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MRT (free): Appeals Court Upholds Death Star Bill // SAEN/AAS Editorial: After Neglect, #TXLEGE Must Address Flood Threat // Crockett Raises Massive $
Here's What You Need to Know in Texas Today.
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MustReadTexas.com – @MustReadTexas
BY: @MattMackowiak
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FRIDAY || 7/18/2025
Good Friday evening.
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P.S. Some personal news: Amy and I are expecting our first child!
“If something of importance is known in Texas, Matt knows it. With a decline in the number of credible news organizations, the Must Read Texas morning email is indispensable for anyone that wants to continue to be informed.” – Former U.S. Senator Phil Gramm (R-TX)
AUSTIN NEWSLETTER LAUNCHED
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A GOOD CAUSE
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Disaster Relief Available for Flood-Affected Residents
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Our hearts continue to go out to everyone impacted by the devastating floods that swept through Central Texas over the July 4th weekend. We know many families—including some within our REALTOR® community—are facing difficult days ahead. If you—or someone you know—suffered damage to a primary residence during the July 4th weekend flooding, assistance may be available through the Texas REALTORS® Disaster Relief Fund.
Please click the button below for the Texas REALTORS® Disaster Relief Fund Application.
Who is eligible to apply?
Texas residents whose primary residence was damaged and who live in a county listed in the Governor’s disaster declaration: Bexar, Burnet, Caldwell, Gaudalupe, Travis, and Williamson. Only one application per residence is allowed.
What must be submitted with the application?
A valid photo ID
Proof of residence that matches the affected address
If insured, documentation showing the insurance claim, deductible, and payout amount
Application Deadline: All applications must be submitted by September 30, 2025.
To apply or learn more, please visit our website: Williamson County Disaster Relief
TOP NEWS
“Appeals court upholds Texas law limiting cities' enforcement of local ordinances,” Texas Tribune's Hayden Betts — “Two years after a district court declared that a new state law diluting the policy-making power of blue urban areas was unconstitutional, an appeals court on Friday overruled that decision.
Texas lawmakers in 2023 passed House Bill 2127, dubbed the “Death Star” bill by opponents, which aims to overturn cities’ progressive policies and prevent them from enacting future ordinances that aren’t aligned with broad swaths of state law.
The law prevents cities and counties from creating local ordinances that overstep state laws, such as those passed in Dallas and Austin mandating water breaks for construction workers.
The bill, long sought by Gov. Greg Abbott, marks Texas Republicans’ biggest attempt to undercut the power of the state’s largest metropolitan areas, home to the most Democratic-leaning constituents and leaders.
A month after the bill passed, Houston, later joined by San Antonio and El Paso, sued the state to block the new law, arguing that it deprived elected officials of the power to enact local ordinances on a broad range of issues, such as noise regulations and mask mandates. They also were concerned that the law made it so difficult for local leaders to self-govern that it would push them to propose fewer policy changes.
“What this means is that cities like the city of Houston cannot pass ordinances in these areas unless the state of Texas explicitly gives us permission to do so,” late Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said in 2023. “That is a total reversal from the way things have been in this state for more than a century.”
A Travis County judge ruled in August 2023 that the law was unconstitutional, but on Friday the Third Court of Appeals overturned that decision.
In its ruling, the appeals court said it agrees with the state largely for two reasons: the cities failed to point to "sufficient concreteness” of how the bill would hurt them, and made a weak case for how the state is to blame for their concerns.
The San Antonio city attorney’s office, however, noted that the court dismissed the case because “cities don’t have standing to challenge” the law because “at this point, there have been no challenges to any of our ordinances under this statute.”
Texas Republicans and business lobbyists argued that the law works to untangle a confusing patchwork of local regulations that burden businesses and slow economic growth. After the bill passed, Abbott said the law prevents cities from being “able to micromanage businesses” which are “especially driving up the costs for local businesses.”
“We are going to have one regulatory regime across the entire state on massive subject areas that will make the cost of business even lower, the ease of business even better,” Abbott later added.
Earlier this year, lawmakers failed to pass Senate Bill 2858, which sought to add teeth to the 2023 law by giving the Texas attorney general the power to sue cities and counties for adopting local rules overstepping state laws.
The San Antonio city attorney’s office said it is in the process of reviewing legal options and is coordinating with Houston and El Paso to plan out next steps.
“While this decision dismissed the current case, it doesn’t prevent us from raising these constitutional issues again in the future if a specific challenge arises under HB 2127,” the office said." Texas Tribune
FREE SUBSCRIPTIONS HAVE ENDED: As of July 11, 2022, we have moved to a paywall for free subscribers. Free subscribers will only receive the top story in their morning email. Free subscribers will need to become paid subscribers to receive full story summaries.
