Current Articles for December 12, 2024

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.

• Growth in Mexico’s horticultural exports to the United States continued even as new U.S. food safety laws took effect. By Gregory Astill, Belem Avendaño Ruiz, and Steven Zahniser. Amber Waves, October 21, 2024, pp. 1-2.
  Discusses the regulations that Mexico's growers must meet in the U.S., including the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), which was enacted in 2011 with staggered compliance dates that began in 2016. Finds that the law does not appear to have disrupted Mexico’s access to the U.S. horticultural market. Notes that from 2000 to 2023, annual U.S. horticultural imports from Mexico in real terms (inflation adjusted, measured in 2023 dollars) increased more than fourfold from $3.9 billion to $19.7 billion, corresponding to a compound annual growth rate of 7.3 percent.
  See: https://www.ers.usda.gov/amber-waves/2024/october/growth-in-mexico-s-horticultural-exports-to-the-un ...
  Related information at: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/PLAW-111publ353/pdf/PLAW-111publ353.pdf
  
• SpaceX has Texas-sized ambitions in the sky. But it's creating tensions on Earth. By Henry Gass. Christian Science Monitor, December 2, 2024, pp. 20-26.
  Details the environmental concerns local residents have over rocket launches in Boca Chica, Texas. Explores the tension between SpaceX's push for more launch dates and efforts to protect the local ecosystem.
  See: https://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2024/1013/spacex-starbase-starship-launch-texas
  
• Prevalence and costs of diabetes in Texas Medicaid. By Stoddard Davenport and Bridget Darby. Episcopal Health Foundation, November 2024, pp. 1-31.
  Analyzes the health care cost of type 2 diabetes to the Texas Medicaid system. Concludes that Texas needs a program aimed at reducing the prevalence of type 2 diabetes in order to improve health outcomes and reduce costs.
  See: https://www.episcopalhealth.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Milliman-Diabetes-prevalence-and-costs-in ...
  
• The U.S. needs to build more houses in future receiving cities. By Tim Robustelli and Yuliya Panfil. Federation of American Scientists, December 5, 2024, pp. 1-9.
  Discusses the slowdown of migration to the Sun Belt and how many Americans are considering moving to more geographically resilient regions. Posits that cities in such regions—places like Cincinnati, Duluth, Buffalo, and Detroit—could benefit from the economic stimulus and revitalization that often accompany population inflows. Notes that these cities have a large carrying capacity but have suffered from deindustrialization, disinvestment, and population outflows in the last half century. Suggests that the federal government should designate "Receiving Cities" to which it will allocate funds and tax incentives aimed at producing and preserving affordable housing, in anticipation of population inflows.
  See: https://fas.org/publication/the-u-s-needs-to-build-more-houses-in-future-receiving-cities/
  
• The devastating toll of gun violence on American women and girls. By Kelly Drane. Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, November 15, 2024, pp. 1-7.
  Traces the effect of gun violence on American women and girls, noting that U.S. women are 21 times more likely to die from gun violence compared to women in other high-income countries. Adds that women of color experience a particularly disproportionate impact. Reviews statistics on gun suicide, gun homicide, and gun violence-related trauma with regard to women.
  See: https://giffords.org/lawcenter/report/the-devastating-toll-of-gun-violence-on-american-women-and-gir ...
  
• Schools struggle to hold on to students: Preview of IDRA's 38th annual Texas public school attrition study. By Christina Quintanilla-Muñoz and Joanna Sánchez. IDRA Newsletter (Intercultural Development Research Association), October 2024, pp. 3-4.
  Discusses key findings from an annual report on attrition in Texas public schools. Provides a brief history of this annual study and explains how attrition is calculated.
  See: https://www.idra.org/resource-center/schools-struggle-to-hold-on-to-students-preview-of-idras-38th-a ...
  Report at: https://www.idra.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Texas-Public-School-Attrition-Study-2022-23.pdf
  
• Texas moves toward case management overhaul. By John Kelly. The Imprint: Youth & Family News, December 3, 2024, pp. 1-2.
  Highlights a recent report of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) revealing its plan to build a Comprehensive Child Welfare Information System (CCWIS). Notes the benefits of the new child welfare systems already implemented across many other states include data sharing and streamlined casework.
  See: https://imprintnews.org/youth-services-insider/texas-moves-toward-case-management-overhaul/256619
  Report at: https://www.dfps.texas.gov/About_DFPS/Reports_and_Presentations/Rider_Reports/documents/2024/2024-12 ...
  
