MRT 2/12/25 (free): NYSE Launching TX Branch // Big 3 Have Big Plans // TX Senate Panel Passes SB 4 to Further Cut Property Taxes // New Momentum for Gambling?

MustReadTexas.com – @MustReadTexas
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• TOP NEWS

“NYSE launching Texas branch as Texas Stock Exchange challenge looms,” Dallas Morning News' Sasha Richie — “The New York Stock Exchange will reincorporate its Chicago branch in Texas, it announced on Wednesday, rebranding it as NYSE Texas and moving to Dallas.

With the upstart Texas Stock Exchange taking shape and the Nasdaq expanding its reach in the Lone Star State, the Dallas region is about to find out if “Y’all Street” is big enough for three players.

Timing of the Big Board’s “fully electronic” Texas equity market will depend on regulatory filings, the NYSE said. The announcement comes as a number of big companies flock to Texas as a whole, drawn in by its low taxes and business-friendly regulation.

“As the state with the largest number of NYSE listings, representing over $3.7 trillion in market value for our community, Texas is a market leader in fostering a pro-business atmosphere,” Lynn Martin, President of NYSE Group, said in a statement.

“We are delighted to expand our presence in the Lone Star State, which plays a key role in driving our U.S. economy forward.”

New York’s NYSE and Nasdaq have had a near duopoly on the U.S. securities market for decades, but both apparently see a formidable challenger in the upstart Dallas-based TXSE.

The startup has gotten $161 million in initial backing from financial giants like BlackRock and Citadel Securities, and is on track for an early 2026 launch. Late last month, it filed for U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission approval.

The TXSE’s goal is to lower the costs of getting listed while also raising standards for who gets to be listed, in order to re-incentivize companies to go public, while taking advantage of Texas' robust business community.

Recently, the Nasdaq announced a new regional management division basing in nearby Irving, just months after TXSE founder and CEO James Lee announced he’d raised over $100 million in capital.

“Texas is the most powerful economy in the nation, and now we will become the financial capital of America,” said Governor Greg Abbott in a statement.

“With the launch of NYSE Texas, we will expand our financial might in the United States and cement our great state as an economic powerhouse on the global stage." DMN ($)

“Vehicle explosion at Sun Metro headquarters near El Paso airport; 7 injured,” via KFOX — “A vehicle explosion in East El Paso near the Sun Metro bus headquarters injured several people, prompted evacuations and sent a plume of smoke into the air.

According to the El Paso Fire Department, at around 1:06 p.m. Tuesday, a fire broke out at 10151 Montana Ave., inside a maintenance garage at the Sun Metro center, near the El Paso International Airport.

EPFD said people evacuated the area and a total of seven people were injured.

Out of those seven injured, four were taken to the hospital, while three refused.

Out of the four sent to hospitals, three were taken to Del Sol Medical Center were they say two are in critical condition and one is in serious condition.

Fire officials first described it as a vehicle explosion, however now they are still investigating the cause and now can't confirm if it was that.

The El Paso Police Department closed Montana Avenue in all directions between Wedgewood and Yarbrough at first, but by 4:20 p.m. they started opening lanes going east.

Videos shared on social media show a black column of smoke rising from the area:

The smoke visible from other areas of the city.

El Paso Mayor Renard Johnson released a statement through social media calling the explosion "tragic" and sending "thoughts & prayers" to the families of the injured." KFOX

• #TXLEGE

“Burrows, Patrick and Abbott: Texas’ Big 3 have big plans and a wary new dynamic,” Texas Tribune's James Barragán — “By the time lawmakers called it quits on the last legislative session the relationship between the state’s top three leaders – Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dade Phelan – had hit rock bottom.

The state's three most powerful Republicans were largely in agreement at the top of the session about tightening border security and lowering property taxes. But their animosity and refusal to work together required multiple special sessions, breaking through stalemates, to get that done.

Phelan and Patrick, who presides over the Senate, openly feuded on social media, with Patrick calling on Phelan to resign. And Abbott felt burned by the House’s refusal to pass his priority school vouchers bill after his office had announced a deal with lawmakers.

The animosity spilled over into last year’s primaries where Abbott and Patrick got heavily involved in Texas House races against fellow Republicans – a rare move. Patrick even endorsed and gave a $100,000 donation to Phelan’s primary opponent.

