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A new 1,515-acre data center near Lockhart marks the latest push in Texas’ rapid rise as a national tech and AI hub. Meanwhile, a bipartisan fentanyl bill heading to Governor Abbott would make it a felony to expose children and vulnerable individuals to the deadly drug.
Today’s Insights:
- Tract to Build Massive Data Center Near Lockhart, Adding to Texas’ Tech Expansion
- Fentanyl Child Endangerment Bill Heads to Abbott
Tract to Build Massive Data Center Near Lockhart, Adding to Texas’ Tech Expansion
A Colorado-based data center developer, Tract, has announced plans to build a large-scale data center campus on 1,515 acres near Lockhart in Caldwell County, Texas, just the latest in a series of major tech infrastructure investments across the state. The proposed "megasite," located approximately six miles from the region’s famed barbecue corridor, is expected to support more than 2 gigawatts of data capacity, primarily serving cloud storage, AI training, and inferencing functions. Tract emphasized Texas' business-friendly climate and available skilled workforce as key reasons for selecting the site, which is anticipated to create thousands of construction and operations jobs.
The project has received support from Governor Greg Abbott, who highlighted its potential to create high-wage employment, strengthen the state’s power grid, and enhance technological infrastructure. Texas continues to position itself as a national hub for data and AI development
"We look forward to working with corporate partners like Tract to further expand Texas' economic might and develop our state as the epicenter of technological advancement.”
- Greg Abbott
Fentanyl Child Endangerment Bill Heads to Abbott
A bill aimed at strengthening legal protections for children and vulnerable individuals in Texas by classifying exposure to fentanyl as a felony is set to become law. Known as the Fentanyl Child Endangerment Act, HB 166 by Rep. Giovanni Capriglione targets individuals who allow children, the elderly, or people with disabilities to be exposed to fentanyl outside of medical settings. It passed with overwhelming bipartisan support, 140-1 in the Texas House and 30-1 in the Senate.
The legislation comes in response to a sharp rise in fentanyl-related fatalities across Texas. In 2023, more than 2,300 deaths were attributed to fentanyl, making up nearly half of all accidental drug poisonings in the state, according to the Department of State Health Services. The impact spans multiple age groups, including 411 deaths among individuals aged 15-24 and more than 1,200 combined in those aged 25-44. The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Hancock, emphasized its role in equipping local law enforcement with tools to address what he described as a growing public health threat. If signed by Governor Greg Abbott, the law will take effect on September 1, 2025.
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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.
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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.
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