Current Articles for April 24, 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.

• A Texas city's quiet claim to Islamic territory. By Kevin Cohen. American Spectator, April 19, 2025, pp. 1-2.
  Discusses Texas state investigations into the East Plano Islamic Center ("EPIC City") real estate development project near Josephine, Texas. Highlights the Islamic jurisdictional concept of Dar al-Islam, or "the domain of Islam," and the role of Sharia law.
  See: https://spectator.org/a-texas-citys-quiet-claim-to-islamic-territory/
  
• Community college comeback. By Robb Mandelbaum. Bloomberg Businessweek, April 2025, pp. 92-95.
  Highlights the Alamo Colleges District in San Antonio, Texas, which has bucked the national trend of declining community college graduation rates by offering guided pathways which help students find the best route to a bachelor’s degree or a job in their desired field.
  See: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2025-03-20/texas-community-college-paves-a-new-path-from-sch ...
  
• Keep Austin… conservative? By Rachel Monroe. Bloomberg Businessweek, April 2025, pp. 70-72.
  Describes ongoing culture wars taking place on college campuses, with a special focus on responsive actions taken by the University of Texas at Austin.
  See: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-03-18/the-university-of-texas-at-austin-might-be-the-fu ...
  
• An industry in peril. By Jishnu Nair. Houston Business Journal, April 11-17, 2025, pp. 19-20.
  Discusses the potential effects of SB 3, which would ban most consumable hemp products in Texas, on the Houston market. Notes that retail revenue from Texas' hemp business rose to $4.3 billion in 2025, and quotes an industry expert as saying that the most profitable products are those that would be banned under the new bill.
• The U.S. Department of Education's role in serving and protecting this nation's students. By Vivek Datla. IDRA Newsletter (Intercultural Development Research Association), March 2025, pp. 4-5.
  Presents a brief history of the U.S. Department of Education. Highlights services and programs provided by this agency. Notes changes made thus far by the second Trump administration.
  See: https://www.idra.org/resource-center/the-u-s-department-of-educations-role-in-serving-and-protecting ...
  
• What federal education funding means for schools—A look at federal funding in Georgia and Texas. By Morgan Craven. IDRA Newsletter (Intercultural Development Research Association), March 2025, pp. 3, 5.
  Lists federal funds that school districts in Georgia and Texas received in fiscal year 2024. Acknowledges current threats to reduce or cut these funds.
  See: https://www.idra.org/resource-center/what-federal-education-funding-means-for-schools-a-look-at-fede ...
  
• To reduce fatalities by 2030, we need to look beyond vehicles. By Jessica Cicchino. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), March 18, 2025, pp. 1-2.
  Considers that vehicle crash avoidance technology, while significantly improved, is not the sole consideration regarding vehicle safety. Explains that infrastructure enhancements, such as cameras; speed bumps; and bike lanes, and stronger state laws on aspects such as seat belt use; alcohol-impaired driving; and speed limits are necessary to see real gains in improved vehicle safety and reduced fatalities for drivers and pedestrians.
  See: https://www.iihs.org/news/detail/to-reduce-fatalities-by-2030-we-need-to-look-beyond-vehicles
  
• Should the U.S. wait to consolidate? Recent legal developments regarding the interim storage of nuclear waste. By Scarlett Forrest. State Bar of Texas: Oil, Gas and Energy Resources, Winter 2025, pp. 41-57.
  Provides background information for the following Texas-related cases that are currently being considered by the U.S. Supreme Court: Nuclear Regulatory Commission, et al. v. Texas, et al. and Interim Storage Partners, LLC v. Texas, et al.. Discusses relevant case law, federal laws, and state laws, including HB 7, 87th Legislature, 2nd Called Session.
  Related information at: https://www.supremecourt.gov/search.aspx?filename=/docket/docketfiles/html/public/23-1300.html
  Related information at: https://www.supremecourt.gov/search.aspx?filename=/docket/docketfiles/html/public/23-1312.html
  
• Lawsuits take aim at voter-approved transit projects worth billions. By Robbie Sequeira. Stateline.org, April 17, 2025, pp. 1-2.
  Explains lawsuits, including one in Texas, relating to slowing or stopping voter-approved expansion of public transit.
  See: https://stateline.org/2025/04/17/lawsuits-take-aim-at-voter-approved-transit-projects-worth-billions ...
  
• Abbott's school choice victory starts next chapter in Texas House. By Brad Johnson. Texan, April 22, 2025, pp. 1-4.
  Summarizes Governor Greg Abbott's role in the passage of school choice and education savings account (ESA) legislation recently in the House (SB 2, 89th Legislature) and discusses political implications for the House's future consideration of constitutional amendments. Quotes Representatives Jeff Barry and Drew Darby.
  See: https://thetexan.news/state/legislature/texas-state-house-news/abbott-s-school-choice-victory-starts ...
  
• Tort circuit: Business community, trial lawyers clash over tort reform in Texas. By Brad Johnson. Texan, April 21, 2025, pp. 1-8.
  Highlights current discussions among the Legislature, the business community, trial lawyers, and the insurance industry, about placing a cap on non-economic damages, particularly for "nuclear verdicts," or extreme verdicts on both sides, which exceed $10 million. Reviews tort reform legislation, including HB 939, SB 30/HB 4806, and SB 39/HB 4688, 89th Legislature, and details the Senate committee hearing on SB 30.
  See: https://thetexan.news/state/legislature/89th-session/tort-circuit-business-community-trial-lawyers-c ...
  
• They want to 'steer our nation back to God'—starting with prayer night in the Texas Capitol. By Robert Downen. Texas Monthly, April 21, 2025, pp. 1-5.
  Describes the weekly "Pursuit Nights"—worship gatherings organized by an organization called My God Votes—held at the Texas Capitol since 2023. Traces the history of My God Votes, which rose out of the COVID-19 pandemic, and its growing influence on Texas and Texan lawmakers. Notes that the rise of the organization has coincided with a slate of bills and reforms that would infuse more Christianity into public life.
  See: https://www.texasmonthly.com/news-politics/texas-capitol-prayer-nights-my-god-votes/