Good morning, 

Here is the Texas Minute for Wednesday, August 29, 2023.

– Brandon Waltens 

Ted Cruz Opposes Proposed Plea Deal for 9/11 ‘Masterminds’

• U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz is opposing a proposed plea deal for the five “masterminds” of the 9/11 terrorist attacks that would take the death penalty off the table during sentencing.
   

• Soli Rice reports Cruz (R–TX) and U.S. Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R–NY) sent a letter, obtained by the Washington Examiner, to  U.S.  Department of Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin asking for answers about why the Biden administration has “delayed justice.”  
   

• In their letter, Cruz and Malliotakis wrote of the possibility that 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four others masterminds might escape trial and even the death penalty through some form of a plea deal.
   

• However, on August 1, 2023, 9/11 victims’ family members reportedly received a letter “soliciting questions or comments about the possibility of a plea agreement allowing the accused to escape the death penalty.”
   

• “Any outcome short of the death penalty is unacceptable and constitutes a total failure by the Department of Defense. Justice must be served.” –Ted Cruz

Katy ISD Adopts New Pro-Parent Gender Policy

• Despite outrage from many LGBT activists, the Katy Independent School District Board of Trustees voted 4-3 to approve a new gender policy aimed at ensuring parents have full authority over their children’s health and well-being. Emily Medeiros has the report. 
   
• The new policy includes separating locker rooms and restrooms by biological sex and ensuring pronouns are used based on the child’s biological sex. Additionally, the policy prohibits faculty from teaching or providing instructional materials on gender ideology.
   
• While numerous LGBT activists resorted to calling the board members “bigoted” and “hateful,” other parents showed up to commend the board's decision.
   
• “It’s always a good thing to remain grounded in reality, and I’m grateful that you have firmly slammed the door on this creeping ideology that has no place in our schools,” said Claudia Turcott, a citizen who spoke to the board. “It is never loving to affirm someone in delusional thinking. These topics have no place in our schools.”

Tarrant County Votes ‘No Confidence’ in Appraisal District Chief

• Tarrant County Commissioners Court unanimously approved a “vote of no confidence” in the troubled Tarrant Appraisal District’s top executive, Chief Appraiser Jeff Law. The commissioners urged the TAD board of directors to fire him “effective immediately.” Erin Anderson has the details. Erin Anderson has the details. 
   
• Tuesday’s vote followed a series of scandals in recent years under Law’s leadership at the appraisal district, which sets property values for tax purposes.
   
• “Tarrant County taxpayers are not being well served by one entity: TAD,” said County Judge Tim O’Hare during Tuesday’s Commissioners Court meeting. “Our taxpayers deserve stability and consistency. None of these apply to our appraisal district.”
   

• The Mansfield City Council has also unanimously approved a resolution demanding the TAD board appoint a new chief appraiser. Mayors of three other cities—Keller, Southlake, and Colleyville—have said they will consider votes of no confidence in Law at their upcoming city council meetings in September unless the TAD board takes action to remove Law before then.

Fort Worth ISD Removes More Than 100 Books for Review

• After examining their shelves for explicit books, Fort Worth Independent School District has reopened campus libraries more than two weeks into the 2023-2024 school year. Katy Marshall has the update. 
   

• The district ordered the libraries to close earlier this month to prepare for September 1, when a new law goes into effect requiring school districts to ensure that library materials are age-appropriate.
   

• Earlier this year the Texas Legislature passed ​​House Bill 900 which prohibits school libraries from housing materials that are sexually explicit, vulgar, or educationally unsuitable. It also sets up state standards for keeping inappropriate sexual content out of all school libraries and classrooms.
   

• The legislation requires vendors to rate and label books based on sexual content. Vendors that fail to comply cannot sell books to Texas schools. HB 900 is set to go into effect on Friday, September 1. 

State Rep. Andrew Murr Admonished by Constituents—Again

• Republican State Rep. Andrew Murr of Junction is being criticized by a second county in his House district for violating the principles of the Republican Party of Texas.
   

• Sydnie Henry reports the Real County GOP unanimously passed a “Resolution of Admonishment” of Murr, due to his opposition to the party's principles.
   

• This comes just days after the Bandera County GOP—another county in his district—censured Murr for his role in the impeachment of Attorney General Ken Paxton, as well as his vote for House Speaker Dade Phelan (R-Beaumont), who appointed Democrats to key committee chairmanships in the Texas House.
   

• Real County GOP Chairman Jack DuBose told Texas Scorecard the admonishment is essentially the same as what was passed by Bandera County, but was not a formal censure due to time constraints.

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