The Legislative Reference Library produces a weekly list of current journal articles for members of the legislative community. New lists are available most Thursdays at 3pm. The most recent list is below.

"Judging the judges." By Anna Stolley Persky. ABA Journal: The Lawyer's Magazine, June/July 2024, pp. 50-57
Discusses inconsistencies and a lack of transparency amongst state systems for investigating and disciplining members of their judiciaries.

"More bugs are coming, spreading more disease. Are doctors ready to respond?" By Patrick Boyle. American Association of Medical Colleges, May 1, 2024, p. 1
Reports on the increase of vector-borne illnesses in the U.S. Notes the increase in reported cases in places like Puerto Rico, Texas, and other Southern states. Attributes the increase in insect-related illnesses to warmer temperatures.
See:https://www.aamc.org/news ...

"Protest and civil disobedience are two different things." By Keith E. Whittington. Chronicle of Higher Education, May 10, 2024, pp. 22-24, 26
Argues that every university needs policies accommodating non-disruptive expressive activities on campus that allow institutions to maintain normal operations. Offers suggestions for what those regulations may include.

"Why encampments scare college presidents." By David Jesse. Chronicle of Higher Education, May 10, 2024, pp. 16-18, 20
Discusses how some university officials have addressed the use of encampments by recent pro-Palestinian protests on college and university campuses.

"Destroying life and liberty." By Liz Hayes. Church & State, June 2024, pp. 7-9
Profiles Project 2025, a 900-page plan outlining ways to restructure the U.S. government to better accommodate Christianity as a state religion. Discusses some of the book's 30 chapters, each of which is written by a different author and focuses on modifying or eliminating a different area of the federal government.
See:https://www.au.org/the-la ...

"Politics is the law in Texas." Economist, May 25th-31st, 2024, p. 24
Comments on Governor Greg Abbott’s pardon of Daniel Perry.
Related information at:https://gov.texas.gov/new ...
Related information at:https://lrl.texas.gov/sca ...
See:https://www.economist.com ...

"The southern border: A migration merry-go-round." Economist, May 25th-31st, 2024, pp. 22-23
Reports on the changes in migration flows that have contributed to a decline in apprehensions at the southern border. Includes information about Mexico’s enforcement efforts.
See:https://www.economist.com ...

"Uvalde shooting victims' families sue state police, settle with city for $2 million." By Libby Stanford and Mark Walsh. Education Week, May 29, 2024, p. 2
Reports on the legal settlement in the Uvalde school shooting victims' families' lawsuit against local law enforcement.

"Why chronic absenteeism is a budget problem, too." By Mark Lieberman. Education Week, May 29, 2024, p. 6
Discusses why attendance-based school funding causes budget problems for schools. Examines how chronic absenteeism causes significant damage to school budgets under attendance-based funding programs. Examines why schools struggle to address chronic absenteeism.
See:https://search.ebscohost. ...

"Reimagining rural health equity: Understanding disparities and orienting policy, practice, and research in rural America." By Anne N. Sosin and Elizabeth A. Carpenter-Song. Health Affairs, June 2024, pp. 791-797
Addresses the health disparities in rural areas using the COVID-19 pandemic to illustrate the issue. Discusses how policies can advance rural health equity and improve rural access to health systems.
See:https://www.healthaffairs ...

"As a third worker tests positive for bird flu in US dairy cattle outbreak, here’s what to know." By Jennifer Abbasi. JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association), June 5, 2024, p. 1
Discusses the current H5N1 avian flu outbreak among cattle herds. Details issues in testing and how health officials are tracking the virus. Explains types of testing used to determine the safety of meat and dairy products from infected herds.
See:https://jamanetwork.com/j ...

"The case for closed primaries." By Steve Byas. New American, June 10, 2024, pp. 27-30
Presents a case for why primary elections should be open only to party members.
See:https://search.ebscohost. ...
See:https://thenewamerican.co ...

"Americans’ views of technology companies." By Monica Anderson. Pew Research Center, April 29, 2004, pp. 1-18
Highlights a survey of Americans' views on large technology and social media companies. Notes that while 78 percent of Americans are wary of social media’s role in politics and its overall impact on the country, these concerns are more common among Republicans, although they are also increasing among Democrats. Adds that 64 percent believe that social media has a mostly negative effect on the country.
See:https://www.pewresearch.o ...
See:https://www.pewresearch.o ...

"AI can do paperwork doctors hate." By Natalie Dowzicky. Reason, June 2024, pp. 43-44
Discusses artificial intelligence (AI) programs created to assist doctors with electronic health records management.
See:https://reason.com/2024/0 ...
See:https://search.ebscohost. ...

"Managing extreme AI risks amid rapid progress." By Yoshua Bengio, et al. Science, May 24, 2024, pp. 842-845
Examines the promising capabilities and potential threats of the rapid advancement and proliferation of artificial intelligence (AI) systems. Argues for national and international governance of AI systems and capabilities.
See:https://www.science.org/d ...

"Texas seeks to inject Bible stories into elementary school reading program." By Linda Jacobson. The 74, May 29, 2024, p. 1
Discusses the inclusion of biblical content in proposed instructional materials that the State Board of Education is considering as part of the Instructional Materials Review and Approval (IMRA) process under HB 1605, 88th Legislature, R.S. Includes specific examples of lessons containing biblical content. Quotes Texas Education Agency Commissioner Mike Morath.
Related information at:https://sboe.texas.gov/st ...
See:https://www.the74million. ...

"Speedy trial statute: A blueprint to criminal justice reform in Texas." By Harper Haught. South Texas Law Review, Winter 2023, pp. 139-157
Encourages updating the Speedy Trial Act of 1974 in order to shorten criminal litigation length by creating time limits for cases; regulating the investigative process; re-allocating funds or increasing budgets; and imposing work standards for lawyers, courts, police, and other investigative service agents.
Related information at:https://www.loc.gov/item/ ...
See:https://www.stcl.edu/wp-c ...

"Here's a review of the 2024 primaries and runoffs." By Brad Johnson. Texan, June 4, 2024, p. 1
Reflects on the 2024 primary elections for the Texas House of Representatives, including the roles of Governor Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton, the political clashes in the Republican party, and the Speaker's race.
See:https://thetexan.news/ele ...

"Texas Secretary of State issues emergency guidance to protect ballot secrecy." By Matt Stringer. Texan, June 6, 2024, p. 1
Reviews the Texas Secretary of State's June 6 emergency guidance on voter privacy. Quotes Senator Paul Bettencourt.
Related information at:https://content.govdelive ...
See:https://thetexan.news/ele ...

"Release of HB 1605 instructional materials launches fresh concerns, of biblical proportions." Texas AFT, May 31, 2024, p. 1
Addresses the new educational material released by the State Board of Education under the Instructional Materials Review and Approval (IMRA) process as mandated by HB 1605, 88th Legislature, R.S. Considers the potential encroachment of religious materials into state-created educational materials.
Related information at:https://sboe.texas.gov/st ...
See:https://www.texasaft.org/ ...

"Towards congruency? A descriptive analysis of employed Black teachers in Texas from 2011-12 through 2017-18." By Virginia Redwine Johnson, John A. Williams III, and Micah Richardson. Texas Education Review, May 2024, pp. 25-42
Reviews Texas Education Agency data to determine the attrition rate of Black teachers in Texas between 2011 and 2017. Finds that the number of Black teachers in Texas increased during the studied years but is still not congruent with the number of Black students in Texas. Provides recommendations to increase teacher diversity.
See:https://repositories.lib. ...
See:https://review.education. ...