated for roles in Trump’s administration include John Ratcliffe for CIA director.
University of Texas System Expands Free Tuition Program
The University of Texas System is expanding its free tuition program to cover tuition and fees for undergraduate students whose families earn $100,000 or less, starting next fall. The expansion, funded by a $35 million allocation, will apply to all nine universities in the system and aims to increase access to affordable education while reducing student debt. Students must be Texas residents, enrolled full-time, and apply for financial aid to qualify. UT leaders highlighted the program’s role in lowering the percentage of graduates with debt, which dropped from 54% in 2019 to 48% in 2023.
Freeman Martin to Serve as New DPS Director
Freeman Martin has been appointed as the new executive director of the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), beginning December 1st. A 33-year veteran of the agency, Martin started as a highway patrol trooper in 1990 and rose through the ranks, serving as a Texas Ranger, regional commander for central Texas, and deputy director. He has led DPS responses to significant crises, including Hurricane Harvey and the Sutherland Springs mass shooting, and spearheaded initiatives such as establishing a Texas Anti-Gang Center in San Antonio. As executive director, Martin will oversee over 11,000 employees, a $2 billion budget, and statewide law enforcement operations.
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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.
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Texas Political Spotlight
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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
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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
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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!
