Good morning,

Tomorrow marks the fourth week of the federal government shutdown; the One Click Survey asks if you have been impacted.

This is the Texas Minute for Monday, October 27, 2025.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan 

New Law Protecting Texas Wildlife From Wind Projects Sits Idle

• A new law designed to give the state a greater role in reviewing large wind projects along the Gulf Coast quietly took effect on September 1, but the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department says it’s still developing procedures to implement it. Brandon Waltens has the story.
   
• Developers are now required to notify TPWD 90 days before constructing structures taller than 575 feet in certain coastal or adjacent counties that either border the Gulf of America or contain a national wildlife refuge. Supporters of the measure said it was needed to ensure Texas wildlife officials could review large energy projects—particularly wind farms—before they are built in sensitive coastal areas or major migratory flyways.
     
• In response to an inquiry from Texas Scorecard, a TPWD spokesman said the agency is "drafting procedures" and does "not anticipate any rulemaking at this time."
      
• That lack of implementation comes as a federal lawsuit challenges the Lane City Wind project in Wharton County, where developers plan to construct a 200-megawatt facility backed by German energy company RWE and Microsoft. The plaintiffs allege the project threatens endangered species such as the Bald Eagle and Whooping Crane.

Alamo Trust CEO Resigns After ‘Misaligned’ Messaging

• Alamo Trust CEO Kate Rogers has resigned following calls for accountability from state officials after revelations of controversial writings and management by Rogers. Sydnie Henry has the details.
    
• This development is the latest in an ongoing dispute over the stewardship of the state’s most iconic historic site. Earlier this month, Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham criticized the Alamo Trust after its official social media accounts posted a message recognizing Indigenous Peoples’ Day instead of Columbus Day.
     
• Late last week, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick sent a letter to the board of the Alamo Trust expressing concerns about Rogers' academic writings. He described her work as “incompatible with the telling of the history of the battle of the Alamo” and stated it undermined the credibility of the Alamo Trust.
      
• Indeed, excerpts reviewed by Texas Scorecard reveal a pattern of rhetoric and ideology that many Texas politicians and citizens will find to be at odds with the spirit of the Alamo and Texas history. For example, she wanted the Alamo to focus on “equity” and “inclusion” rather than heroism, liberty, and sacrifice.
      
• Patrick and Buckingham want the Alamo Trust board to realign its leadership and policies with the values and expectations of Texans.

Federal Judge Declares Texas’ Book Vendor Rating Requirements Unconstitutional

• Certain provisions of Texas’ READER Act were declared to be unconstitutional by a federal judge last week. As a result, the state is now blocked from enforcing that portion of the 2023 law even as the ruling is appealed.
       
• Specifically, U.S. District Judge Alan D. Albright's ruling targets the book-rating provisions of the law that required booksellers to categorize “any books they sell or have ever sold to schools” according to standards set by the Texas State Library and Archives Commission. The law's purpose was to ensure schools kept “sexually explicit” books from the shelves.
        
• The state had argued that booksellers are not entitled to state contracts and could avoid the restrictions by simply choosing not to sell inappropriate titles to school libraries.
     
• While acknowledging children should "certainly be protected from obscene content in the school setting," Judge Albright concluded that the READER Act "misses the mark."

Left-Wing Advocates Appointed to Texas Higher Education Committee

• Adam Cahn reports that a new advisory board designed to study general education requirements at taxpayer-subsidized colleges and universities includes several members who have advocated for left-wing ideologies. Last week, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board approved 14 nominations from two- and four-year colleges and universities to the new committee.
      
• The committee was created in response to a new law that overhauls several aspects of university governance.
     
• A preliminary review reveals that three committee members have publicly advocated for left-wing causes. The individuals were put forward by Texas A&M, the University of North Texas, and Austin Community College.

Celina ISD Faces Criminal Inquiry Over Coverup

• Officials in the embattled Celina Independent School District now face a state criminal investigation into claims that administrators covered up a coach’s past predatory behavior toward male students, enabling him to record undressed middle school boys in the locker room. Erin Anderson has the report.
     
• Following a request from State Rep. Jeff Leach (R–Allen), Attorney General Ken Paxton has directed his office's Criminal Investigations Division to look into the reports.
      
• Families of boys recorded by the coach—who has since been arrested and is the adult son of Celina's head football coach— allege that school officials knew of past instances of the man preying on male students. They say district officials deliberately covered them up to protect the legacy of Celina ISD’s famed football program. The district's head coach and a middle school principal have been placed on administrative leave. 

Conroe Trustees Approve Restrictions on Left-wing Indoctrination

• In a unanimous vote last week, Michael Wilson reports that the Conroe Independent School District Board of Trustees approved a series of policy changes tightening classroom standards, expanding parental rights, and setting clearer boundaries on controversial instruction.
      
• One of the most notable changes gives parents significantly more time to review upcoming lessons on human sexuality. While state law requires a minimum 14-day notice, Conroe ISD extended that to 30 days, ensuring parents receive detailed information on lesson plans, objectives, and outside materials well before the start of instruction.

Abbott Appoints Kyle Hawkins to Texas Supreme Court

• Gov. Greg Abbott has appointed Kyle Hawkins to serve on the Supreme Court of Texas, effective immediately. As Travis Morgan reports, Hawkins formerly served as solicitor general of Texas from September 2018 to February 2021.
      
• Hawkins replaces Justice Jeffrey Boyd, who retired in September from a term that expires December 31, 2026.
         
• In addition to working in private practice and his time as the state's solicitor general, Hawkins also took on a short-term post earlier this year for the Trump administration at the U.S. Department of Justice as counselor to the U.S. solicitor general.

Today In History

On Oct. 27, 312, the Roman Emperor Constantine saw a "vision of the cross" in the sky with the words "In Hoc Signo" written on it. This marked the beginning of his advocacy for, and conversion to, Christianity.

Quote-Unquote

"If a tax cut increases government revenue, you haven't cut taxes enough."

– Milton Friedman​

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