Good morning!

This is the Texas Minute for Wednesday, May 28, 2025.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan 

Sources: Kelly Hancock Angling for Appointment as Comptroller

• Later this summer, Comptroller Glenn Hegar will take over as chancellor of the Texas A&M University System. As Brandon Waltens reports, this means Gov. Greg Abbott will be required to appoint a replacement—someone who will serve out the remainder of Hegar’s term through January 2027.
     
• Among those who are rumored to be seeking the appointment is State Sen. Kelly Hancock (R-North Richland Hills), though his record in the Senate has raised concerns among grassroots conservatives and some of his colleagues. Hancock drew ire in 2023 as one of only two Republican senators who voted with Democrats to remove Attorney General Ken Paxton following his impeachment trial.
      
• More recently, during the 2025 legislative session, Hancock was one of seven Republican senators who voted to gut Senate Bill 19—legislation that was supposed to enact a statewide ban on taxpayer-funded lobbying, a top priority of the Republican Party of Texas.
       
• Abbott has not yet signaled who he will choose to fill the vacancy, though an announcement is expected in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, the race for comptroller in 2026 is already taking shape. Former State Sen. Don Huffines and current Railroad Commissioner Christi Craddick have both declared their campaigns for the Republican nomination.

Midnight Deadline Ends Progress of Senate Legislation in House 

• As the clock struck midnight, the Texas House reached one of the last major deadlines of the 2025 legislative session: the opportunity to give initial approval to Senate legislation. Any Senate legislation that wasn't passed out of the House last night is procedurally dead.
   
• Throughout the day on Tuesday, House Democrats employed a familiar tactic known as “chubbing”—a stalling maneuver where lawmakers drag out debate on bills to run out the clock and kill other legislation waiting in line.
     
• Those efforts helped stall or kill several Republican-priority Senate measures that hadn’t yet made it to the floor, taking advantage of the rules and the chamber’s schedule.
      
• Among the casualties was Senate Bill 18, which would have prohibited libraries from hosting Drag Queen Story Hour events on taxpayer-funded property.
     
• The legislation ends on Monday, June 2.

RELATED NEWS

Predators Will No Longer Be Allowed To Hide Behind Agreements

• Legislation heading to the governor's desk will prohibit the use of nondisclosure agreements in sex abuse cases that protect predators and silence victims of sexual abuse. As Erin Anderson reports, "Trey's Law" received unanimous support in the Texas Senate and House.
      
• Authored by Sen. Angela Paxton (R-McKinney), the law is named in honor of Trey Carlock, who took his own life after being silenced by an NDA following childhood sexual abuse.
       
• The legislation renders unenforceable any nondisclosure or confidentiality provisions with respect to sexual abuse. Agreement terms such as the victim’s identity and settlement amounts may remain confidential, but the identity of the perpetrator can no longer be concealed.

College Sports Face 'Rapid Destruction'

• U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz hopes President Donald Trump will bring about a college sports commission “as soon as possible,” with Texas Tech's Cody Campbell poised to play a prominent role. Robert Montoya has the details.
    
• Campbell has warned that college sports face “rapid destruction” from risks such as unionization, collective bargaining, and athletes leaving for bigger paydays. Meanwhile, the flow of NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) cash is upending athletic programs in small colleges.
           

• The Baylor Bears men’s basketball team will start the 2025-2026 season with a 100 percent roster turnover. Not a single player will be returning to the team after graduation, draft picks, or portal entries.

          
• According to an analysis of college scholarships, athletics scholarships are second only to the GI program in putting young adults who might otherwise not attend college on a path to a diploma.

More Indictments in Frio County Vote Harvesting Ring

• Six Frio County officials and campaign workers have been indicted on felony vote harvesting and evidence tampering charges after a year-long investigation into paid ballot collection targeting elderly voters. As Ian Camacho reports, the illegal services were paid for in gas, cigarettes, and Dr Pepper.
      

• Vote harvesting is a third-degree felony that can result in prison sentences of up to ten years and fines of up to $10,000.

     
• Sources indicate the ongoing investigation will likely yield more indictments and arrests.

Charter School Coach Charged With Sexually Assaulting 15-Year-Old Student

• A now-former Central Texas charter school educator has been charged with sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl in a residential facility for troubled teens. David Paul Jones worked as a contract PE coach for the UT Charter School campus at Cedar Crest Hospital in Belton.
      
• Cedar Crest is a residential treatment center for teens ages 12 through 17 who are struggling with emotional problems and substance abuse.
         
• Jones has been charged with sexual assault of a child, following a months-long investigation by the Belton Police Department.
      
• One victim reportedly told authorities that Jones had sexually assaulted her in a gym storage room in November 2023 and at least one other time in the gym. Two other students told investigators that Jones had assaulted or groomed them while he worked at Cedar Crest.

OTHER EDUCATION NEWS

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Quote-Unquote

"It is our true policy to steer clear of permanent alliance with any portion of the foreign world."

– George Washington​

Y'All Answered

Several major conflicts are taking place around the world right now. Yesterday, we asked readers which, if any, should require intervention by U.S. armed forces.

Here is a sampling of the responses we received.

• “My sons aren’t dying for any foreign country. We have plenty of problems right here in America to focus on.” – Catherine Buschold
      

• “Our military service members volunteer to defend the United States and its vital interests, their lives should not be put in jeopardy for other causes.” – Jerry Harben
      

• “We should only be actively involved when we are obligated by treaty. We should, however, use what influence we have to help the warring parties reach a peaceful resolution.” – Jennifer Rawson
      

• “We need to focus on our country and get it back in alignment with the Constitution.” – Ken Kalies
      

• “I choose the Israel conflict because, as Christians, we are to stand with Israel. Also, Hamas is a terrorist group.” – Cathy Blake
      

• “There is no more Jew and Gentile. Only Christ and those not in Christ. The nation state of Israel is not special and does not deserve our tax dollars or military support any more than any other country (i.e., none). No more meddling in foreign wars until we’ve settled our own problems.” – Logan Kendrick
      

• “Hamas must be destroyed. They do not value human life at all. Iran is behind this, so it looks like the US, together with Israel and any other nation that would like to defeat terrorism, will have to get involved if there is to be peace in the region.” – Sonja Boles
      

• “No more funding, supporting, or sending our personnel anywhere but our border. No more Vietnam conflicts ever!” – David Clark
      

• “The US has enough problems to solve without sending our troops into another never-win war!  It’s a huge money maker for the military-industrial complex. Everyone else loses.” – Susan Perry
      

• “Other than protecting U.S. & Taiwanese waters from foreign invasion,  we don't need to be militarily involved in any conflict…” – Jason Kerr
      

• “Until we can help ourselves, we’re in no position to meddle in conflicts outside of our failing nation.” – Brooke Walsh 
      

• “We are tied to Israel by our GOD. Those who bless Israel will be blessed by God.” – Chris Barden
      

• “I answered Ukraine, but I feel we should help any country that is invaded. It would be nice if we could go back to being peace-keepers rather than financial caregivers.” – Annette LaSala
       

• “George Washington's advice about avoiding foreign entanglements is just as valid today as it was when he said it. The proper course for our country is to be friends with those who wish to be friends, but if an adversary smites us, we bring the hammer and then go home.” – Rick Mayforth

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