This testimony examines various options for reining in unnecessary criminal laws that are properly the province of state governments: revising mandatory minimums for nonviolent offenses, implementing evidence-based practices in community supervision, improving programming within federal prisons, and strengthening reentry.
Local Government
Reinvigorating Federalism and Fiscal Discipline in Texas: Establishing the Office of State Sovereignty
Texas governments received $84.3 billion in federal funding in 2023, raising concerns over financial dependency and regulatory consequences. Creating an Office of State Sovereignty to monitor the application, receipt, and conditions of this aid could mitigate fiscal risk and improve transparency. Key points: Texas lacks a centralized system to oversee federal grants potentially flowing to...
September 9, 2026