Grade Inflation
What to know: Grade inflation has made college transcripts all but meaningless for employers.
“This isn’t a sign of smarter students or better teaching—it’s a collapse of standards,” says TPPF’s Tom Lindsay. “Grade point averages (GPAs) at public universities have climbed from 2.7 in the 1960s to 3.2 by 2023, according to a 2024 report, even as student effort has plummeted from 24 study hours per week in 1961 to 14 in 2022. This inflation poisons the academic ecosystem.”
For more on grade inflation, click here.
Land Sales to China
What to know: Texas lawmakers are considering a law that would ban foreign nationals with ties to the Chinese Communist Party from buying land in the Lone Star State.
The TPPF take: The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is turning American freedoms into weapons against us.
“SB 17, dubbed ‘Stopping Foreign Adversaries’ Land Grabs,’ is straightforward: It bars governments, their agents, and entities from China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea from owning Texas dirt,” says TPPF’s Chuck DeVore. “The aim is clear: Keep hostile regimes away from our military bases, farmland, and infrastructure, like Laughlin Air Force Base in Del Rio, Texas, or the ranches feeding our state.”
For more on land sales to China, click here.
Right to Repair
What to know: “Right to repair” laws are being passed all over the country.
The TPPF take: Texas needs a right to repair law.
“In the 89th Legislative Session, the Texas Legislature has a unique opportunity to craft policy that reflects the needs of Texans—whether they are farmers struggling with tractor software restrictions, small business owners fighting for fair competition, or everyday consumers burdened by costly repairs,” says TPPF’s Greyson Gee. “By enacting a right to repair law, Texas can ensure that its residents have the freedom to maintain and repair their property without undue interference and restrictions.”
For more on right to repair laws, click here.