West DFW News

With summer well underway, I want to check in and update you on some recent news. I hope your summer is going well.

Fox News Appearance: Restoring the Ten Commandments Back in Schools

Early on a recent Saturday morning, I was interviewed by the hosts of “Fox and Friends” concerning Texas’ plans to restore the Ten Commandments back in schools. You can watch that interview HERE.

Last year, I passed the Ten Commandments bill in the Texas Senate. While it wasn’t brought up for a vote in the Texas House, we will file it again when we reconvene in January 2025. The Ten Commandments is part of our history. It’s who we are. Few documents have had a bigger impact on western civilization than the Ten Commandments. If you don’t know the Ten Commandments you don’t know the basis for much of American history and law.

Up until 1980, the Ten Commandments were commonly seen in public buildings and schools. In 1980, SCOTUS stopped that in Stone v. Graham relying only on a 1971 case, Lemon v. Kurtzman. SCOTUS overturned Lemon in 2022 in Kennedy v. Bremerton School District. That opens the door for the Ten Commandments to return to schools.

Important Interim Hearings on Border Security, Criminal Justice, and our Electric Grid

Even though we have a part-time citizen legislature, the work of policymakers continues throughout the year. One of those ways is through “interim hearings”, where we assess the impact of legislation we passed in the most recent session and consider new legislation needed in the coming one. Below is a summary of some of those hearings that I have participated in over the past month.

Criminal Justice Committee Hearings- June 5th and June 6th

As the newly appointed Vice-Chair of the Senate Committee on Criminal Justice, I recently participated in two interim hearings addressing bail reform and child predators’ use of artificial intelligence (AI) to harm and exploit children. During these hearings, the Committee received testimony examining charitable organizations that pay bail for defendants and considered how these organizations can be further restricted from posting bail for violent individuals.

The Committee also heard testimony from law enforcement officials explaining how child predators are using deepfake technology and AI to create sexually explicit visual material involving children. Prosecutors, including Tarrant County Assistant District Attorney Lori Varnell, provided strict recommendations for how the state can further criminalize this behavior. Aledo resident Anna Berry McAdams shared how her daughter and other Aledo High School students were victim to such exploitation with the use of AI. By sharing her daughter’s story, Ms. McAdams is helping shed light on new dangers threatening our children. The Senate Committee on Criminal Justice is actively working to address this pressing issue and, with the passage of HB 2700 last session, clarified that this behavior is criminal.

Border Security Committee Hearing – June 11th

The Senate Committee on Border Security met to review state and local agencies’ participation in border security. We reviewed Operation Lone Star, from its costs to personnel deployments. Texas is still deploying a tremendous amount of resources to try to solve a federal problem.

It was encouraging to learn that Texas has seen a 74% decrease in illegal border crossings since Operation Lone Star was implemented in March of 2021. I also heard from agency leaders speaking on communication between Texas law enforcement agencies, local law enforcement, and Federal Border Patrol agents to ensure an illegal crossings response coordinated with swift deterrence.

While there are positives to take from hearing local sheriffs reported that high-speed pursuits have increased leading to dangerous situations for law enforcement and other drivers on these highways.

Business & Commerce Committee Hearing – June 12th

The Senate Business and Commerce Committee discussed incentives for new thermal generation identifying future electric transmission distribution system needs as well as bitcoin's impact on Texas' electric grid.

During legislative sessions steps were taken increasing reliability resilience grids through weatherization providing incentives companies build gas-fired power plants however federal government policies place grid at risk.

Our state population grows fast growth heavily dependent high power load factories industries demand electricity Bitcoin mining extraordinary amount electricity Artificial Intelligence (AI) cloud-based technologies add demand ERCOT CEO Pablo Vegas within six years power grid needs grow about 85k-150k MW beyond previously projected policymaker entrusted ensuring Texas has power challenge spending increasing time meeting challenge

Runoffs Are Settled

Runoffs behind congratulate Republican nominees CD-12 SD-30 Craig Goldman Brent Hagenbuch strongly endorsed Craig Goldman Congress Brent Hagenbuch Texas Senate

Craig Goldman won primary runoff over 62% vote over Parker County longtime friend Terry worked decade effective conservative Congressman Parker County lock arms guarantee wins November race strong margin support know do

Brent Hagenbuch won primary runoff over vote earning Parker County Naval Academy graduate served decade active duty entrepreneur created successful business ground national trucking business hundreds employees face Democrat opponent November winning race look forward partnering ensure strong conservative representation Parker County SD-30