Good morning,

To address the scandal-plagued Texas Lottery, the state senate voted unanimously to completely overhaul how the program is administered, with the possibility of eliminating it in 2027. For this week's One Click Survey, we want to know what you think of the proposal.

This is the Texas Minute for Monday, May 19, 2025.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan 

Game Over? Texas Senate Unanimously Moves To Eliminate Lottery Commission

• In a unanimous vote, the Texas Senate decided to abolish the Texas Lottery Commission and transfer oversight of the state lottery to a different agency amid mounting concerns of corruption and mismanagement. Brandon Waltens reports that the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation would take over the administration and regulation of the lottery.
      
• Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who has been vocal in his effort to shut down the commission, released a video after the vote celebrating the passage and outlining what he called a long-overdue crackdown.
     
• The overhaul comes as the Texas Lottery Commission approaches its sunset date, meaning the agency would cease to exist unless lawmakers take action to continue it. Rather than extend the commission, senators have chosen to scrap it entirely and hand operations to TDLR on a trial basis. Under the legislation adopted by the Senate, a limited-scope sunset review will be conducted by August 31, 2027. If the program is not reauthorized, the state lottery itself will be abolished.
      
• House members have until May 27 to decide if they will go along with the Senate's reforms.

Senators Consider House Measure Protecting Children From Sexual Content in Public Libraries

• Under a bipartisan proposal that passed out of the Texas House two weeks ago, sexually explicit materials would be moved to the adult section of all municipal libraries. As Luca Cacciatore reports, members of the Texas Senate are now advancing the legislation.
      

• The measure defines “sexually explicit material” as “any communication, language, or material, including a written description, illustration, photographic image, video image, or audio file, that describes, depicts, or portrays sexual conduct in an explicit manner.”

         
• If enacted, municipal public libraries would be required to verify that only adults can obtain such materials, unless a child has parental consent. If a public library is found to be in violation of the measure, it could become ineligible for state library grants and face a civil penalty of up to $10,000 per violation.
       
• Leftwing activists argue the legislation amounts to a "book ban."
      
• Vanessa Sivadge, president of Protect Texas Children, responded to those claims in her own testimony: "Spare me the outrage, because I’m not buying this act."

Harris County's Lina Hidalgo Wants $23K for Taxpayer-funded Junket to France

• Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo is requesting $23,300 in taxpayer funding for a first-ever county delegation to Paris, France, along with the Greater Houston Partnership and Rice University. Joseph Trimmer has the details.
      
• Hidalgo claims the junket, scheduled for June 8 -15, is intended to showcase Harris County as a hub for innovation and artificial intelligence. She proposes to be accompanied by three county employees.
     
• Critics of the proposed trip to France argue that it sends the wrong message at a time when Harris County is reportedly facing a $129 million budget deficit. Earlier this month, Hidalgo said during a heated meeting that the county could not raise sheriff deputy pay due to a lack of funds.
         
• As the French say, "Ne pas avoir la lumière à tous les étages."

Criminal Justice Teacher Arrested for Sexual Relationship With Student

• Julio Ricardo Trujillo, a criminal justice teacher and girls’ basketball coach in Brownsville Independent School District, has been arrested for an alleged sexual relationship with a student. And, as Erin Anderson reports, school officials say more district educators are under investigation.
      
• Trujillo's arrest is the result of an “ongoing investigation” into an alleged improper relationship involving a student, according to a statement released by Cameron County District Attorney Luis V. Saenz. 
     
• District officials confirmed that other employees are also under criminal investigation. Local parents and students believe those employees are involved in the school's athletics program.

OTHER EDUCATION NEWS

Harlingen High's Head Soccer Coach Accused of Sending Porn to Child

Head boys' soccer coach Joseph Allen Johnson was arrested and charged after allegedly sending a “pornographic video” to a child. The crime is punishable by up to a year in jail. District officials now refer to Johnson as a “former employee.”

Harris County DA Handles Jail Overcrowding by Focusing on Mental Health & Addiction Treatment

• Officials in Harris County have announced they will be spending $3 million on diversion programs to reduce jail overcrowding and improve care for inmates with mental health issues. Michael Wilson has more details.
     
• According to District Attorney Sean Teare, one-third of the county's incarcerated individuals are currently on psychotropic medications. Teare said individuals suffering from mental health disorders are often primary drivers of crime in the Houston area.
     
• Due to overcrowding in the jail, Harris County taxpayers are currently spending around $54 million annually to outsource inmates to private prisons in other states.

Today In History

On May 19, 1836, a raiding party of Comanche, Kiowa, and Kichai warriors attacked Fort Parker (in modern-day Limestone County). Two women and three children—including 9-year-old Cynthia Ann Parker—were taken captive.

Quote-Unquote

"No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth!"

– Ronald Reagan​

One Click Survey

The Texas Senate has voted to abolish the Texas Lottery Commission, transferring oversight of scratch-off tickets and number drawings to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation with a new set of strict laws and regulations. All of this is being done to address a decade of scandals that have come to light, which have led some lawmakers to call the lottery a "money laundering" operation. Under the Senate plan, TDLR will have two years to fix the lottery, or it will be abolished.

Should the Texas House go along with this change?

Once you’ve clicked an answer, reply to this email with any thoughts you’d like to share!