Since then, Phelan has given up the speaker’s gavel and a new speaker, Rep. Dustin Burrows of Lubbock, is looking to change the dynamic among the Big 3 this session. Burrows, a 10-year veteran of the Legislature is known as one of the best dealmakers in the Capitol and has a close working relationship with Abbott, according to people who have worked with both men, and a mutual respect with Patrick, the fiery leader of the upper chamber who has feuded with past House speakers.

A lot is riding on how quickly the three leaders can adapt to each other. Their ability to successfully navigate the relationship could lead to a quick resolution to this year’s legislative session with the passage of a large chunk of GOP priority bills. If the three fail to harmonize, those bills could stall and the Legislature could be thrown into chaos, requiring multiple overtime sessions.

So far, the three men have projected political alignment and a willingness to work with one another. Despite some strong criticism for Burrows during the race to replace Phelan, Patrick has expressed a wait-and-see attitude to working with the new speaker since his election.

“I’m going to give him a chance,” Patrick said at an event for The Texan news outlet. “He says he’s going to be the most conservative speaker ever so, you know, that would be a great thing for all of us… I’m going to do everything I can to help him succeed. And we’ll see what happens.”

Burrows has also tried to keep the doors for cooperation open, emphasizing his past work with Patrick and Abbott and highlighting their common goals, including several of the governor’s emergency items, like water infrastructure, increased vocational training and, importantly, the passage of a school voucher bill.

“I have enjoyed a respectful working relationship with the Lieutenant Governor since I was first elected to the House in 2015 and have a proven record of successfully working across both chambers to deliver major legislative achievements and conservative priorities,” Burrows said in a statement. “As Speaker, my focus will remain on strengthening the institution of the Texas House, equipping my colleagues to best serve their districts, and working with Governor Abbott and Lieutenant Governor Patrick to advance meaningful solutions to Texans' top legislative priorities — issues on which we are largely aligned.”

The question now is whether the three leaders can turn those words into action." Texas Tribune

“Texas Senate panel votes to cut property taxes for homeowners,” Texas Tribune's Joshua Fechter — “A Texas Senate committee on Tuesday quickly and unanimously advanced a proposal to provide billions of dollars in tax breaks to homeowners in a bid to blunt the state’s high property tax bills.

Senate Bill 4, that chamber’s marquee property tax-cut proposal, would set the state’s homestead exemption on school district taxes at $140,000 of value, which is the amount exempted from being taxed to pay for public schools. The current exemption sits at $100,000.

The Senate Local Government Committee approved the bill in a 6-0 vote Tuesday. The bill now goes to the full Senate for a vote.

“This is real money for folks to keep them in their homes,” said state Sen. Paul Bettencourt, a Houston Republican who authored the bill.

Texas lawmakers this year have once more vowed to tackle the state’s high property taxes, intending to bring relief for homeowners and businesses. Gov. Greg Abbott designated property tax cuts an “emergency item,” enabling lawmakers to quickly pass legislation — and called on them to spend billions to continue cutting property taxes.

Senate budget writers have set aside $3 billion to increase the homestead exemption in the state’s upcoming two-year budget. Boosting the exemption would cost the state $7.7 billion by 2030, according to an estimate from the Legislative Budget Board.

Legislators also expect to send an additional $3 billion to school districts over the next two years so they can bring down their tax rates — a cost lawmakers committed to in previous sessions.

Combined, those cuts would have saved a homeowner paying the average school district tax rate about $528 on their taxes last year had those measures been in effect, a Texas Tribune calculation shows.

Texans pay among the highest property taxes in the country, according to the Tax Foundation. Those bills are high because the state doesn’t have an income tax and leans heavily on property taxes to pay for public schools, police officers, firefighters and streets among other public services. The median Texas homeowner’s tax bill rose nearly 30% from 2010 to 2023, U.S. Census Bureau data show — nearly three times as fast as the country as a whole.

For the past several years, Republican state lawmakers have pushed to rein in rising property tax bills. That push culminated in 2023 with $12.7 billion in new tax cuts, including a boost to the state’s homestead exemption and billions of dollars for school districts to reduce how much they collect in property taxes.

