Current Articles for January 09, 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.

• Hemp’s hazy legal status challenges public health efforts. By Christina Severin. Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, November 22, 2024, pp. 1-3.
  Highlights legislation enacted by some U.S. states in 2024 designed to regulate hemp products after federal deregulation. Discusses current legal challenges to the new laws.
  See: https://www.astho.org/communications/blog/hemps-hazy-legal-status-challenges-public-health-efforts/
  
• Millions in rural America lack reliable internet. How Massachusetts towns got online. By Cameron Pugh. Christian Science Monitor, December 23, 2024, pp. 10-11.
  Reports on two rural towns in Massachusetts that established network connections for their residents to fix the lack of internet connectivity. Compares the two methods the towns used to provide connectivity.
  See: https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Society/2024/1119/rural-broadband-internet-access-massaschusetts
  
• Higher ed's health-care boondoggle. By Jordan Michael Smith. Chronicle of Higher Education, December 13, 2024, pp. 12-16, 18, 20.
  Questions whether academic-correctional health partnerships provide adequate health care to inmates and detainees. Refers to the Texas Legislature’s creation of the Correctional Managed Health Care Committee in 1993 (SB 378, 73rd Legislature). Includes information about the partnership with the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB).
• Armed, angry, and apocalyptic. By Bruce Gourley. Church & State, January 2025, pp. 9-12.
  Explores early historical connections between the U.S. military and the beginnings of Christian nationalism, noting differences among Christian groups in the U.S. Civil War–era North and South. Traces these connections and differences forward through World War I and World War II to the present day.
  See: https://www.au.org/the-latest/church-and-state/articles/armed-angry-and-apocalyptic/
  
• Texas leads on trade talks. By Amber Serio and James McCandless. Dallas Business Journal, December 20-26, 2024, p. 16.
  Summarizes the inaugural Lone Star Trade Summit, at which panelists discussed the significance of the signing of NAFTA, the 25 percent tariffs on all goods imported from Mexico and Canada proposed by the Trump administration, and the importance of immigration and its impacts on cross-border trade.
  See: https://www.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/news/2024/12/30/lone-star-trade-summit-recap.html
  
• America's gambling boom. Economist, December 7th-13th, 2024, pp. 14-16.
  Discusses the current state and profitability of sports betting. Explains how recent legal and technological changes have contributed to the expansion of this industry. Considers some of the larger economic effects of legalizing sports betting.
  See: https://www.economist.com/leaders/2024/12/05/americas-gambling-boom-should-be-celebrated-not-feared
  
• American business: Duties call. Economist, December 7th-13th, 2024, pp. 51-52.
  Speculates whether President-elect Donald Trump’s promise to impose new tariffs will come to pass after he is sworn in. Points out three ways companies can respond to tariffs. Includes examples of companies that are preparing accordingly.
  See: https://www.economist.com/business/2024/12/03/how-painful-will-trumps-tariffs-be-for-american-busine ...
  
• Why schools need to wake up to the threat of AI 'deepfakes' and bullying. By Olina Banerji. Education Week, December 18, 2024, pp. 14-17.
  Reports on students creating and distributing AI (artificial intelligence) "deepfake" images as a form of bullying. Discusses school district and federal responses to the rise of this type of bullying.
  See: https://research.ebsco.com/linkprocessor/plink?id=7d3e1da4-2aa3-3b14-8548-fed047503d59
  See: https://www.edweek.org/technology/why-schools-need-to-wake-up-to-the-threat-of-ai-deepfakes-and-bull ...
  
• Gauging impact of tariffs on goods from neighbors. By Naomi Klinge. Houston Business Journal, December 6-12, 2024, p. 14.
  Discusses how President-elect Donald Trump's plans to enact a 25 percent tariff on all goods from Canada and Mexico could impact Houston's oil and gas industry. Notes that economists believe that consumers could immediately start seeing higher prices for groceries—particularly produce—and auto parts. Also notes that Mexico and Canada could impose retaliatory tariffs, which would have an outsized impact on Texas because of the massive impact of the Port of Houston.
• State lawmakers should consider high-quality bilingual education as early literacy strategy. By Chloe Latham Sikes. IDRA Newsletter (Intercultural Development Research Association), October 2024, pp. 5-6.
  Points out a connection between bilingual programs and high literacy scores. Recommends steps for lawmakers to take to support bilingual education programs. Refers to Texas Education Agency’s report on SB 560, 87th Legislature, R.S.
  Report at: https://tea.texas.gov/academics/special-student-populations/special-education/sb-560-emergent-biling ...
  See: https://www.idra.org/resource-center/state-lawmakers-should-consider-high-quality-bilingual-educatio ...
  