#TXLEGE
“DNC chair to meet with Texas Democratic leaders ahead of GOP redistricting” AAS ($)
Editorial: “After years of negligence, Texas lawmakers must address flood threat” via SAEN ($)
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
“San Antonio ISD has a new board president. Who is it?” SAEN ($)
“Houston council member sought favors like personal home repairs from city contractor, records show” Hou Chron ($)
“McKinney breaks ground on airport passenger terminal to add commercial flights” DMN ($)
2026
“A second donor to Aaron Reitz’s attorney general campaign faces federal indictment” DMN ($)
TEXANS IN DC
“No member of the U.S. House from Texas is raising money like Jasmine Crockett” SAEN ($)
“Texas lawmaker proposes beefing up temporary worker program to ease farm labor shortages” Texas Tribune
NEWS FROM AROUND THE STATE
> TX TRIB: "1.7 million Texans could lose health coverage under expiring tax credits, ACA changes in GOP megabill" TX TRIB
> TX TRIB: "A guide to Texas’ special legislative session" TX TRIB
> HOU CHRON: "FEMA's quick Texas response was 'the exception' as backlog grows under Trump" HOU CHRON
> KXAN: "Democrat Joe Jaworski to run for Texas attorney general again" KXAN
> AAS: "Why a walkout on GOP redistricting could be very risky for Texas Democrats" AAS
> THE TEXAN: "Texas Sues U.S. Masters Swimming for Allegedly Allowing Biological Males to Compete in Women's Races" THE TEXAN
> TPR: "Texas temporarily expands SNAP benefits to include hot meals in response to flooding" TPR
> FWST: "‘Good Trouble’ rally in Fort Worth honors legacy of John Lewis" FWST
> AAS: "Is birth control accessible in Texas? New study ranks state policies" AAS
> HOU CHRON: "Marvalette Hunter announces run to unseat Wesley Hunt in Congress" HOU CHRON
> EP TIMES: "El Paso joins 1,600 ‘Good Trouble Lives On’ protest nationwide honoring John Lewis" EP TIMES
> THE TEXAN: "The 40: Congressional Coverup Claims, DOGE Demands, Redistricting Roundup" THE TEXAN
> HOU CHRON: "Exclusive: Most Kerr County homes hit on July 4 had no flood insurance" HOU CHRON
> SAEN: "Trump mired in Epstein controversy as Wall Street Journal reports on 2003 letter" SAEN
> AAS: "Strapped for cash? Texas is the most financially distressed state, 2025 study shows" AAS
> HOU CHRON: "Texans turn off phone alerts more than anyone. Did ‘alert fatigue’ cost lives in Hill County floods?" HOU CHRON
> DMN: "Texas flooding death toll jumps to 135, Gov. Greg Abbott says" DMN
> AAS: "Austin Pets Alive mobilizes to help in flood areas around the state, see photos from HQ" AAS
> SAEN: "Lenders offer $1.6M in funds to flood-ravaged Kerrville businesses" SAEN
> HOU CHRON: "5 questions facing the Astros as they start second half" HOU CHRON
> WACO TRIB: "Pam Tillis, Suzy Bogguss highlight Cindy Walker Days fundraiser" WACO TRIB
> COMMUNITY IMPACT: "Prosper officials consider new retail center at First Street, Legacy Drive" COMMUNITY IMPACT
EXTRA POINTS
Recent Texas sports schedule:
None.
Today's Texas sports schedule:
> 7:05pm: MLB: Detroit at Texas
> 9:10pm: MLB: Houston at Seattle
This weekend's Texas sports schedule:
Sat
> 6:05pm: MLB: Detroit at Texas
> 6:30pm: MLS: Austin at DC (Apple TV)
> 7:30pm: MLS: St. Louis at Dallas (Apple TV)
> 7:30pm: MLS: Philadelphia at Houston (Apple TV)
> 8:40pm: MLB: Houston at Seattle
Sun
> 6:05pm: MLB: Detroit at Texas
> 6:10pm: MLB: Houston at Seattle
DALLAS COWBOYS: "The latest on Micah Parsons’ contract negotiations ahead of Cowboys training camp" DMN ($)
TEXAS FOOTBALL: "SEC preseason poll: Texas football voted to finish first in conference" AAS ($)
HOUSTON ASTROS: "Houston Astros get some positive injury news. Chas McCormick is back after missing two months" Hou Chron ($)
TEXAS RANGERS: McFarland: "Five key Rangers that need to step up for Texas’ second-half playoff push" DMN ($)
TEXAS RANGERS: "Texas Rangers add veteran 1B Rowdy Tellez to their roster after All-Star break" AP
TEXAS RANGERS: "Adolis García’s last stand? Rangers may face tough decision if offense can’t get going" DMN ($)
TEXAS RANGERS: "Rangers acquire José Ruiz and cash from the Braves for Dane Dunning in swap of right-handers" AP
MLS ALL STAR GAME: "MLS All-Star Game: Will Lionel Messi play in Austin next week?" AAS ($)
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