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Good morning,

We have a new documentary coming out on March 19 called "Rigged." A trailer is available now.

This is the Texas Minute for Wednesday, March 12, 2025.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan 

School Choice Fight Heats Up in Texas House

• In a sign that the legislative session is now in full swing, the Texas House Public Education Committee held a hearing on its school choice proposal, House Bill 3, drawing significant testimony and debate. Brandon Waltens has the details.
      
• Authored by State Rep. Brad Buckley (R–Salado), the measure would create an education savings account program, giving parents access to around $10,000 per child for private school tuition, homeschooling expenses, or other educational costs. The number of participants will be limited by the budget allocation—currently, $1 billion or 100,000 students.
       
• The proposal is a key priority for Gov. Greg Abbott, who made school choice a central issue in last year’s Republican primaries, where he successfully backed challengers against incumbent lawmakers who opposed similar efforts.
      
• The Texas Senate has already passed its version of a school choice bill.
      
• While a majority of the House has signed on in support of HB3, it faces resistance from Democrats and a small number of the chamber's Republicans.
      
• "The argument that we have to keep things as they are and fix them over time leaves out one important factor—what about the kids in the system right now? Parents shouldn’t have to wait and hope that schools improve in five years when their children will already be gone." – Brad Buckley

RELATED SCHOOL NEWS

ICE Operation Nets 646 Illegal Alien Arrests in Houston

• More than 600 illegal aliens in the Houston area have now been arrested in the largest enforcement action the region has seen in recent years. Michael Wilson reports the operation, which involved numerous state and federal agencies, took place between February 23 and March 2.
       
• Of those arrested, 543 were criminal aliens, and an additional seven were documented gang members. That included 140 criminal aliens who had previously been charged with or convicted of aggravated felonies or other violent offenses, such as homicide. Another 34 had been charged with or convicted of sex offenses.

Senators Approve Constitutional Amendment Protecting Parental Rights

• As Sydnie Henry reports, members of the Texas Senate have unanimously approved a constitutional amendment aimed at codifying existing common law on parental rights.
       
• Authored by State Sen. Bryan Hughes (R-Mineola), the constitutional amendment is designed to ensure that parents can make important decisions for their children without undue interference from the state.
      
• "Parental rights are granted by God and are fundamental to the health and success of a culture," said Jeremy Newman, vice president of the Family Freedom Project.
      
• If approved by the House, the amendment would be put to a statewide vote on November 4, 2025.

Lobbyists Exploit Loophole To Get Reserved Capitol Parking

• It appears that the State Preservation Board is allowing lobbyists to cheaply reserve prime parking at the Capitol—making it harder for tourists and taxpayers to visit their lawmakers.
      
• In the past, the system for "reserving" the metered parking was for one-off situations, like school groups or special-needs visitors. 
       
• On the west side of the Capitol, closest to the chambers of the Texas House, metered street parking is at a premium due to construction and renovation. The spaces there are controlled by the State Preservation Board and enforced with a “WILL TOW” order from the Texas Department of Public Safety.
       
• In recent weeks, signs have marked some of those spots as being reserved for various lobbyists.

OTHER CAPITOL NEWS

Gun Owners Rally at Texas Capitol

Around 200 Second Amendment supporters rallied at the Texas Capitol on Tuesday to push for new legislation protecting citizens' gun rights.

Coming March 19

RELATED LOTTERY NEWS

State Rep. to Texas Lottery Director: ‘I Want My Money Back’

In a contentious hearing, Texas Lottery Commission Executive Director Ryan Mindell faced a barrage of questions from lawmakers on the online courier issue and shady jackpot winnings.

UNT Students Remove Art Exhibit After Lawmakers Decry Antisemitism

• Students at the University of North Texas have taken down an art exhibit after state lawmakers described it as “antisemitic propaganda.” Valerie Muñoz reports the exhibit had been up since late February.
       
• Student art exhibits must receive approval by a committee of faculty, staff, and students at the College of Visual Arts and Design before being shown in the student union.
     
• The exhibit used radical slogans from Muslim activist groups, such as “FROM THE RIVER TO THE SEA,” which is generally interpreted as calling for the elimination of Israel.

Quote-Unquote

"Withholding of payment of taxes is one of the quickest methods of overthrowing a government."

– Mahatma Gandhi​

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