Let My People Go
What to know: Following the passage of HB 3053, some Texas cities, like Austin, were required to hold disannexation elections for select communities. Where voting was significant—i.e. more than 2 or 3 voters—Texans “overwhelmingly chose to part with their city and go their own way.”
The TPPF take: In 2025, state lawmakers should expand upon the HB 3053 framework and give more people a chance to hold this type of election.
“On Election Day, voters in select communities decided whether to stay a city resident or not. Looking ahead, more Texans should be given a chance to have their voices heard in this way,” says TPPF’s James Quintero. “Through an expanded disannexation approach, the next Texas Legislature can empower voters in a unique way that promotes democracy and good government.”
For more on disannexation, click here.
How About No?
What to know: University of Texas at Austin President Jay Hartzell is facing calls to step down, mostly from leftist faculty members unhappy with his handling of protesters on the UT campus.
The TPPF take: Texans support Hartzell’s actions.
“The large majority of Texans feel pretty good about the new reputation the University of Texas established by taking a no nonsense approach to campus protests,” says TPPF’s Sherry Sylvester. “One poll found that the more people knew about the UT protests, the more they supported Hartzell’s action, with support reaching 75% among those who had been closely or even somewhat closely following the news on the protests.”
For more on UT protests, click here.
Heating Up
What to know: Warmer weather is putting a strain on the Texas electrical grid.
The TPPF take: Tight grid conditions in April and May are a warning to Texas ratepayers.
“What’s happening is that electricity demand in Texas is growing rapidly, but dispatchable capacity is not growing to keep up,” says TPPF’s Brent Bennett. “The grid is increasingly dependent on wind and solar to keep the lights on, even during the milder shoulder months. Usually in Texas, wind output increases as the sun goes down, but that doesn’t always happen, which was a big part of the problem this past month.”
For more on the electrical grid, click here.