Current Articles for October 30, 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.

• Over $3B in energy funding could be at risk. By Naomi Klinge. Houston Business Journal, October 24-30, 2025, p. 24.
  Describes a list that has been circulating in the media and among universities that shows hundreds of U.S. Department of Energy awards labeled as "terminated." Notes that of the projects so listed, several are in the Houston area, with the potential to lose more than $3.3 billion in funding to companies and projects; points out that the single largest Houston project at risk, the HyVelocity Hydrogen Hub, could lose $1.2 billion. Cautions that while the U.S. Department of Energy has not confirmed or denied the accuracy of the list, several of the listed companies and projects have already lost funding.
• Data in danger: The disappearing infrastructure of maternal health research (Birthing While Black series #6). By Andrea Flynn and Martinique Free. Institute for Women's Policy Research, September 2025, pp. 1-10.
  Presents the sixth and final research brief in the series Birthing While Black: The Urgent Fight for Maternal Health Reform. Describes the mechanisms for collecting and disseminating maternal health data, the flaws and complexities that have emerged in the data systems, and the current impediments to understanding the U.S. maternal health crisis. Mentions Texas' decision not to review pregnancy-related death cases from the years following the 2022 abortion ban.
  See: https://iwpr.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Data-in-Danger%E2%80%93The-Disappearing-Infrastructure-o ...
  
• 5 things to know about Robert Roberson’s stayed execution in Texas. By Maurice Chammah. Marshall Project, October 9, 2025, pp. 1-3.
  Gives an update on the latest events in the case of Robert Roberson, who was scheduled to die by lethal injection on October 16 until the Texas Criminal Court of Appeals halted the execution. Posits that support for Roberson from conservative circles may highlight a growing conservative ambivalence about the death penalty.
  See: https://www.themarshallproject.org/2025/10/09/robert-roberson-texas-execution-explainer
  
• Health care shortages loom: Could immigration close the gap? By Cassandra Zimmer-Wong. Milken Institute Review, Fourth Quarter 2025, pp. 57-67.
  Explores several reasons for the current U.S. health care workforce shortage, including demographics; professional burnout; lack of medical educators; low salaries; and distribution of the health care workforce. Argues that one practical short-term solution is to leverage the potential of foreigners immigrating to the U.S. Discusses the crucial role foreign-born workers already play in the health care workforce. Charts the ten-year healthcare job growth outlook for 2023-2033 according to various levels of required education.
  See: https://www.milkenreview.org/articles/health-care-shortages-loom
  
• Court dismisses PFAS case brought by farmers against EPA. The National Agricultural Law Center, October 14, 2025, pp. 1-4.
  Discusses the outcome of Farmer v. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, a case filed by farmers and ranchers in Texas against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA") for its alleged failure to regulate per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances ("PFAS") under the Clean Water Act ("CWA"). Notes that a federal court has disagreed, finding that the EPA did not violate its CWA duties. Adds that while the court ultimately dismissed the case, it did indicate what future actions the plaintiffs might take to prompt EPA to adopt stricter PFAS regulations.
  See: https://nationalaglawcenter.org/court-dismisses-pfas-case-brought-by-farmers-against-epa/
  Related information at: https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/USCOURTS-dcd-1_24-cv-01654/summary
  
• Rep. Chip Roy sometimes disagrees with his 'Libertarian brothers and sisters'. By Nick Gillespie. Reason, November 2025, pp. 40-46.
  Features an interview with Congressman Chip Roy, who is currently one of the candidates running for Texas Attorney General.
  See: https://reason.com/2025/10/09/rep-chip-roy-sometimes-disagrees-with-his-libertarian-brothers-and-sis ...
  
• Immigration crackdown likely contributing to weak Texas job growth. By Isabel Brizuela, et al. Southwest Economy (Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas), October 17, 2025, pp. 1-7.
  Analyzes the impact of recent federal immigration enforcement and other immigration policy changes, such as the end of temporary protective programs and increased U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrests, on employment growth in Texas. Finds these immigration developments will negatively affect the ability to hire and retain foreign-born workers at one in five Texas businesses this year.
  See: https://www.dallasfed.org/research/swe/2025/swe2515
  
• Texas learns lessons from for-profit alternative teacher certification. Southwest Economy (Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas), October 6, 2025, pp. 1-4.
  Interviews Dallas Fed economist Christa Deneault about her research on for-profit teacher certification providers in Texas.
  See: https://www.dallasfed.org/research/swe/2025/swe2513
  Report at: https://www.nber.org/papers/w34232
  