Homeowners across the state appeared to see relief from that legislation combined with other moves enacted since 2019, a Texas Tribune analysis of homeowners’ tax bills found.

The amount of money school districts collected from property taxes grew in 2024 after those revenues fell the previous year, estimates from the Texas Comptroller’s office show. The average homeowner’s tax bill in Travis, Harris and Dallas counties also grew, according to a Tribune estimate using local appraisal and tax rate data — in part owing to growth in property values. Some localities in Travis and Harris counties also raised their tax rates.

The state’s 4.2 million renter households won’t directly benefit from an increase in the homestead exemption because rental property owners aren’t eligible for homestead exemptions. Tenants pay property taxes via their rent, but Texas doesn’t provide direct tax relief to them as it does homeowners.

Responding to a question from state Sen. Molly Cook, a Houston Democrat, Bettencourt said renters will benefit from the $3 billion lawmakers plan to use to cut school tax rates because landlords will pass along benefits from tax cuts to renters to stay competitive. Rent growth has slowed considerably in the state’s major metropolitan areas — and in the Austin region, rents have fallen for nearly two years.

Bill supporters said boosting the homestead exemption would lower costs for existing homeowners who are facing increased housing costs not just from taxes, but on items such as homeowners insurance. They said increasing the exemption would also lower the barrier to homeownership for Texans who may otherwise have a hard time getting a leg up in the current market. That could mean first-time homebuyers or long-time homeowners who may want to move, said Dixon Holman, an Arlington real estate agent who sits on the board of Texas Realtors.

“It’s not a panacea but it certainly makes a difference,” Holman told lawmakers Tuesday." Texas Tribune

“Casino and sports betting companies press for a win in Texas despite Senate opposition,” Texas Tribune's Jasper Scherer — “Undeterred by four years of sluggish progress and certain defeat at the Texas Capitol, the gambling industry is plodding ahead with its ambitious bid to legalize casinos and sports betting in a state with some of the most restrictive gaming laws in the country.

For the third straight session, the Las Vegas Sands casino empire has deployed a murderers’ row of high-powered lobbyists to coax the Republican-controlled Legislature into authorizing “destination resorts” with casino gambling in Texas’ largest cities.

Also part of the lobbying blitz is the Texas Sports Betting Alliance, a coalition of the state’s pro sports teams, racetracks and betting platforms — such as FanDuel and DraftKings — that is looking to extend its momentum from 2023, when a proposal to legalize online sports betting squeaked through the Texas House.

It was the furthest either chamber had gone toward loosening the state’s 169-year-old gambling restrictions. But it was also largely symbolic: Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, a Republican who runs the Texas Senate, immediately quashed the measure, citing his repeated claims that there is minimal support among the chamber’s GOP majority to expand gambling.

With the 74-year-old Patrick in office until January 2027 and vowing to seek another four-year term, supporters and opponents of gambling legalization have settled into a state of trench warfare in the House. It is a familiar playbook gaming industry leaders have used to legalize gambling in other states: patience and money, in large doses, until the breakthrough comes. In Texas, that means pursuing incremental wins until a base of support calcifies in the House, laying the groundwork for when the Senate is run by someone more sympathetic.

“The effort to bring destination resorts to Texas has received an overwhelming amount of support from Texans and lawmakers since it was first introduced, and the groundswell of momentum is only continuing to build,” Andy Abboud, Sands’ senior vice president of government relations, said in a statement. “Texans want to decide and vote on this issue, and we look forward to working with the legislature to give them that opportunity this session.”

Opponents include the Texas Republican Party, the Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas, advocacy groups like Texans Against Gambling, and a litany of conservative activist organizations. While Patrick’s shared opposition virtually ensures nothing will make it out of the Legislature this session, the anti-gambling contingent still wants to prevent gaming interests from establishing a beachhead in the House.

“Sports gambling and casinos are economically regressive, scholarly studies show, because they produce nothing of external value,” the Texans Against Gambling group wrote on social media last week. “They do not spur long-term economic growth. Instead they hinder it. Keep Texas, Texas.”

The comment came days after Gov. Greg Abbott voiced guarded support for sports betting legalization, telling the Houston Chronicle, “I don’t have a problem” with such a proposal — echoing comments from 2023 when he told the USA TODAY Network he would not stand in the way.

