Good morning,

Gov. Greg Abbott has vetoed legislation banning consumable THC-infused products. In today's One Click Survey, we want to know what you think about the issue.

This is the Texas Minute for Tuesday, June 24, 2025.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan

Veto of THC Ban Sparks Fierce Response

• The last-minute veto of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick's legislative priority late Sunday night by Gov. Greg Abbott sparked a fierce reaction on Monday. Brandon Waltens has the full story. 
   
• In January, Patrick designated as a priority banning the sale of products infused with tetrahydrocannabinol, a psychoactive chemical derived from marijuana. The measure, known as Senate Bill 3, passed both chambers with only three House Republicans in opposition.
       
• On Sunday night, Abbott vetoed the legislation—calling it "legally flawed." He also announced a special session to begin on July 21, asking lawmakers to create a regulatory scheme around THC products.
      
• At a press conference yesterday, Patrick accused Abbott of trying to legalize recreational marijuana. The veto has created a rare public clash between two of the state’s top officials. While Patrick stressed he holds no personal animosity toward Abbott, his criticism was pointed and sustained.
      
• Patrick took issue with the timing of Abbott’s decision, characterizing it as a last-minute surprise that undermined the will of the Legislature. "Since when did we care who sued us when we passed a bill?"

Abbott (Again) Vetoes Proposal Letting Teachers on Appraisal Boards

• Gov. Greg Abbott has, again, vetoed legislation that would have allowed public school teachers to serve on local appraisal review boards. Conservative lawmakers had argued the measure created a conflict of interest, given the role appraisal boards have in school funding that is derived from property tax levies.
     
• State law prohibits all government employees from serving on appraisal review boards, and the proposed legislation—which Abbott also vetoed in 2023—would have carved out an exception for teachers.
     
• “Appraisal review boards serve as arbiters in the local property tax imposition process,” explained Abbott in his veto proclamation. “And it is imperative that board members are free from allegations that their profession colors their judgment, especially when one of the entities that could benefit from a board decision may be a board member’s employer.”

How Texas' Law Enforcement Officials Are Shielding Illegal Aliens

• A Texas Scorecard investigation led by Joseph Trimmer reveals a troubling pattern in how law enforcement agencies across Texas are certifying thousands of "U visa" applications for illegal aliens. 
       
• The U visa is intended to grant temporary legal status and work authorization to illegal aliens who are victims of certain serious crimes and agree to cooperate with law enforcement. Yet, there is evidence that some agencies may be misusing the program for political purposes. 
      
• From January 2024 through early 2025, agencies across Texas issued thousands of U visa certifications. An analysis of these certifications reveals stark inconsistencies across departments, raising concerns about fairness, transparency, and potential abuse. The uneven distribution of U visa certifications—ranging from more than a thousand in some areas to none in others—suggests selective enforcement, inconsistent application, or even administrative negligence.
        
• According to former ICE special agent Victor Avila, non-profit organizations have begun using the U visa as a last resort to help illegal aliens remain in the United States—despite the individuals not being qualified under the program.

Meet the AAUP

• Adam Cahn reports that a national academic association, which promotes radical ideologies and activism, has stashed assets across Texas universities, most notably at UT-Austin.
     
• One of those assets is Pauline Strong, a professor of anthropology who directs the program in Native American and Indigenous Studies. Her official biography lists “feminist anthropology,” “Identity and difference,” and “Politics of representation” among her interests.
     
• All this makes her well-suited to lead the UT-Austin chapter of the American Association of University Professors, a nationwide trade association for left-wing faculty. Founded in 1915, AAUP says its mission is to advance “academic freedom and shared governance” while protecting faculty compensation and shielding it from oversight.

Parents Praise Passage of Protections From Sexual Predators in Schools

• Parent advocates are praising a series of reforms designed to protect Texas children from sexualization and sexual predators in public schools, making education officials live up to their frequent claim that “student safety is our top priority.”
      
• As Erin Anderson reports, many of these advocates consider House Bill 4623 by freshman State Rep. Mitch Little (R–Lewisville) to be one of the most consequential measures of the session. It ends sovereign immunity for schools that cover up sexual abuse of students, allowing victims to hold school employees and districts civilly liable when they negligently enable the abuse.
      
• Advocates are also pleased with the enactment of Senate Bill 12, which creates a “parental bill of rights.” Authored by State Sen. Brandon Creighton (R–Conroe), it protects children in public schools from sexual ideology and restricts what K-12 schools can do without parental approval. 
     
• Activists and lawmakers alike agreed that teamwork was key to this session’s success of parent-backed protections for children in schools.

Joan Huffman Launches Campaign for Texas Attorney General

• State Sen. Joan Huffman is officially running for Texas attorney general, joining what’s shaping up to be a crowded Republican primary for the open seat. After serving as a district judge, she was first elected to the Senate in 2008. Huffman currently serves as chair of the budget-writing Senate Finance Committee.
      
• Before running for office, Huffman spent 13 years as an assistant district attorney in Harris County.
      
• Huffman joins a field that already includes State Sen. Mayes Middleton (R-Galveston) and former U.S. Department of Justice official Aaron Reitz.
      
• “You want an experienced attorney, not someone who’s never seen the inside of a courtroom or is simply a young politician climbing the political ladder.” – Joan Huffman

Today In History

On June 24, 1853, President Franklin Pierce signed the Gadsden Purchase, buying from Mexico what is now New Mexico and southern Arizona for $10 million.

Quote-Unquote

"The only difference between a tax man and a taxidermist is that the taxidermist leaves the skin."

– Mark Twain

One Click Survey

Gov. Greg Abbott vetoed legislation that would have banned consumable THC products in Texas, instead calling for stricter regulation. Lt Gov. Dan Patrick argues that regulating these products would require legalizing them first.

Should Texas ban THC products, or should they be legalized and regulated?

NOTE: The legislation in question did not ban cannabidiol, CBD, or cannabigerol, CBG. It only banned THC formulations, such as delta-8 and delta-9.

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