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.

"Why does AI give bad dating advice? The cult of safetyism that dominates our society is especially counterproductive when it comes to tech and dating." By Rob Mariani. American Conservative, September/October 2024, pp. 28-33
Discusses the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in online dating applications, including examples from Google Gemini and ChatGPT.
See:https://www.theamericanco ...

"Back to school — in a phone-free classroom?" By Jackie Valley and Sara Miller Llana. Christian Science Monitor, August 26, 2024, pp. 23-28
Reports on legislation passed in Utah which limits the use of smartphones in schools. Discusses lawsuits filed against social media companies in Canada. Spotlights issues caused by smartphone use among children and teens.
See:https://www.csmonitor.com ...

"Hurricane costs add up in Texas: State sees deaths, billions of dollars in damages." By Leticia Torres. Fiscal Notes, August 2024, p. 1
Describes the economic impact of hurricanes on Texas and notes preliminary damage estimates for Hurricane Beryl at $1.5 billion. Includes a table of the costliest hurricanes to make landfall in Texas, 1980-2021.
See:https://comptroller.texas ...

"Six ways Texas is closing the digital divide: Broadband Development Office issues notices for funding, other initiatives." By Kelly Langford. Fiscal Notes, August 2024, pp. 1-3
Outlines six key initiatives of the Broadband Development Office, under the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, to expand internet access in underserved areas.
See:https://comptroller.texas ...

"What are you going to do with that? The future of college in the asset economy." By Erik Baker. Harper's Magazine, September 2024, pp. 35-39
Reflects on the function of higher education in the social hierarchy and growing skepticism on the value of a college education in a modern capitalist society.
See:https://harpers.org/archi ...

"CenterPoint Energy consistently ranks worst in U.S." By Kyle R. Cotton. Houston Business Journal, August 9-15, 2024, p. 6
Analyzes data showing that even before Hurricane Beryl put CenterPoint Energy in the spotlight, it already had long-term, systemic problems with its grid. Discusses the company's history of brownouts, power outages, and other faults. Notes that the company's new resiliency plan calls for investing $20 billion in system growth, reliability, modernization, and clean energy enablement.
See:https://www.bizjournals.c ...

"Texas gets closer to adopting a bilingual special education teacher certificate." By Lizdelia Piñón. IDRA Newsletter (Intercultural Development Research Association), June-July 2024, pp. 7-8
Provides an update on the implementation of HB 2256, 87th Legislature, R.S., relating to creating a bilingual special education teacher certification to teach students of limited English proficiency with disabilities.
See:https://www.idra.org/reso ...

"After juvenile justice reforms, two states return to prosecuting more teens as adults." By Jeremy Loudenback. The Imprint: Youth & Family News, August 23, 2024, pp. 1-4
Discusses the rollback of recent juvenile justice reforms in Louisiana and North Carolina, allowing those states to prosecute youthful offenders as adults. Interviews youth advocates about this reversal of a decades-long state policy trend to keep older teenagers out of adult courts, jails, and prisons.
See:https://imprintnews.org/t ...

"The Supreme Court decision on firearm ownership for people subject to restraining orders." By Lawrence O. Gostin and Stephen I. Vladeck. JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association), August 20, 2024, pp. 527-528
Comments on U.S. Supreme Court rulings affecting individuals under domestic violence restraining orders and the Second Amendment right to own firearms. Focuses on the effects of New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen and United States v. Rahimi.
See:https://jamanetwork.com/j ...
Related information at:https://www.supremecourt. ...
Related information at:https://www.supremecourt. ...

"The ETJ opt-out bill: A seismic shift in land development." By Richard L. Muller Jr. and Shima Jalalipour. Texas Bar Journal, July/August 2024, pp. 526-527
Highlights SB 2038, 88th Legislature, R.S., known as the "ETJ opt-out bill," which allows landowners to unilaterally petition to have their land removed from a city's extraterritorial jurisdiction. Describes the ways in which the new law has changed the dynamics of land development in Texas, noting that the bill shifts the negotiating power from cities to developers. Adds that the practical implications of the bill are still unclear.

"Protecting consumer data privacy: A look at the Texas Data Privacy and Security Act." By Pierre Grosdidier. Texas Bar Journal, July/August 2024, pp. 494-495
Discusses the new Texas Data Privacy and Security Act (HB 4, 88th Legislature, R.S.), which protects the personal data, including sensitive data, of Texans. Outlines the Act's origins and walks readers through its provisions.

"Let them eat crickets." By Ben Rowen. Texas Monthly, September 2024, pp. 37-38, 40, 42, 44
Highlights Texas A&M's participation in the Center for Environmental Sustainability Through Insect Farming, which was created through a $2.2 million grant from the U.S. National Science Foundation in 2021. Explains how the Center is working on such projects as breeding black soldier fly larvae to consume excess food waste and rearing crickets and mealworms as potential human food sources. Notes that the issue of insects as food is controversial.
See:https://search.ebscohost. ...
See:https://www.texasmonthly. ...

"Why is Texas breaking out in hives?" By Christopher Collins. Texas Monthly, September 2024, pp. 27-28, 30, 32
Discusses the tax break offered to beekeepers under HB 2049, 82nd Legislature, R.S., and how it has led to the highest number of beekeeping operations in the U.S. Follows the owners of Honey Bees Unlimited, an operation that landowners can hire to keep bees on their property, and explains the benefits of bees and how the business model works.
See:https://search.ebscohost. ...
See:https://www.texasmonthly. ...

"How to avoid a climate backlash." By Justin Worland. Time, August 26, 2024, pp. 46-52
Describes the rise of conservative opposition to clean energy policies and how governments and climate organizations are working to mitigate it.
See:https://search.ebscohost. ...
See:https://time.com/6998407/ ...