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Good morning, 

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and the Texas Senate have declared war on cannabis and THC products in the Lone Star State. In today's One Click Survey, we want to know what you think.

This is the Texas Minute for Monday, March 24, 2025.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan 

Audit Shows $5.1 Million Price Tag for Failed Paxton Impeachment

• More than 18 months after Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick first requested an audit of the taxpayer cost of Attorney General Ken Paxton’s failed impeachment, a report has finally been released. According to the State Auditor's Office, $5,110,038 was spent. As Brandon Waltens reports, more than $4 million was spent by the House on outside lawyers.
     
• Patrick applauded the release of the records, calling the expenses “a complete waste of money.”
     
• Yet, a review of records by Texas Scorecard finds more than $1 million in payments made by the Texas Legislative Council to law firms involved in the House’s investigation of Paxton—raising questions about whether all costs were fully accounted for in the audit. The official audit only shows less than $4,000 in “supplies” attributed to TLC.

Republican Lawmaker’s Mic Cut by Democrat Chair After Objecting To Alleged Rules Breach

• Republican Brian Harrison’s mic was cut off by a Democrat subcommittee chairman when the legislator objected to what he says is a breach of Texas House rules. Will Biagini reports that the issue involves allegations that a $5 billion appropriation was discussed without a recording having been made.
       
• According to Harrison, this violated Texas House rules. There are supposed to be audio and video recordings of public committee hearings, formal meetings, or work sessions. These must then be made available to the public via the Internet.
     
• Yet that did not happen in the subcommittee chaired by Houston Democrat Armando Walle. Harrison, who serves on the committee, said no recordings were made on March 5, 6, and 12—for a total of more than 15 hours—as the subcommittee decided how to spend more than $5 billion in taxpayer money.
       
• When Harrison pressed the issue as violating the chamber's rules, Walle cut off the lawmaker's microphone.
      
• “Texans, your House is out of control and Democrats are SECRETLY spending your taxes!” – Brian Harrison

Court Blocks Biden-era Rule Demanding Foster Care Providers Affirm LGBT Identities

• Attorney General Ken Paxton successfully challenged a Biden administration rule that aimed to impose specific requirements on foster care providers regarding the affirmation of children’s “gender identities.” Sydnie Henry has the details.
      
• At issue was a rule promulgated by the Biden administration that would have conditioned federal funding for foster care programs nationwide on the acceptance and promotion of “LGBTQI+ identities” among children in care. The rule created a new category of foster children based on their gender status or identity. 
         
• Texas sought to block the rule, arguing it would force a radical reshaping of the state's foster care system, jeopardizing the welfare of children and undermining state authority. A federal court has now found that the rule violated the Administrative Procedure Act, noting that Texas would suffer irreparable harm if the rule were to be implemented.
       
• “I will always fight to protect our values and ensure that Texas children are not used as pawns in the federal government’s social experiments.” – Ken Paxton

Las Vegas Sands Folds on Casino Gambling in Irving

• In a big win for Irving residents opposed to gambling, Las Vegas Sands folded on its plans to build a casino complex in the city. Erin Anderson has the story.
      
• Sands, which currently operates exclusively in China, had sought an expedited push to get zoning approved for a future casino even though casinos are not legal in Texas. The Dallas Express revealed that supporters at a local Planning and Zoning hearing were secretly paid by Sands to attend. Opponents, though, still outnumbered them.
     

• While P&Z voted 5-4 to recommend the rezoning, public pressure led a majority of city council members to withdraw support for the plan. A Sands representative asked city officials to remove “casino gaming” and “destination resort” from the requested zoning change for the organization’s property.
     

• Still, most of the 176 citizens who signed up to give public comments at the meeting stayed for hours to speak against Las Vegas Sands—or any company—bringing casino gambling to Irving.
       

• “What happens in Irving affects the whole state,” warned one city resident, Donna Collins. “Let’s not Vegas-ize or China-ize our Texas.”

RELATED GAMBLING NEWS

Houston ISD Board Votes for New ‘Teacher Excellence System’

• Michael Wilson reports that the Houston Independent School District has introduced a new teacher evaluation system in an effort to improve classroom performance. 
     
• The Teacher Excellence System will categorize teachers based on their performance. The system is structured around four weighted components: Quality of Instruction (45 percent), Student Academic Outcomes (35 percent), Planning and Professionalism (15 percent), and Campus Action Plan (5 percent).
     
• According to district officials, teachers’ salaries will be linked to their evaluation scores. The proposed pay scale is: $62,000 for Unsatisfactory, $67,000 for Progressing I, $70,000 for Progressing II, $78,000 for Proficient I, $84,000 for Proficient II, $88,000 for Exemplary I, and $92,000 for Exemplary II.

OTHER HOUSTON NEWS

Report Recommends Evaluation for Houston-area Bridges

A new report details the issues that led to the bridge collapse in Baltimore and recommends safety actions.

Quote-Unquote

"Genius is not putting a 10 cent idea in a $20 sentence. Genius is putting a $20 idea in a 10 cent sentence."

– Clarence Thomas​

One Click Survey

Last week, the Texas Senate voted to prohibit all THC-infused product sales, close existing smoke shops, and prevent new ones from opening. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick even threatened to keep the legislature in session until the legislation moved through the House.

Patrick and the senators cited health concerns, noting the THC-infused products—sold through "loopholes" in state and federal law—are more dangerous than marijuana on the streets. Defenders of the shops claim the legislation will benefit black marketeers by making these currently legal products inaccessible.

Do you support the Senate's efforts to block THC sales in Texas?

Once you’ve clicked an answer, reply to this email with any thoughts you’d like to share!