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As the hours count down toward the most important deadlines in the legislative session, the Republican House leadership let Democrats use time to push for a "guest worker program" benefiting Mexican nationals. Below, readers share their thoughts on the issue. 

This is the Texas Minute for Tuesday, May 13, 2025.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan 

Paxton Secures Record $1.375B Data Privacy Settlement With Google

• Marking the largest ever state-level recovery against Google for violations of data privacy laws, Attorney General Ken Paxton has secured a $1.375 billion settlement with the tech giant. Sydnie Henry has the story.
      
• For context, a coalition of forty states previously secured a combined $391 million settlement—almost a billion dollars less than Texas’ recovery.
       
• In 2022, Paxton’s office sued Google, alleging that the company unlawfully tracked and collected Texans’ private data. Among other things, Paxton's case against Google included allegations that the company was tracking users’ geolocation even when location features were disabled as well as collecting biometric data without proper consent.
        
• Attorney General Paxton described the settlement as a “major win for Texans’ privacy” and emphasized that “Big Tech is not above the law.” A Google spokesman told Texas Scorecard that the agreement resolves “a raft of old claims” related to product policies that have already been revised.

Senators Approve Measure Strengthening Right to Self-Defense

• Luca Cacciatore reports that a measure strengthening the state’s protections for justified use of force or deadly force in self-defense situations passed out of the Senate yesterday. It would prevent a claimant from recovering civil damages for personal injury or death if a grand jury had declined to pursue, thrown out, or acquitted the defendant of criminal charges.
       
• In addition, if the claimant is found to be prohibited from seeking civil action, the proposal would require them to pay court costs and the defendant’s attorney fees.
      
• Texas is a castle doctrine state, meaning individuals are permitted to use force or deadly force in order to defend themselves on their own property. But as the legislation's author, Bob Hall (R-Edgewood) explained, the current system creates “a substantial financial and emotional burden” for defendants who are faced with lawsuits after having already been cleared of criminal charges.
    
• The legislation passed out of the Senate by a vote of 26-3, with two senators abstaining.

Detransition Coverage Bill Clears House, Heads to Governor’s Desk

• On Monday, the Texas House gave its approval to legislation that originated in the Senate requiring that insurance companies covering gender mutilation procedures also cover medical care related to any adverse effects or reversals. As Brandon Waltens reports, the measure now goes to Gov. Greg Abbott for his consideration.
      

• The legislation applies to almost all health benefit plans regulated by the state, including private insurance, Medicaid, and CHIP.
      

• If it becomes law, insurance providers must cover any adverse medical effects or complications related to gender mutilation procedures and care for those who seek to detransition. It also mandates annual follow-up health screenings and care to manage, reverse, or recover from gender transition procedures.

     
• Democrats criticized the legislation as an unnecessary and politically motivated mandate on private insurance providers. Republicans countered that Democrats have often supported mandates on insurers for other types of health coverage and argued that the bill is about ensuring that Texans seeking to detransition have access to necessary care.

House Beats Back 'Guest Worker Program'

• A controversial proposal to create a Texas-run guest worker program for Mexican laborers failed to pass the Texas House, after sharp criticism from conservative lawmakers and near-unanimous Republican opposition.
      
• One of those members speaking out forcefully against it was State Rep. Mike Olcott (R-Weatherford), who expressed concern that the measure was even allowed on the calendar while Republican priorities dealing with border security have been languishing without movement.
       
• In all, nine Republicans voted with Democrats in trying to create the program. They include: Drew Darby, Charlie Geren, Ryan Guillen, Ken King, Stan Lambert, Janie Lopez, John Lujan, Candy Noble, and Denise Villalobos. The rest of the Republican caucus voted against it.

Taxpayer-Funded Entities Sponsor LGBT Agenda in Houston

• A pro-LGBT organization lists multiple taxpayer-funded entities in Houston as sponsors of its annual “Pride” parade. Joseph Trimmer reports the list includes the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Harris County Precinct 1 Constable Alan Rosen’s office, and Houston METRO.
       