Abbott’s comments generated a burst of excitement among sports betting advocates, paired with the release of a statewide poll from the University of Houston’s Hobby School of Public Affairs that found 60% of Texans support legalized sports betting, including 64% of Democrats and 59% of Republicans.

Still, sports betting legislation has yet to be filed in the House, and the author who carried the measure through the chamber two years ago, Republican Rep. Jeff Leach of Plano, told the Austin American-Statesman in December he did not plan to push his own legislation again unless the Senate moved first. Leach did not respond to a request for comment.

Karina Kling, a spokesperson for the Sports Betting Alliance, said the group expects legislation to be filed soon in the House. Lawmakers have until March 14, the 60th day of the session, to file most bills, including gambling measures.

The same University of Houston poll measured 73% support for legalizing “destination resort casinos” in Texas — a prospect for which Abbott has also signaled tentative support in recent years." Texas Tribune

• STATE GOVERNMENT

“San Antonio charter school in limbo after TEA rejects renewal,” San Antonio Express-News' Melissa Manno — “The Texas Education Agency has rejected the renewal of a San Antonio charter school, a rare decision that could force hundreds of students to find new campuses next year.

The Gathering Place, a charter school on the Northwest Side for students from kindergarten through sixth grade, announced Monday that the state has declined to renew its charter application beyond the 2024-2025 school year.

“I understand how difficult this news is for our entire TGP community,” Superintendent Brian Sparks said in a statement. “I am confident our caregivers and staff will continue to support one another and prioritize the needs of our students as we navigate this challenging time.”

In Texas, a charter school must apply for renewal five years after its charter is first awarded and every ten years thereafter. The Gathering Place was one of 37 charter schools across Texas due for renewal this year.

Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath bases renewal decisions on financial operations and academic performance. In this case, it's the latter.

In a letter sent to the school last week, Morath said his decision stemmed from The Gathering Place's "academically unacceptable performance based on the use of scaled scores for the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 school years."

Last year, 30% of the school's students approached grade level in math compared to 72% statewide; 57% approached grade level in reading compared to 76% statewide and 25% approached grade level in science compared to 75% statewide, according to TEA data.

The state's "three-strike" rule requires charters to close if they receive failing grades on the state’s accountability system for three consecutive years. The Gathering Place received not-rated scores during the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 school years in lieu of failing grades as the system was modified during the pandemic. Ongoing litigation has halted the release of accountability scores for the last two years.

The non-renewal comes nearly eight months after former Gathering Place CEO Ryan York accused the school of multiple violations of federal and state laws, including the confinement of students as young as five in closets as a disciplinary measure.

While that claim was later determined to be unsubstantiated, a TEA probe found that the school did break state law by hiring special education teachers and paraprofessionals who didn’t have required certifications.

The TEA issued a corrective action plan requiring the school to review its hiring practices and provide additional services to special education students who had been taught by uncertified staff. The school was supposed to submit proof of its progress to the agency in October.

Sparks declined to comment on the matter. The school's board will meet on Tuesday night to review the decision and determine its next steps. If the four board members vote to file an appeal, the case will go to the State Office of Administrative Hearings. The appeal must be sent 15 days after the school was notified of the decision.

Morath's letter said the charter school can also request a meeting with him and an informal review regarding his decision." SAEN ($)

• LOCAL GOVERNMENT

“Houston study uncovers city credit card misuse, inefficiencies,” Houston Chronicle's Abby Church — “A sweeping study of Houston’s 22 departments, their finances and operations revealed potential misuse of city credit cards, and a pressing need to streamline city government to make it more efficient, according to an executive summary obtained by the Houston Chronicle.

The review, conducted by the accounting firm Ernst & Young, pinpointed long-standing problems with the city’s outdated organizational structure and contracting procedures.

About 42% of city managers only have one to three people who report to them, the analysis shows, and the city has challenges with pay equity and competitive compensation. The firm's report also notes that career pathways gaps created opportunities for “fake promotions” of employees into management roles that didn’t oversee anyone.