• There's no good way to pay for property tax repeal. By Jared Walczak. Tax Foundation, October 2025, pp. 1-13.
  Posits that repealing the property tax is an aspiration, not a plan. Argues that replacing local property tax revenue through new state taxes is difficult for several reasons, including variance in local sales and income tax bases across jurisdictions; the dramatic shift in overall tax burdens; and the different geographic distribution of alternative revenue streams.
  See: https://taxfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/FF868.pdf
  
• Texas cattle ranchers push back on Trump's Argentina beef purchase plan. By Cameron Abrams. Texan, October 27, 2025, pp. 1-2.
  Reports on the reaction from Texas cattle ranchers to the Trump administration's announcement that the U.S. will increase beef imports from Argentina in an attempt to reduce soaring prices. Notes opposition to the plan from the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association.
  See: https://thetexan.news/issues/trade/texas-cattle-ranchers-push-back-on-trumps-argentina-beef-purchase ...
  
• Texas Rep. Nate Schatzline to not seek re-election, joins National Faith Advisory Board. By Mary Elise Cosgray. Texan, October 27, 2025, pp. 1-3.
  Informs readers that Representative Nate Schatzline, whose reelection campaign had been endorsed by President Trump, has changed direction and decided not to run after an invitation to join the National Faith Advisory Board.
  See: https://thetexan.news/elections/2026/texas-rep-nate-schatzline-to-not-seek-re-election-joins-nationa ...
  
• Trump’s federal cuts are hitting Texas food banks hard. By Justin Doud. Texas Observer, October 27, 2025, pp. 1-4.
  Discusses the threat to U.S. food banks since the Trump administration enacted sweeping federal spending cuts this year, with a focus on how the cuts will affect the Houston Food Bank and other nutrition access organizations in Texas. Notes that more than 1,600 partner organizations distribute food through the Houston Food Bank, allowing the organization to serve more than 1 million Houstonians across 18 counties.
  See: https://www.texasobserver.org/trump-cuts-texas-food-banks/
  
• Emerging technologies in law enforcement. By Christian Cochran. Texas Public Policy Foundation, September 3, 2025, pp. 1-28.
  Examines how artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming policing across the country, offering new tools to keep communities safe while raising important questions about transparency and oversight. Highlights examples from across the country where AI has already been put to work: detecting firearms before shots are fired, increasing case closure rates, and enhancing officer efficiency in the field. Underscores that technology should serve as an aid, not a replacement, for human judgment.
  See: https://rightoncrime.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/2025-08-ROC-Emerging-Technologies-in-Law-Enforce ...
  
• Mapping metro water use: sources, industries, and consumption. By Daniel Oney. Tierra Grande, Fall 2025, pp. 1-5.
  Explores city-level data on how geography and industry influence Texas' water resources. Includes graphics showing the share of total water sourced, per-capita water use, and municipal water customer per-capita use, among various Texas cities.
  See: https://trerc.tamu.edu/article/mapping-metro-water-use-sources-industries-and-consumption/
  
• The rising demand: How cities use water. By Jorge Barro and Yanling Mayer. Tierra Grande, Fall 2025, pp. 1-6.
  Discusses the history and outlook of municipal water use, including residential water use as the largest user. Outlines the critical role of water efficiency and water conservation strategies in addressing long-term water scarcity. Highlights the requirement for more water-efficient urban design under SB 15, 89th Legislature, R.S., and mentions SB 7 and HB 29, 89th Legislature, R.S.
  See: https://trerc.tamu.edu/article/the-rising-demand-how-cities-use-water/
  
• Sending in the National Guard won’t make our cities safer. By Erica Bryant and Sam Raim. Vera Institute of Justice, September 26, 2025, pp. 1-4.
  Argues that while the federal government has a role to play in public safety, using the National Guard to police cities is not a solution to the challenge of making neighborhoods safer, and the risk of undermining community trust and civil liberties outweighs any possible rewards. Notes that large numbers of residents in cities such as Washington, D.C. and Memphis oppose the militarization of local law enforcement and say it has made them feel less safe. Highlights state and local leaders who have taken a strong position against National Guard deployment in their cities.
  See: https://www.vera.org/news/sending-in-the-national-guard-wont-make-our-cities-safer