Texas Political Spotlight

From Surplus to Strategy: Big Decisions Ahead for Texas Legislature

Texas lawmakers are preparing for a legislative session focused on education savings accounts, border security, and property tax reform, all of which come with substantial costs. State Comptroller Glenn Hegar will release the Biennial Revenue Estimate today, Monday, January 13th, providing a detailed look at the funds available for the state budget. While the upcoming surplus is expected to be smaller than the historic $32.7 billion announced before the 2023 session, Hegar highlighted a strong financial outlook, including a record $24 billion in the Economic Stabilization Fund, known as the rainy day fund.

Hegar emphasized that Texas is in a much stronger financial position than many other states, enabling the legislature to make potentially transformative decisions for residents.

One key area of focus will be public education funding, which could include an education savings account program. Such a program could prioritize certain demographics like students with disabilities or those who are economically disadvantaged. Hegar also underscored the critical need for investments in power infrastructure to meet growing energy demands driven by sectors like artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency. The Comptroller’s Office is expected to play a significant role in managing new initiatives, including overseeing education savings accounts if they are implemented. With the state’s positive financial footing, lawmakers have an opportunity to address long-term needs while navigating challenging policy debates.

Paxton Takes Aim at TikTok's Operations, Again

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed a second lawsuit against TikTok, accusing the platform of violating the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act by downplaying its addictive nature and exposing children to explicit content. The lawsuit claims that TikTok misrepresents its age appropriateness on app stores, listing itself as suitable for children, while the app includes harmful material such as drug use, self-harm, and explicit acts. Paxton argues that TikTok does not effectively enforce its community guidelines, allowing inappropriate content, and bypasses parental controls through its in-app browser.

Paxton emphasizes that the company misled parents and endangered children's well-being with its content; TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, is also named in the suit. This lawsuit follows a similar case filed in October under the SCOPE Act, which focuses on protecting minors' data, and comes amid ongoing discussions in Texas about restricting or banning social media platforms for minors.

We hope you enjoyed today’s read!

Stay connected with TXLege News on X and LinkedIn!

🎙️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!

🔍 USLege - The Only AI-First Political Tracking Solution ✨

USLege helps you track legislation and find what you need faster from bills, committee hearings, floor debates, and state agency meetings faster.

Say goodbye to tedious tasks!

You can follow USLege on LinkedIn, Facebook, and X.

🤝 Texas Association of Business 📈

Texas Association of Business (TAB) is the Texas State Chamber, representing companies of every size and industry. TAB’s purpose is to champion the best business climate in the world, unleashing the power of free enterprise to enhance lives for generations.

You can follow TAB on LinkedIn, Facebook, and X.

Learn how to make AI work for you

AI won’t take your job, but a person using AI might. That’s why 1,000,000+ professionals read The Rundown AI – the free newsletter that keeps you updated on the latest AI news and teaches you how to use it in just 5 minutes a day.

Sign up to start learning.