Current Articles for January 16, 2025

The Legislative Reference Library produces a weekly list of current journal articles for members of the legislative community. Each week, librarians select and abstract articles of interest to the legislature from the latest issues of over 300 journals, newsletters, state documents, and trade publications. Electronic copies of the Current Articles list are distributed to legislative offices each Thursday.

The Legislative Reference Library is located on the second floor of the State Capitol building in Room 2N.3. For more information, please call the Library at 512-463-1252.

• Medicaid per capita cap would harm millions of people by forcing deep cuts and shifting costs to states. By Gideon Lukens and Elizabeth Zhang. Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, January 7, 2025, pp. 1-13.
  Discusses recent Republican proposals in Congress to impose a per capita cap on federal funding or to turn Medicaid into a block grant. Identifies Texas as one of five states with lower baseline per capita spending and thus more vulnerable to Medicaid cuts.
  See: https://www.cbpp.org/sites/default/files/1-7-25health.pdf
  
• Fresh faces, old problems. Classroom Teacher (Texas Classroom Teachers Association), Winter 2024-25, pp. 14-16.
  Highlights ongoing legislative issues affecting teachers, including teacher compensation; educational materials; and school discipline. Discusses outcomes related to previous legislation, HB 4545, 87th Legislature, R.S. and HB 1605, 88th Legislature, R.S.
  See: https://issuu.com/texascta/docs/tcta_winter2024-25/14
  
• The new space industry (II): Rockets galore. Economist, December 7th-13th, 2024, p. 66.
  Considers potential rocket industry competitors to SpaceX.
  See: https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2024/12/04/can-anyone-realistically-challenge-space ...
  
• International study reveals devastating effects of school closures on student performance. By Paul E. Peterson. Education Next, December 10, 2024, pp. 1-3.
  Discusses the devastating effects pandemic-related school closures had on student achievement.
  See: https://www.educationnext.org/international-study-reveals-devastating-effects-of-school-closures-on- ...
  
• The year oil and gas has been waiting for. By Naomi Klinge. Houston Business Journal, January 10-16, 2025, pp. 18-20.
  Discusses the oil and gas industry in Texas and particularly in Houston, noting that the industry may finally be reaching stability after the pandemic and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Opines that that stability could be a huge boon for the industry, but that renewable energy is likely to face more challenges.
• Child maltreatment reports on the rise, confirmed victim numbers decline, federal report shows. By John Kelly. The Imprint: Youth & Family News, January 8, 2025, pp. 1-2.
  Summarizes the most recent federal child welfare report, Child Maltreatment 2023, published by the Children's Bureau, an office of the Administration for Children and Families. Finds that child abuse and neglect reports continue to increase, while the number of confirmed victims decreased by two percent. Includes a table of 2023 child welfare statistics at a glance.
  See: https://imprintnews.org/youth-services-insider/child-maltreatment-reports-on-the-rise-confirmed-vict ...
  Report at: https://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/documents/cb/cm2023.pdf
  
• Who's watching the kids? By Jackie Mader. Nation, December 2024, pp. 36-43.
  Discusses proposals in the Republican-dominated Kansas Legislature to deregulate the child care industry and relax the minimum age and supervision requirements for child care workers. Notes other states—including South Carolina and Utah—have also loosened training, licensing requirements, and oversight.
  See: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=180998916&site=ehost-live
  
• Green synergies: Legal pathways for integrating agriculture and solar energy. By Jason Williams. Natural Resources & Environment, Fall 2024, pp. 39-43.
  Discusses the concept of agrivoltaic farming. Points out current successes and challenges in the legal and regulatory landscapes for agrivoltaic farming. Includes federal- and state-level examples.
• New satellite algorithm detects methane emissions. By Alex Procyk. Oil and Gas Journal, December 2024, pp. 46-51.
  Discusses the detection of methane leaks using satellite surveillance technology. Considers data collected from the Midland Basin.
• Addressing student behavior to meet everyone's needs. By Nasaskyia R. Hicks. Phi Delta Kappan, December 2024/January 2025, pp. 36-41.
  Argues public schools need to have effective school discipline policies. Criticizes the use of exclusion and punitive discipline measures. Supports alternative discipline models that allow students to remain in the classroom. Proposes an approach that considers individual needs.
  See: https://kappanonline.org/addressing-student-behavior-to-meet-everyones-needs/
  