Authorized city employees can obtain purchasing cards, or “p-cards,” that essentially act the same way as a corporate credit card so they can make purchases for city business. The review found that p-card payments were split to allow for larger purchases that would have typically been over spending limits, and that some items were purchased from unauthorized vendors.

“This assessment confirms what many of us already knew: We have work to do to build a government that truly earns the trust of its residents,” Mayor John Whitmire wrote in a memo to city council members Tuesday.

He continued: “I believe that by acting on these findings, we can create a city government that is more transparent, efficient and focused on delivering results. We can show Houstonians that their government works for them and that every decision we make is rooted in accountability and service.”

City officials have been waiting for the results of the financial overview since it was commissioned in May 2024. The mayor’s office sent a summary of the results to council members Tuesday, and said it was a “critical first step” in restoring public trust in city government.

The study showed a need for improvements in four main categories over the course of six weeks: performance and accountability, operations and efficiency, spending and procurement, and financial controls and risks.

Whitmire’s administration has also asked the firm to look into the city’s 28 Tax Increment Reinvestment Zones – or “TIRZs” – that boost Houston’s development using property taxes within those zones. Those reviews began in December.

In Whitmire’s first year in office, costs have continued to climb as the mayor announced numerous city initiatives, such as a $70 million plan to end street homelessness in Houston and a $1.5 billion deal with the Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association that includes $650 million in backpay.

Officials have also grappled with how the city will pay for a growing financial deficit, which worsened after the city lost a court appeal in a lawsuit over drainage fees, forcing Houston to spend an additional $100 million on street and drainage projects.

Finance Director Melissa Dubowski told city council members during a recent Budget and Fiscal Affairs committee that the deficit heading into the next fiscal year hovered around $220 million.

In response to the financial analysis, the city plans to redesign its organizational structure, improve the procurement process and more closely monitor spending.

“This is just the beginning, Whitmire wrote. “In coming months, I’ll work closely with city council, department leaders, and community members to bring these plans to life. Together, we’ll build a city government that doesn’t just serve its people – it earns their trust every step of the way.”" Houston Chronicle ($)

“El Paso CBP officer arrested in human, drug smuggling border corruption case,” El Paso Times' Daniel Borunda — “Federal agents arrested a suspected corrupt U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer allegedly involved in human and cocaine smuggling for years on the El Paso border, authorities said.

CBP Officer Manuel Perez Jr., 32, of El Paso, was still in uniform when he was taken into custody on Saturday, Feb. 8, by the FBI El Paso West Texas Border Corruption Task Force as part of a multi-agency investigation.

Jail records show that Perez is being held without bond at the El Paso County Jail in Downtown. No court documents show an attorney for him as of the posting of this article

"Perez violated his oath to protect and serve. Instead, he allegedly facilitated human smuggling and drug trafficking operations in our community," FBI El Paso Special Agent in Charge John S. Morales said in a statement.

“Perez('s) alleged actions not only profited human smuggling and drug trafficking organizations but also undermine the public’s trust in law enforcement," Morales said. "He tarnished the badge that so many others proudly wear and uphold their oath. The FBI El Paso West Texas Public Corruption Task Force remains committed to holding accountable those who violate the law, regardless of their position."

Perez is accused of being involved in human and drug smuggling activity, including allowing a vehicle driven by an undocumented person to enter the U.S. at the Paso Del Norte international bridge in Downtown El Paso, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Texas said on Monday, Feb. 10.

Since November 2019 until this month, Perez was also allegedly involved in a conspiracy to smuggle more than five kilos of cocaine that was distributed in Texas, Louisiana, North Carolina and other places, the U.S. Attorney's Office said in a news release.

Perez is accused of allowing a vehicle driven by an undocumented person to cross the border at the Paso Del Norte Bridge on several occasions since Dec. 21, 2023, officials said.

Perez Jr. faces charges of conspiracy to bring aliens to the U.S. for financial gain and a drug trafficking conspiracy charge with a potential punishment of 10 years to life in prison.

The case was investigated by the FBI El Paso West Texas Border Corruption Task Force, which is made up of the FBI, CBP Office of Professional Responsibility and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General.

CBP, the U.S. Border Patrol, the Texas Department of Public Safety, Homeland Security Investigations and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration assisted in the case.

Perez is at least the second CBP officer from the Paso Del Norte Bridge to be arrested in the last four months.