• From waves to wells: Seawater desalination and coastal groundwater basins. By David Osias and Tara Paul. Natural Resources & Environment, Fall 2024, pp. 14-18.
  Uses California’s existing laws and policies as a test case to consider the water rights framework for desalination of source water and product water.
• The long-term outlook for the Texas economy. By M. Ray Perryman. Perryman Report and Texas Letter, December 13, 2024, pp. 1-8.
  Presents the latest long-term forecast for the Texas economy. Notes that over the last year Texas maintained a job growth rate of 2 percent, outpacing the national rate of job growth by 0.6 percent. Adds that the state is experiencing rapid population growth and increased income levels. Gives a brief overview of how Texas stands in several industries, including energy; life sciences; and finance.
• Electric reliability concerns spur Texas backup generation boom. By Prithvi Kalkunte, Jesse Thompson, and Garrett Golding. Southwest Economy (Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas), December 6, 2024, pp. 1-6.
  Highlights the deployment of back-up power sources, including microgrids and alternative generation, amid concerns about reliability of electric service and extreme weather. Charts the use of home generators and microgrids in Texas.
  See: https://www.dallasfed.org/research/swe/2024/swe2417
  
• Budgets, emergency items, leadership games: A preview of the 89th legislative session. By Brad Johnson. Texan, January 2, 2025, pp. 1-4.
  Previews the topics of the 89th Legislature, including the Speaker's race; potential emergency items designated by the Governor; and the state budget.
  See: https://thetexan.news/state/legislature/89th-session/budgets-emergency-items-leadership-games-a-prev ...
  
• High-speed rail bills proposed for 89th legislative session. By Kim Roberts. Texan, December 19, 2024, pp. 1-2.
  Reviews proposed legislation relating to a new high-speed rail route along Interstate Highway 35, allocating a portion of the state highway fund to "transit-oriented" projects, or limiting state financing of high-speed rail (HB 483, HB 663, HB 1402, HJR 58, and SB 424, 89th Legislature, R.S.). Mentions SB 977, 85th Legislature, R.S.
  See: https://thetexan.news/issues/transportation/high-speed-rail-bills-proposed-for-89th-legislative-sess ...
  
• Texas lawmakers _target misconduct from public school contractors after recent incidents. By Holly Hansen. Texan, December 20, 2024, pp. 1-2.
  Explains a bipartisan group of state legislators have filed bills to address the hiring of public school contract employees who could pose school safety problems following previous inappropriate sexual behavior. Describes the expanded access to the Texas Interagency Reportable Conduct Search Engine in SB 571, 89th Legislature, R.S. Notes the state's Do Not Hire Registry for public schools is not mandatory. Quotes Senator Paul Bettencourt.
  See: https://thetexan.news/issues/education/texas-lawmakers-_target-misconduct-from-public-school-contract ...
  
• Policy recommendations to support Texas children during the 2025 legislative session. Texans Care for Children, December 2024, pp. 1-5.
  Presents the legislative agenda of Texans Care for Children for the 89th Legislature, including early learning; healthy families; and child protection; and children's mental health.
  See: https://txchildren.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Legislative-Agenda-2025.pdf
  
• Legislative priorities: Texas' 89th legislative session (2025). Texas Appleseed, December 2024, pp. 1-18.
  Presents the legislative agenda of Texas Appleseed for the 89th Legislature, including fair financial services; education justice; youth homelessness; juvenile justice; criminal justice; disaster recovery; abundant housing; and foster care.
  See: https://www.texasappleseed.org/sites/default/files/2024-12/texasappleseed-legislative_priorities_202 ...
  
• 2025: What to expect when you're expecting (legislators in town). By Celeste Embrey. Texas Banking, January/February 2025, pp. 44-45, 48.
  Previews legislative issues of importance to the banking industry at the state and federal levels, including fraud; financial crime; and artificial intelligence (AI).
  See: https://member.texasbankers.com/Magazine/Magazine/Advocate/25-01-What-to-expect-when-youre-expecting ...
  
• Top ten legislative priorities. By Phil West, Jessica Ridge, and Alisa Pierce. Texas Medicine, January/February 2025, pp. 16-25.
  Details the Texas Medical Association's top ten legislative priorities for the 89th Legislative session.
  See: https://www.qgdigitalpublishing.com/publication/?i=837182&p=18&view=issueViewer
  
• Cecile Richards isn't giving up the fight. By Mary Tuma. Texas Observer, January/February 2025, pp. 8-9.
  Presents a Q&A with Cecile Richards, former president of Planned Parenthood and daughter of former Governor Ann Richards. Discusses Richards' thoughts on reproductive rights, the reelection of Donald Trump, and the Texas Legislature.