• Both Gov. Greg Abbott and President Donald Trump have issued executive orders rejecting gender ideology and prohibiting taxpayer funding of such events.
   
• In a statement to Texas Scorecard, an MD Anderson spokesman said that no state-appropriated funds are being used for the sponsorship.
      
• According to METRO, the transportation agency does not provide monetary sponsorships for events, but could include a public engagement booth or a "cooling bus presence."

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Quote-Unquote

"Every decision on trade, on taxes, on immigration, on foreign affairs, will be made to benefit American workers and American families. We must protect our borders from the ravages of other countries making our products, stealing our companies, and destroying our jobs. Protection will lead to great prosperity and strength."

– Donald Trump​

Y'All Answered

With the approval of the Republican House leadership, Democrats were allowed to spend time on the House calendar yesterday pushing a "guest worker program" for Mexican nationals. It was similar to one proposed by President George W. Bush in 2004. Proponents say it would fill a "labor shortage" by giving low-skill jobs to Mexican laborers. Opponents argue it robs Americans of entry-level jobs from which they can build their resumes.

Yesterday, we asked readers if they thought Texans would benefit by making it easier for Mexican nationals to get jobs in the Lone Star State. Of those taking part in the One Click Survey, 20.6 percent believe such a program should exist, while 79.4 percent do not. 

Here is a sampling of the responses folks sent in after clicking their answer.

• “Once these ‘guest workers’ enter the state, they won’t want to leave. I have no faith that our state will be able to monitor these workers effectively.” – Joel D. Lebsack
      

• “Bottom line is if Bush and the Democrats are for it, I’m against it!” – Bonnie Wallace
      

• “A program of this type cannot be implemented until and unless there is a way to enforce the temporary nature of these visas.” – Thomas Camardo
      

• “If Texans want to continue having a low birthrate AND a hot, prosperous economy, we have no choice but to have guest workers.” – Tim Rhodes
      

• “Although it would be nice if our nation fill these jobs with citizens, the truth of the matter is no one wants them. The job needs to get done, but our people here seem to think they can start at the top. They feel these jobs are beneath them.” – Dee Galando
      

• “What part of the word ‘NO,’ don't they understand? Hire bona fide US citizens!” – Jim Moyer
      

• “The worker program should be limited to certain jobs that Americans don't like doing. Let's face it, Americans don't like certain dirty jobs like working in the field.” – Teresa Greiner
      

• “I think we need a guest worker program because there are many jobs that Americans don't seem to want to do.  They would rather be on welfare than get a manual labor job.” – William Chapman
      

• “Until our state can guarantee the use of E-Verify and put that program into law, we should not allow any other guest worker visas since they will come here and they will never leave.” – Debbie Jacobs
      

• “Let the federal government do their job at their expense. As long as there are citizens collecting unemployment benefits, SNAP, and Medicaid, we do not need ‘guest workers.’ We should require able-bodied people on welfare to take the jobs the ‘guest workers’ would do.” – Steve Sullivan
      

• “Let’s clean up the workforce first and remove the illegals. Then, if we determine there is a true shortage of workers, we come up with a good plan for bringing them in and escorting them back out at the end of the project.” – Beverly Simmang
      

• “A program for guest workers should only be considered when: 1. Americans have jobs, and 2. There are NO unauthorized/ undocumented/ illegal workers in the country.” – Liz Oakley
      

• “This is just one more Demoncrat scheme to bring illegals across our border predicated by a so-called ‘labor shortage.’ These people make stuff up as they go along. They will do or say anything to push their progressive agenda forward.” – Steve Nulf
      

• “No worker program for ANY foreign nationals. We need to worry about jobs for TEXANS, not people from other countries. I'm not against foreigners getting work visas to work in America. That's what a work visa is for. But we don't need an extra program for them. Give the jobs to Texans.” – Stephanie Pierson

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