Good morning, 

This is the Texas Minute for Thursday, July 3, 2025.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan 

Universities Warned to Comply With Federal Ruling on Tuition For Illegal Aliens

• Following a federal court ruling that struck down a Texas law allowing illegal aliens to pay discounted in-state tuition rates, a group of state lawmakers has issued a stark warning to public university leaders: comply or face legal consequences. Brandon Waltens has the story.
   
• In a letter sent to the chancellors of the state’s public university systems, a coalition of lawmakers has demanded an immediate halt to any policies granting residency-based tuition rates or state financial aid to individuals who are not lawfully present in the United States. Leading the charge is State Rep. Mike Olcott (R-Aledo). 
      
• The letter follows a joint court filing last month in which the state of Texas conceded, after being sued by the Trump administration’s Department of Justice, that the Texas Dream Act, passed in 2001, violated federal statutes. There is now a permanent injunction barring the state from making that benefit available to illegal aliens.
   
• While acknowledging that some tuition waivers may still comply with federal law if equally available to out-of-state citizens, lawmakers are warning university leaders not to exploit those exceptions as a backdoor for granting blanket in-state tuition to illegal aliens.
      
• Legislation that would have codified the repeal of in-state tuition benefits for illegal aliens stalled in the Senate during the final days of the regular legislative session.

OTHER HIGHER ED NEWS

Congressional Redistricting in 2025?

• Erin Anderson reports that Gov. Greg Abbott is being urged to add congressional redistricting to the special legislative session set to begin on July 21. At issue is the slim, two-seat majority Republicans hold in the U.S. House.
         
• Some GOP activists—ranging from State Rep. Mitch Little (R-Lewisville) to the White House's political operatives—believe new congressional lines in the Lone Star State could produce additional seats for the GOP. 
       
• While redistricting is required every 10 years to reflect population changes recorded by the decennial census, it can also be done at other times. A federal court ruling last year in a Galveston County redistricting case opened the door for Texas to revisit its election district maps, but state lawmakers chose not to take up the issue during their regular legislative session.
       
• “Republicans need to fight like they understand what’s at stake,” said Debbie Georgatos, who serves on the Republican National Committee. Other states, including Wisconsin, are also considering a special redistricting push ahead of 2026.
      
• Timing will be a key factor in redrawing the Texas congressional maps this year if they are to have an impact on the '26 election cycle. The candidate filing period for the primary election begins Nov. 8 and ends Dec. 8.

Space Shuttle Discovery Moves to Houston Under Senate's OBBB

• A little-known provision in the Senate's version of President Donald Trump's "One Big Beautiful Bill" would move the space shuttle Discovery to Houston. As Joseph Trimmer reports, Houston was bypassed as a home for one of the retired space shuttles in a controversial decision made by the Obama administration back in 2011.
     
• Despite the Houston area being the home of NASA's mission control, the retired shuttles were sent to Florida, California, New York, and Virginia.
     
• Discovery, which completed 39 missions before its retirement, was assigned to the Smithsonian in Virginia. It remains the only orbiter still federally owned, making it eligible for relocation through congressional legislation. As such, Sens. John Cornyn and Ted Cruz pushed the OBBB provision, requiring NASA and the Smithsonian to draft a relocation plan within 90 days of its passage, with relocation to be completed within 18 months.
       
• The logistical and budgetary challenges will be significant. Both of the original Boeing 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, historically used to transport the orbiters, have been retired and permanently grounded. Alternative transport methods—such as a barge or overland transit—could pose technical risks, including potential damage to Discovery’s fragile heat tiles. Meanwhile, the cost is set to run between $300 and $400 million.

HHS Halts Gender Ideology Funding

• Following a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision affirming parents’ right to protect their children from content undermining their religious beliefs, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has announced that federal funds for its Teen Pregnancy Prevention program cannot be used to promote radical gender ideology. Luca Cacciatore has the details.
     
• HHS’ Office of Population Affairs offers the grants to fund nonprofits, hospitals, and local jurisdictions working to prevent teen pregnancy nationwide. Some recipients have used those dollars to promote leftwing gender ideologies, which HHS says is no longer allowed.
     
• The department says its new policy “safeguards the rights of parents to protect their children from content that undermines their religious beliefs,” in line with the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision, Mahmoud v. Taylor.
       
• Brady Gray, president of Texas Family Project, told Texas Scorecard that the HHS’ policy clarification “affirms Christian convictions about parental authority and God’s design for humanity.”

Quote-Unquote

"Discipline is the soul of an army. It makes small numbers formidable; procures success to the weak, and esteem to all."

– George Washington​

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