In October, El Paso police arrested off-duty CBP Officer Hector Luis Zubia for allegedly firing nearly a dozen gunshots at a car during a road rage confrontation while driving home from work. No injuries were reported. Zubia faces a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. The case is pending in district court." El Paso Times

• 2025

“$480M bond will address mobility issues in Montgomery County,” Texas Tribune's Martha Pskowski — “Montgomery County will place a $480 million bond on the May 3 ballot, but commissioners worry the funds won’t come fast enough to address growing mobility issues.

While the commissioners first targeted a $450 million bond, bumping that to $480 million won’t require a tax rate increase, said John Robuck, the county’s investment adviser with BOK Financial Securities.

If approved by voters, the first sale of bonds would total $180 million to be split between commissioners.

However, Precinct 2 Commissioner Charlie Riley said he would quickly deplete his allocation and wait until October for another bond sale to move forward with more projects.

“I am worried about some of us getting our money spent ahead of other people,” Riley said during Tuesday’s court meeting.

Precinct 4 Commissioner Matt Gray said he also has several projects ready to start construction once funding is available.

“I’ve got several shovel-ready projects ready to rip,” Gray said. “I can spend $120 million in a sitting. I hate to say this out loud but we are so behind in infrastructure. I’m sure me or any other commissioner up here could take the entire first draw.”

Precinct 3 Commissioner Ritch Wheeler said he won’t need as much of the funds “right off the bat.”

“I want y’all to get your projects going,” Wheeler said.

A second round of bonds could be moved up as early as June, Robuck said.

The county would manage the funds to ensure projects were not left unfinished and having to wait on another bond sale, said Budget Officer Amanda Carter.

“We are not going to say, ‘you have to stop on your project,’” Carter said. “We are going to give you plenty of notice and working with John to get that next issuance.”

Commissioners have not released a list of projects. However, in June, along with dozens of road projects needed, commissioners discussed possible propositions for a new animal shelter and tax office.

At that time, County Judge Mark Keough said $65 million was needed for a new animal shelter and $13 million for a new tax office.

The last road bond the county put on the ballot was in 2015. Voters nixed a $350 million bond that May because of several controversial projects. However, commissioners pared the bond down, and voters approved a $280 million package in November 2015.

The county has set up an email for the community to submit questions to regarding the road bond. That email is roadbond [email protected]." Houston Chronicle ($)

• TEXANS IN DC

“Rep. Roger Williams introduces bill to reimburse Texas for Operation Lone Star,” Texas Tribune's Katharine Wilson — “Rep. Roger Williams, R-Willow Park, introduced a bill Tuesday that would require the federal government to reimburse Texas for the state’s border security operation during the Biden administration.

“It is time Texans are repaid for footing the bill for Biden’s failures at the border,” Williams said in a news release.

The bill comes less than three weeks after Gov. Greg Abbott began pushing for more than $11 billion in reimbursement for the state. Abbott met with President Donald Trump last week and is expected to return to Washington this week to advocate with members of Congress for the reimbursement.

Williams' bill would require Abbott to submit a report detailing expenses related to border security from 2021 to 2025. The Secretary of Homeland Security would then determine which expenses are eligible and submit a report to Congress before the Treasury Department reimburses the state.

The state spent $11.1 billion on border security during the Biden administration, according to Williams' bill and a funding breakdown from Abbott’s office. The result of the state’s efforts – known as Operation Lone Star – include 50 miles of border wall, more than 47,000 criminal arrests, and apprehensions of over half a million undocumented immigrants.

Abbott’s Operation Lone Star, which began in March 2021, used state funds to militarize the southern border, construct border barriers and take other actions to reduce illegal crossings. The governor issued a disaster declaration in border counties where he criticized the Biden administration’s border policies, writing in the declaration that the administration was causing a “humanitarian crisis” in Texas border communities.

“The burden that our State has borne is a direct result of a refusal by the federal government to do its job,” Abbott wrote in a Jan. 23 letter to congressional leaders. “The work that Texas has done through Operation Lone Star has protected and will continue to benefit the entire country.”

Seven Texas Republicans in the House of Representatives co-sponsored Wiliams’ bill. Sen. John Cornyn has spoken out in support of Abbot’s push for reimbursement, calling the proposed move “fair and right and just.”