• Texas banned abortion in 2022—Here’s how it’s affecting OB-GYNs and patient care. By Rita Rubin. JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association), November 26, 2024, pp. 1687-1689.
  Discusses the effects Texas' abortion ban has had on gynecology training programs in the state. Highlights the national impact of declining program enrollment, citing Texas as one of the leading producers of resident physicians in the nation.
• The myth of mass incarceration. By Paul H. Robinson and Jeffrey Seaman. National Review, January 2025, pp. 20-27.
  Discusses possible solutions to reducing the prison population in the U.S. Considers incarceration rates, types of crimes for which prisoners are incarcerated, sentencing policies, and improvements to law enforcement tactics that have led to more criminals' arrests and convictions. Argues that longer sentences and more time served for the commission of violent crimes is not an injustice, nor is it problematic.
  See: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=180999037&site=ehost-live
  
• Latino voices: Beyond the numbers of America’s fastest-growing demographic. (Part 1) By Lilian Coral, et al. New America, October 22, 2024, pp. 1-6.
  Presents interviews with six leaders of Latino or Hispanic heritage working in various sectors—education, politics, philanthropy, immigration, and the climate. Shares their observations and frustrations about how Latinos are represented by the media and politicians, the wide range of policy issues impacting these communities (and ideas for addressing them), and their hopes for a more pluralistic, inclusive America.
  See: https://www.newamerica.org/new-america/blog/latino-demographics-role-in-pluralistic-america/
  
• Latino voices: Six questions with Latino leaders shaping America’s future. (Part 2) By Lilian Coral, et al. New America, October 22, 2024, pp. 1-10.
  Discusses issues affecting the Latino community with six Latino leaders in policy, philanthropy, technology, and conservation. Shares their perspectives on the current landscape and their hopes for the future.
  See: https://www.newamerica.org/new-america/blog/six-questions-with-latino-leaders-shaping-americas-futur ...
  
• Consolidated data, law enforcement coordination needed to combat organized retail theft in Texas. By Brad Johnson. Texan, November 26, 2024, pp. 1-2.
  Highlights the new report and recommendations of the Texas Organized Retail Theft Task Force, convened by the Comptroller of Public Accounts. Notes the estimated retail crime cost was $442 million in Texas in 2022, with $21 million in projected sales tax revenue lost.
  See: https://thetexan.news/issues/criminal-justice/consolidated-data-law-enforcement-coordination-needed- ...
  Report at: https://www.lrl.texas.gov/scanned/WCD/16890.pdf
  
• Dustin Burrows releases House Speaker majority support list after David Cook wins GOP caucus nomination. By Brad Johnson. Texan, December 7, 2024, pp. 1-2.
  Provides an update on the Speaker's race. Includes quotes from Representatives Dustin Burrows and David Cook.
  See: https://thetexan.news/state/legislature/89th-session/dustin-burrows-releases-house-speaker-majority- ...
  
• Texas lawmakers propose new election integrity laws after mishaps in Harris, Bexar counties. By Holly Hansen. Texan, December 3, 2024, pp. 1-3.
  Reviews election-related legislation filed by Senator Paul Bettencourt, called the "Integrity 7" (SB 505, SB 506, SB 507, SB 508, SB 509, SB 510, and SB 511, 89th Legislature, R.S.).
  See: https://thetexan.news/state/legislature/89th-session/texas-lawmakers-propose-new-election-integrity- ...
  
• Educator’s bill of rights spotlight: Pre-filed childcare bills. Texas AFT, December 5, 2024, pp. 1-2.
  Highlights pre-filed bills for the 89th Texas Legislature relating to childcare. Includes bill numbers, author names, and brief descriptions of the bills that Texas AFT will monitor during the legislative session.
  See: https://www.texasaft.org/policy/sped/educators-bill-of-rights-spotlight-pre-filed-childcare-bills/
  
• The poverty paradox. By Mimi Swartz. Texas Monthly, December 2024, pp. 92-108, 110, 112, 114, 118, 120.
  Examines the fortunes of the city of San Antonio, which has attracted a surge of newcomers—between July 2022 and July 2023, it gained more new residents than any other U.S. city. Notes, however, that many in the city still suffer from poverty; poor health outcomes; and a lack of education. Traces many years of efforts to revitalize the city.
  See: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=180813364&site=ehost-live
  See: https://www.texasmonthly.com/news-politics/san-antonio-poverty/
  
• The conservative case for criminal justice reform. By Maggie Horzempa. Texas Public Policy Foundation, December 2, 2024, pp. 1-2.
  Opines that conservative, data-driven criminal justice solutions create sound policies that are equitable today and for generations to come. Offers suggestions such as alternative police crisis-response models, second-chance hiring, and caregiver mitigation and diversion programming.
  See: https://rightoncrime.com/the-conservative-case-for-criminal-justice-reform%ef%bf%bc/
  
• Why you should stay informed about Texas REALTORS® advocacy and the 89th Legislature [even if you don't like politics]. By Lia Mote. Texas Realtor, November/December 2024, pp. 1-5.
  Previews issues of interest to the real estate industry for the 89th Texas Legislature.
  See: https://www.texasrealestate.com/members/communications/texas-realtor-magazine/issues/november-decemb ...
  
• Underachieving and underenrolled: Chronically low-performing schools in the post-pandemic era. By Sofoklis Goulas. Thomas B. Fordham Institute, September 25, 2024, pp. 1-33.
  Reports on nationwide post-pandemic school enrollment declines.
  See: https://fordhaminstitute.org/national/research/underachieving-and-underenrolled-chronically-low-perf ...
  
• Trump's deportation plans promise the return of workplace raids. By Brian Bennett. Time, December 9, 2024, p. 10.
  Discusses President-elect Donald Trump's plans for mass deportations, adding that the largest worksite raid in a decade happened during his first term in 2018. Quotes experts on the pros and cons of large immigration raids at workplaces.
  See: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=181179560&site=ehost-live