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Good morning!

If this republic conceived in liberty will endure, it will only be because we—the people—are committed to the work of practical self-governance. More on that thought at the end of today's Texas Minute.

Also, today marks the launch of a new series. Brandon Waltens is profiling the new members of the Texas Legislature—starting with Mitch Little.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan
Friday, Dec. 27, 2024 

Legislation Proposes Texas Regulations on AI Development

• Legislation that would regulate and chart the course for the development of artificial intelligence in the state has been proposed in the Texas House. State Rep. Giovanni Capriglione (R-Southlake) would require companies to disclose whether they are using AI, establish guidelines to prevent bias, and protect personal data. Luca Cacciatore has the details. 
    
• His legislation would also prohibit AI systems that manipulate human behavior, engage in social scoring, capture biometrics, infer or interpret sensitive attributes, infer emotions without consent, or produce deepfakes violating state law.
       
• “By balancing innovation with public interest, we aim to create a blueprint for responsible AI use that other states and nations can follow,” said Capriglione.
       
• Earlier this month, Attorney General Ken Paxton launched a massive investigation into 15 companies, including the Google-backed AI app known as Character.AI. The probe revolves around the companies' privacy practices related to children using their services.

Taxpayer Advocates Press for a Ban on Taxpayer-funded Lobbying

• With the Legislature set to convene on Jan. 14, fiscal responsibility advocates are pressing for lawmakers to follow through on a ban to end taxpayer-funded lobbying. Sydnie Henry has the story.
    
• “Taxpayer-funded lobbying” refers to a common practice among cities, counties, and school districts that hire lobbyists with local tax revenue. These lobbyists then work to advance policies that benefit local governments—often at the expense of citizens. A 2019 poll by the Texas Public Policy Foundation showed 88 percent of Texans oppose the practice.
      
• A recent study by the Huffines Liberty Foundation revealed that local governments spent about $75 million on registered lobbyists in 2021, not including the salaries of in-house lobbyists and funds funneled to pro-government associations such as the Texas Municipal League and Texas Association of School Boards—meaning the actual cost of taxpayer-funded lobbying is much higher.
     
• The issue is a priority for the Republican Party of Texas in 2025. 

New School Mandate: Notify Parents if Student Exhibits Gender Confusion or Self-harm

• Valorie Muñoz reports on a legislative proposal that would require schools to notify parents if a teacher or other employee observes their child engaging in acts of self-harm. Such actions would range from substance abuse to self-inflicted cutting or burning.
    
• State Rep. Nate Schatzline (R-Fort Worth) would also require public schools to notify parents if a student expresses gender confusion through words or behavior. 

Will Texas Children Get Stronger Protections?

• Reformers are urging lawmakers to take up additional protections for children in the coming legislative session. While several laws designed to protect children from harmful and sexually explicit material have been enacted over the last year, Emily Medeiros reports that court rulings have undermined some of those efforts.
    
• Brady Gray of the Texas Family Project believes lawmakers can reinvigorate those in 2025.
       
• "Despite the legislature's efforts, drag shows in front of children are still legal in Texas and pornographic books are still on many of our school library shelves," said Gray.

Meet the Freshmen

Mitch Little (R-Lewisville)

• In 2023, North Texas attorney Mitch Little was at the forefront of defending Attorney General Ken Paxton during his impeachment trial. Now, Little is preparing to be sworn in as a member of the Texas House after unseating one-term State Rep. Kronda Thimesch.
    
• In an interview with Brandon Waltens, Little described the impeachment trial as a pivotal moment that gave him an “insider’s view” of the dysfunction in Austin. As such, he has emphasized what he perceives as a need to reform the culture inside the Texas House.
          
• His priorities include school finance, school choice, and restricting the Chinese Communist Party from owning Texas real estate.

REVIEW: Universities Need Reform

• Months into an ongoing investigation into higher education, Robert Montoya finds Texas' public universities and colleges remain in need of operational and governance reform.
    
• Far-left ideologies are alive and well in Texas universities. While some legislative actions have been taken to curb the excesses, these institutions still seem to spend as much time indoctrinating students as educating them… And all subsidized by taxpayers.
       
• Texas' universities continue to be targets for hostile powers seeking to influence policy and culture. The influence of nations like Qatar and China on the state's universities has been well documented. Given the roles of Texas A&M and the University of Texas as defense contractors, these ties have been raising concerns both in Austin and Washington, D.C.
       
• Just as critical has been the rise of faculty and staff who work to undermine Texas values. Through the unconstitutional and undefined "shared governance" model, these faculty members—rather than the gubernatorially appointed and senatorially confirmed regents—have set themselves over the institutions of higher education.

Each year, the Conservative Leader Award recognizes the men and women of the grassroots who work to make the Lone Star State shine brighter than ever. The award recipients are nominated by their peers—those who have seen them step up as citizen leaders in their neighborhoods and communities. Each honoree is presented with an engraved cavalry sword.

Here are the 2024 award recipients:

⚔️ Shilo Platts

Friday Reflection
Citizens Must Always Be Vigilant

A self-governing people must be eternally vigilant. The first three words of our Constitution make it clear who is supposed to be in charge: “We the people.” Without the citizens taking an active and engaged role in civic life, the notion of self-governance collapses.

In the Bible, we’re told the people of God went to the Prophet Samuel and begged for a king. Up until then, they had lived—for better and for worse—as a uniquely self-governing people under the rule of God. Things were better when they followed God’s rule and worse when they did not.

Just as they had been warned by God Himself when they rejected Him, the rule of man under a king didn’t work out so well, either. Within a couple of generations, Israel split apart and was then torn asunder.

After a period of exile, God called them back to Israel. Nehemiah was tasked with rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. (As a quick aside: yes, the building of walls to define and secure a nation-state from invaders and evil-doers was blessed and encouraged by God.)

There were any number of enemies who wanted to thwart the return of the Jews, and so in Nehemiah 4:9, we’re told that the people “prayed to our God and set a guard as a protection against them day and night.”

Everyone prayed, everyone worked, and everyone guarded the work. Everyone was responsible. And they succeeded.

Too many of us today have forgotten that simple lesson.

If this republic conceived in liberty will long endure, it will only be because we—the people—are wholly committed to being self-governing leaders actively engaged in the hard, exhausting work of practical governance. We must be praying for each other and our countrymen. And we must be actively prepared to defend our land.

It is our duty, not someone else’s.

We must, with joy, accept the awesome responsibility of self-governance so that we and our children can enjoy the fruits of Liberty. So, let’s pray, stay on guard, and get to work!

Quote-Unquote

"Power always thinks it has a great soul and vast views beyond the comprehension of the weak; and that it is doing God's service when it is violating all his laws."

– John Adams