• What happens next in the courts, part three: Will the Open Internet Order survive? By Stephen Goodman. Public Utilities Fortnightly, November 2024, pp. 64-67.
  Reports the Federal Communication Commission’s Open Internet Order has been challenged in court. Considers the potential effects of the Major Questions Doctrine and the end of the Chevron defense on this case.
  Related information at: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/68858516/mcp-no-185-open-internet-rule-fcc-24-52/
  Related information at: https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-restores-net-neutrality-0
  See: https://www.fortnightly.com/fortnightly/2024/11/what-happens-next-courts-part-3
  
• Everybody hates prices. By Peter Suderman. Reason, January 2025, pp. 42-47.
  Explains what prices are and discusses price control policies. Includes examples from various industries and perspectives.
  See: https://reason.com/2024/12/29/everybody-hates-prices/
  
• TXOGA head on Trump's likely policy changes. By Amber Serio. San Antonio Business Journal, December 20-26, 2024, p. 8.
  Reports on a discussion with Todd Staples, president of the Texas Oil & Gas Association, on what the industry is expecting under the incoming Trump administration. Predicts a decrease in regulation of fossil fuels, a move that the industry welcomes but that environmental experts fear could harm the environment.
  See: https://www.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/news/2024/12/13/txoga-oil-gas-donald-trump-president-industry ...
  
• UTSA to launch a space research center. By W. Scott Bailey. San Antonio Business Journal, December 20-26, 2024, p. 5.
  Describes the University of Texas at San Antonio's newly announced Center for Space Technology and Operations Research (CSTOR), which will focus on engineering; technology; and operations supporting space missions between the Earth; the moon; and the lunar service. Notes that the center will place UTSA at the center of a trillion-dollar industry and will address the increasing demand for research and workforce initiatives involving space agencies and companies.
  See: https://www.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/news/2024/12/11/rocket-ride-utsa-to-launch-space-research-cen ...
  
• Bets on legal sports markets pay off big for states, sportsbooks, and consumers. By Adam Hoffer. Tax Foundation, December 2024, pp. 1-14.
  Describes the evolving landscape of legal sports betting and trends in sports betting tax design and state tax revenues. Notes sports betting is now legal in 38 states and the District of Columbia.
  See: https://taxfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/FF854-3.pdf
  
• The past and future of school choice in Texas. By Cameron Abrams. Texan, December 31, 2024, pp. 1-3.
  Looks at school choice as a priority issue in the 89th Legislature and reviews Governor Greg Abbott's "Parental Bill of Rights" and the 2023 school choice legislation.
  See: https://thetexan.news/issues/education/the-past-and-future-of-school-choice-in-texas/article_516de75 ...
  Related information at: https://www.gregabbott.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Parents.ONEPAGER.pdf
  
• Trump's Texas tycoons. By Justin Miller. Texas Observer, January-February 2025, pp. 12-19.
  Presents brief biographies of Texas megadonors, think tank employees, and politicians poised to play large roles in the second Trump administration, such as Elon Musk; Tim Dunn; and Ted Cruz. Includes Governor Greg Abbott, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, and Attorney General Ken Paxton.
  See: https://www.texasobserver.org/trumps-texas-tycoons/
  
• Texas law now requires an 'armed person' on every campus during school hours. By Jeremy Rosenthal. Voice for the Defense, December 2024, p. 10.
  Opines that the new Texas law requiring an armed person on every campus during school hours has created "a criminal justice crisis." Notes that student arrest rates more than double when an officer is on campus; that many police officers on campus lack the education and training to understand children from all walks of life; and that children with special needs are arrested at a disproportionately higher rate. Suggests that criminal defense lawyers should focus on vigorously advocating for their clients and look for opportunities to litigate potential First Amendment issues.