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Good morning,

Everyone serves someone. In our self-governing republic, the officeholders are supposed to serve the people. That notion, however, gets easily lost in the minds of both the politicians and the citizenry. More on that thought to close out the week.

This is the Texas Minute for Friday, May 2, 2025.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan

Conservative Lawmakers Warn House Is Running Out of Time To Pass GOP Priorities With just over a month remaining in the 2025 legislative session, a group of conservative Texas House members gathered for a press conference to issue a stark warning to their chamber's leadership: time is almost up to deliver on Republican priorities. Brandon Waltens has the report [[link removed]].

"The clock is ticking, and our Republican voters are looking for the Republican majority they elected to the Texas House to deliver," said State Rep. Tony Tinderholt (R-Arlington) in kicking off the comments.

His colleagues proceeded to give updates on a variety of key legislative priorities for the Texas GOP, ranging from border security to protecting children. State Rep. Briscoe Cain (R–Deer Park) listed several pro-gun bills bottled up in committee, including legislation banning red-flag laws, removing “gun-free zones” on taxpayer-owned property, and expanding civil immunity for gun owners.RELATED NEWS According to Greenville Republican Brent Money, House State Affairs Committee Chairman Ken King (R-Canadian) has told him there will not be a hearing [[link removed]] on legislation to end taxpayer-funded lobbying. This has been a long-standing priority of conservative activists and the Republican Party of Texas. Bans on taxpayer-funded lobbying [[link removed]] have been adopted repeatedly in the Texas Senate, but thwarted in the House over the years. Senators Consider Measure To Regulate Artificial Intelligence Luca Cacciatore reports [[link removed]] that the Senate's Business and Commerce Committee heard testimony yesterday on legislation passed out of the House that would regulate the development and use of artificial intelligence systems in Texas.

Among other things, the proposal would define terms in the context of AI—such as “artificial intelligence system,” “developer,” and “deployer”—and establish related personal data protections. It would also create the Texas Artificial Intelligence Council to advise the state on AI-related policy and oversee an “AI Regulatory Sandbox Program.” Parents Push For Public Education Reforms While school choice captured much of the attention during the first half of the legislative session, Erin Anderson reports [[link removed]] that a parent-driven advocacy group has been focused on reforming the existing government education system. Public schools will continue to receive the vast majority of Texas’ 5.5 million students and the largest share of the state’s budget.

Among other reforms, Texas Education 911 wants legislation protecting children from predators inside public schools.OTHER EDUCATION NEWS Former Preschool Teacher Sentenced to 30 Years for Producing Child Porn [[link removed]]

A former preschool teacher in Abilene has been sentenced to 30 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to producing child pornography. Mark Eichorn admitted to producing the abusive material while employed at St. John’s Episcopal School in Abilene.

Texas A&M Faculty Senate Approves “Climate Ethics” Course For the 2025-26 academic year, the Texas A&M Faculty Senate is promoting a series of courses, including a philosophy class called Climate Ethics. As Adam Cahn notes [[link removed]], university researchers have partnered with left-wing advocacy groups to advance radical climate change narratives.

According to an email obtained by Texas Scorecard, the course is described as examining “ethical and value questions related to climate change and climate policy.”

This move is the latest volley from the faculty senate in an ongoing conflict with the Texas A&M University System’s Board of Regents, which recently moved to eliminate an LGBTQ minor as well as low-performing majors. Houston Approves $11.4M to Overhaul Failing Solid Waste Department Despite a looming budget crisis, the Houston City Council approved $11.4 million to replace aging, broken-down garbage trucks and modernize its long-neglected solid waste department. Michael Wilson has the details [[link removed]].

Vehicle issues are just one part of a broader set of challenges. According to the city’s complaint reporting system, missed trash pickups rank among Houston’s top citizen complaints. This Sunday on REAL TEXANS Mark Davis [[link removed]]

In this week’s edition of REAL TEXANS, we travel to the Metroplex studio of radio legend Mark Davis. The conversation covers his career, his love of music, and even how listeners can be better callers.

New interviews with REAL TEXANS [[link removed]] every Sunday!

Friday Reflection

Whom Do You Serve? [[link removed]]

by Michael Quinn Sullivan

Few questions cause more discomfort in the hall of government than this: “Whom do you serve?”

Not long ago, I asked that question to a politician who bristled with indignation and replied, “I serve no one!” That answer told me a lot.

If we cannot acknowledge whom we serve, we cannot possibly build them up or serve them well. And I’m not talking in some deep, theological sense of serving God. I mean this literally: Whom do you serve?

Two of my favorite books of the Bible are Joshua and Nehemiah. Both present great case studies in practical leadership and self-governance. Undergirding both stories is the question of “whom do you serve?” In Joshua, that question is explicit; in Nehemiah, it is implicit. Yet the answer is equally consistent: We must all live lives of service to each other.

I am reminded of that Roman Centurion in the Gospel of Matthew, a man of great power, who correctly told Jesus that everyone is under authority—even that politician I mentioned.

The politician I mentioned wanted me to know he served no one, which meant he served himself. The correct answer would have been the people of Texas, or the constituents of his district, or even “the constitution.” Frankly, I would have had a little more respect for him if he’d honestly named off a crony lobbyist or two, since I know that’s whose calls he most rapidly returns.

Instead, all I saw was a man deluded by his own appreciation for his temporary power.

In a republic established under the principles of self-governance—where the law, not a man, is king—we are each in the curious position of being each other’s masters and servants. It is a difficult duality for our modern hierarchical minds to process. I hear well-meaning people praying for our country’s leaders ... and they proceed to name off the president, the mayor, the governor, and so on.

“No, no, no!” I find myself wanting to respond. The people are the leaders in our republic; those individuals are the servants.

No title in our nation should be more exalted than that of “citizen.” Every “honorable” person with their fancy title is merely one of the servants. The people are in charge; the people are the masters. The politicians are not the leaders of, but rather the servants to, the people.

When we want to pray for our nation’s leaders, we should first and foremost be praying for each other. When we see insurmountable problems facing the republic, we shouldn’t wait for the politicians to negotiate a solution ... we should get to work and encourage others to join us.

We must stop idolizing the roles of elected officials. Instead, each of us must take an active role in leading our communities. We must remind those in office that they work for us, and we must remind ourselves of that as well.

We all serve someone. Yes, we must serve God, but we serve Him in large part by serving each other. As a self-governing people, serving each other is a critical component of our civic life. It is up to each of us to build each other up as the real leaders we are each meant to be as citizens in this great republic.

Quote-Unquote

"The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing."

– Albert Einstein

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