# Texas Hemp Lawsuit, Data Centers & Camp Fiber Mandates | USLege > Texas hemp businesses sue over smokeable product bans, data center power demands top 400K MW, and summer camps fight costly fiber mandates. Stay current with… Canonical: https://www.uslege.ai/news/texas-political-spotlight-texas-hemp-lawsuit-data-centers-camp-fiber-mandates --- [News](/news)/[The Political Spotlight](/newsletters) Newsletter # Texas Hemp Lawsuit, Data Centers & Camp Fiber Mandates Texas Political Highlights from the Week Texas Political Spotlight April 10, 2026 This is the archive excerpt. The complete issue, with every story in full, lives on The Political Spotlight. [Read the full issue](https://uslege.beehiiv.com/p/texas-political-spotlight-5e40) [Subscribe free](https://uslege.beehiiv.com/) ![](/assets/news/476247b44142_69a5dfad36ee6ba7e35757b9_USLege_News.png) **Welcome back, friends** Texas hemp businesses have filed suit to block new state regulations they say effectively ban smokeable hemp products and impose licensing fee increases so steep they could force many businesses to close. Yesterday, the Texas House State Affairs Committee heard testimony on the explosive growth of data centers in the state, with interconnection requests on the power grid now exceeding 400,000 megawatts and raising questions about cost, reliability, and water usage. Lastly, nineteen Texas summer camps are challenging a new state mandate requiring them to install fiber optic internet infrastructure, citing costs as high as $1.2 million and arguing the requirement is unworkable for rural properties and does nothing to improve camper safety. **_Before you dive in…_** ![](/assets/news/87bfcc25b93b_69dd649e2a5f980f6a5de31f_BEST_INGA_.avif) USLege will be hosting our first ever Best in Government Affairs Awards Ceremony on April 23rd at Speakeasy in Downtown Austin. Winners and guests will be treated to evening of celebration for the accomplishments in the 89th Texas Legislative Session. You can expect music, networking, food & drinks and formal award acceptance.   This is going to be a fun party! We hope to see you there. **_»» RSVP HERE:_** [Best in Government Affairs Awards Ceremony hosted by USLege](https://uslege.involve.me/best-in-gov-tx-reg?utm_source=www.txlege.news&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=texas-political-spotlight&_bhlid=d54f38af2d3b292c8dbc7be2e8cda34f8578116f)[](https://uslege.involve.me/best-in-gov-tx-reg?utm_source=www.txlege.news&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=texas-political-spotlight&_bhlid=4dd3c11908dbe5edb43e4fc5cdd4d4b26a64bc62) ![](/assets/news/f93ddf621341_69dd649e2a5f980f6a5de306_2.jpeg) ‍ > The Texas Hemp Business Council, and other hemp advocacy groups, are suing the state over the rule changes that banned selling smokeable hemp products, and increased licensing fees. They went into effect Mar. 31. > > The THBC says the goal is for a judge to grant a "permanent… [pic.twitter.com/wVS6Q22R9v](https://t.co/wVS6Q22R9v) > > — Vinny Martorano (@VinnyMartorano) [April 8, 2026](https://twitter.com/VinnyMartorano/status/2041973146547282122?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) ‍ ![](/assets/news/dc38d454d98c_69dd649e2a5f980f6a5de30f_Texas_Spotlight__620_x_1200_px___3_.jpeg) »» [Watch Representative Ken King’s Intro Here](https://app.uslege.ai/share/9c269c34-b335-4bd5-a479-434f62df5927?utm_source=www.txlege.news&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=texas-political-spotlight&_bhlid=1695003e9794b9bee299a45626defabdc0eddba9) «« ![](/assets/news/c7adffb9ab0c_69dd649e2a5f980f6a5de313_3.jpeg) ‍ > A group of 19 camps said fiber-optic internet that lawmakers ordered them to install after last year's floods is too expensive or impossible to get. 🔗 [https://t.co/G5sZP30tAl](https://t.co/G5sZP30tAl) [pic.twitter.com/QpktGy1SdM](https://t.co/QpktGy1SdM) > > — MySA (@mySA) [April 9, 2026](https://twitter.com/mySA/status/2042251233734410704?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) ‍ We hope you enjoyed today’s read! Stay connected with TXLege News on [X](https://x.com/TXLege_?utm_source=www.txlege.news&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=texas-political-spotlight&_bhlid=ec055fdcee6c2b114a19ce72719c49d56bf23268) and [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/txlege/?utm_source=www.txlege.news&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=texas-political-spotlight&_bhlid=d306b9abb7e16a120af0ebcac6e1a2500631f35f)! ‍ > 🚨 New Episode 🚨 > > On the latest Bills & Business Podcast, host [@Laura\_USLege](https://twitter.com/Laura_USLege?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) sits down with [@MeganMauroTX](https://twitter.com/MeganMauroTX?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) , President & CEO of the Texas Association of Business [@txbiz](https://twitter.com/txbiz?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) and Texas Chapter President of the American Innovators Network [@Innovators](https://twitter.com/Innovators?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) , to dig into one of the biggest… [pic.twitter.com/wAiDKw7jL9](https://t.co/wAiDKw7jL9) > > — USLege (@USLege\_ai) [April 9, 2026](https://twitter.com/USLege_ai/status/2042248777294070191?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) Read the complete issue The Political Spotlight is free and weekly. Get the next one in your inbox. [Full issue](https://uslege.beehiiv.com/p/texas-political-spotlight-5e40) [Subscribe free](https://uslege.beehiiv.com/) ## More from _The Political Spotlight._ [Texas Political Spotlight Introducing the New Texas Political Spotlight | USLege News May 5, 2026](/news/texas-political-spotlight-introducing-new-uslege-news/) [Texas Political Spotlight Texas Prison Heat Trial, NM Border Expansion & ESA Lawsuit April 3, 2026](/news/texas-political-spotlight-texas-prison-heat-trial-nm-border-expansion-esa-lawsuit/) [Texas Political Spotlight Texas Hemp Rules, Senate Committee Lineup & Chavez Curriculum March 27, 2026](/news/texas-political-spotlight-texas-hemp-rules-senate-committee-lineup-chavez-curriculum/) While you're here ## The platform behind the _coverage._ USLege is the AI legislative intelligence platform for all 50 states plus federal: bill tracking, live hearing video, full transcripts, and cited AI answers. [Book a demo](/demo)