“While every state became a border state during the last administration, there are costs that Texas had to shoulder that our neighbors have not,” Cornyn said on the Senate floor Tuesday.

In February 2024, Williams introduced a similar bill to reimburse Texas for border security operations that garnered only two co-sponsors. That bill requested a reimbursement of less than $4 billion of funds used from 2020 through 2023 and an additional $4.6 billion in expected costs through 2025." Texas Tribune

• BUSINESS NEWS

“SpaceX, four other firms nab $47.7 million in Texas space funds,” San Antonio Express-News' Brandon Lingle — “SpaceX, the commercial space company run by Elon Musk, is among five Texas firms receiving taxpayer funds from the state space commission in its second batch of grants.

The latest round, which totals $47.7 million, “will support Texas companies as we grow commercial, military and civil aerospace activity across the state,” said Texas Space Commission Chairwoman Gwen Griffin. “We look forward to awarding more grants soon as we work through all the applications.”

In addition to Brownsville-based SpaceX, grant money will go to Starlab Space of Houston, Intuitive Machines of Houston, Firefly Aerospace of Cedar Park and Blue Origin, which is based in Washington state. Some of the companies have direct connections to the commission.

SpaceX

SpaceX — which is developing its Starship mega-rocket in South Texas, runs a test facility in McGregor and builds Starlink terminals in Bastrop — received $7.5M to build a new vertical integration facility at Starbase.

The funds will accelerate Starship and Super Heavy booster production integration and refurbishment rates to support planned launch cadences, the commission said during Monday’s meeting. SpaceX is seeking federal permission to conduct as many as 25 launches a year from Starbase.

Gov. Greg Abbott appointed Kathryn Lueders, general manager of SpaceX’s Starbase near Boca Chica Beach, as a member of the space commission’s first board of directors when the body was created in March 2024.

Starlab Space

Space station builder Starlab Space will receive $15 million to develop “a systems integration lab that can be used by multiple entities within the commercial space station ecosystem,” the commission said.

The company is one of several working with NASA to develop the first commercial space station.

In December, the space agency said Starlab completed preliminary design reviews of the station that could replace the International Space Station that SpaceX is contracted to decommission about 2030.

Firefly

Rocket and spacecraft maker Firefly Aerospace will receive $8.2 million to expand its production and test facility near Briggs and grow internships and student access to industry facilities and partnership with the University of Texas System.

In a statement, the company said the manufacturing expansion would lead to 50 new jobs in engineering, quality assurance, manufacturing and spacecraft operations.

“We’re proud to continue growing here in Texas, helping to shape the future of space exploration while fostering the next generation of industry leaders,” CEO Jason Kim said in a statement.

The company’s Blue Ghost lunar lander is currently enroute to the moon, where it’s expected to land March 2.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick appointed Bill Weber, Firefly’s then CEO, to the executive committee of an advisory body to the space commission that’s called the Texas Aerospace Research and Space Economy Consortium.

Weber stepped down from his Firefly role in July amid allegations of an inappropriate relationship an employee. He also left the committee, but the commission didn’t immediately provide details of when or who, if anyone, replaced him.

Blue Origin

Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin, which launches its New Shepard spacecraft from outside Van Horn, got $7 million to add to its engine test facility.

“This project would provide sub-cooling capacity of Blue Origin’s horizontal first stage booster engine test facility,” the commission said. The addition will help increase “thrust capacity for each booster engine by utilizing more energy dense propellants,” the commission said. As part of the agreement for funding, other entities could use the facility.

New Shepard has had nine crewed and 14 uncrewed flights from Van Horn — including an uncrewed flight last Friday.

Intuitive Machines

Intuitive Machines will receive $10 million. It builds lunar landers, infrastructure and communications capabilities.

The funding will go toward developing “a commercial orbital return vehicle designed to launch on low-cost ride shares, perform autonomous manufacturing and scientific operations in orbit and return for offloading, refurbishment and reuse,” the commission said.

Patrick also appointed Jack “2fish” Fischer, vice president of production and operations at Intuitive Machines and a former astronaut, to the Texas Aerospace Research and Space Economy Consortium executive committee.

In February 2024, Intuitive’s lunar lander, Odysseus, was the first commercial vehicle to touch down on the moon. The craft tipped over after landing, but its instruments were still able to function and collect data.

It’s next lunar lander, Athena, is expected to lift off on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket later this month." SAEN ($)

• NEWS FROM AROUND THE STATE

> TX TRIB: "Texas foster home linked to boy’s death had history of fight clubs and sexual misconduct, report says" TX TRIB

> DMN: "Texas property taxes: Senate panel approves $140,000 homestead exemption" DMN

> FWST: "Teen and boyfriend kill grandma after fight about staying home from school, TX cops say" FWST

> AP: "10 new cases of measles reported in West Texas county and New Mexico" AP

> AP: "Large fire erupts near El Paso, Texas, international airport, injuring 5" AP

> HOU CHRON: "Congress could more than double its border spending in new Senate plan" HOU CHRON

> FWST: "Texas man accused of kidnapping, raping 13-year-old on way to California gets 35 years" FWST

> HOU CHRON: "Russian cybercrime network targeted for sanctions across US, UK and Australia" HOU CHRON

> FWST: "‘I’m going to kill you all.’ Principal threatens colleagues in a meeting, TX school says" FWST

> DMN: "Massimo taps Garland as new home for golf cart manufacturing to dodge tariff impact" DMN

> TX MONTHLY: "Who’s Afraid of Driverless Cars?" TX MONTHLY

> FWST: "Dentist driving with 107 laughing gas canisters was ‘inhaling all day,’ Texas cops say" FWST

> DMN: "After barbecue family feud, Texas restaurateurs plan location near Dallas Cowboys’ stadium" DMN

> DMN: "Forney teen facing murder charge after botched robbery, shootout, affidavit says" DMN

> DMN: "Dallas Cowboys Jerry Jones sexual assault lawsuit trial delayed again" DMN

> DMN: "As Luka Doncic fallout mounts, Mavs may only see things get worse" DMN

> HOU CHRON: "Houston man posed as U.S. attorney to threaten snack box company says indictment" HOU CHRON

> HOU CHRON: "What to know about Trump's growing use of 'expedited removal' for deportations" HOU CHRON

> DMN: "Alaska Airlines set to depart Dallas Love Field for good" DMN

> HOU CHRON: "Here's why some couples are turning to event planners for proposal help" HOU CHRON

> HOU CHRON: "Elliott builds more than $2.5B stake in Phillips 66, wants it to sell or spin off midstream unit" HOU CHRON

> HOU CHRON: "Exclusive: HISD releases ‘confidential’ evaluation of Superintendent Mike Miles" HOU CHRON

• EXTRA POINTS

Last night's Texas sports score:
> NCAAM: #2 Alabama 103, Texas 80
> NCAAM: #8 Texas A&M 69, Georgia 53
> NCAAM: North Texas 67, Rice 61
> NCAAM: SMU 83, Pittsburgh 63

Tonight's Texas sports schedule:
> 6pm: NBA: San Antonio at Boston (ESPN)
> 6pm: NCAAM: Oklahoma State at TCU (CBS Sports Network)
> 6:30pm: NCAAM: UTSA at Wichita State (ESPN+)
> 8pm: NCAAM: Arizona State at #12 Texas Tech (CBS Sports Network)
> 8:30pm: NBA: Golden State at Dallas (ESPN)

HOUSTON ASTROS: "2025 AL West projections: Could the Houston Astros' dominance end?" Houston Chronicle ($)

TEXAS RANGERS: "5 Rangers spring training storylines: Rediscover World Series ways?" DMN ($)

TEXAS MEN'S BASKETBALL: "Stevenson and No. 2 Alabama blow past Texas 103-80 to set up SEC showdown with rival No. 1 Auburn" AP

TEXAS A&M MEN'S BASKETBALL: "Washington scores 17 as No. 8 Texas A&M uses dominate second half to beat Georgia 69-53" AP

BAYLOR WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: "Aaronette Vonleh scores 21 and No. 25 Baylor women beat 18th-ranked West Virginia 75-65" AP

TEXAS BASEBALL: "UT baseball: Jim Schlossnagle says he has no animosity for Texas A&M" AAS ($)