More than four-fifths of Texas public schools re -
ceived an 'A' rating for their financial practices, accord - ing to the Texas Education Agency, which released the final financial account - ability ratings for the latest school year last week.
A total of 969 school districts and charter schools, or 81%, received the top rat - ing for their financial man - agement practices.
"By maintaining strong financial practices, these school systems are build - ing brighter futures for the students and communities they serve," a news release stated.
Ten percent of school districts got 'B' ratings, while 6% received 'C' rat - ings. Failing grades were given to 18 school districts and eight charter schools.
All Texas public school systems are required to share their financial ac - countability ratings with parents and taxpayers at public meetings. Individual results for a school district can be found at txschools. gov.
Federal ban on THC products signed into law A spending deal signed into law last week to end the federal government shutdown includes a ban on nearly all THC products that could devastate the Tex - as hemp industry, the Hous -
ton Chronicle reported. The restrictions will not take ef - fect for another year.
The legislation caps the amount of THC, the psy - choactive ingredient found in both marijuana and hemp products, at 0.4 milligrams per package. That would force the removal of nearly all currently available hemp products found in stores across the state, includ - ing edibles, beverages and smokable versions of hemp.
An earlier attempt at the state level to ban hemp products was vetoed by Gov. Greg Abbott. After state legislators failed in two special sessions to pro - duce ways to regulate hemp, Abbott issued an executive order banning its purchase by anyone under 21 years of age.
The hemp industry plans to fight the law, saying it jeopardizes U.S. farmers and threatens more than 300,000 jobs nationwide.
"The next year will be critical in determining the future of hemp," Art Mas - solo, U.S. H e m p Roundta - ble Pres i d e n t , said in a statement. "As a sig nificant American industry, we are committed to shar - ing with Congress the real story about hemp." Approximately 8,000 re - tailers in Texas sell products derived from hemp, though a ban on electronic vapes that went into effect Sept. 1 wiped out an estimated 30% of their income.
Trump backs Abbott in reelection bid; Bell enters race President Donald Trump endorsed Abbott's unprec - edented bid for a fourth term, praising his efforts to redraw congressional maps last summer, The Texas Tribune reported. Abbott responded to the early en - dorsement, saying he would work with Trump to "build a stronger, safer, more pros - perous Texas and America." As the governor enters the race with almost $90 million in his campaign war chest, former U.S. Rep. Chris Bell of Houston has entered the race on the Democratic side. Bell ran unsuccessfully for governor in 2006, finishing second in a crowded race to then-Gov. Rick Perry.
Also running in the Democratic primary to date are state Rep. Gina Hinojo - sa, D-Austin, businessman Andrew White, and rancher Bobby Cole.
Abbott proposes wiping out local school property taxes Abbott is proposing a state constitutional amend - ment to eliminate local school property taxes, which provides most of pub - lic school funding in Texas, the Chronicle reported.
"It's time that we drive a stake through the heart of the ability of local property tax hikes in the future," he said. In the current biennial state budget, legislators al - located $51 billion for prop - erty tax relief, representing a fourth of the state's total spending. Texas gets about one-third of its revenue from sales tax. The comp - troller's office last year con - cluded that to replace the $81 billion of property taxes collected in 2023, the state would have to increase the sales tax rate to 22%.
The state has had histor - ic budget surpluses for the past several years, but some experts are warning that this could come to an end.
"The big carryover bal - ances that we've had the last couple sessions are very, very, unusual," said Shan - non Halbrook, the director of Invest Texas at Every Texan. "If we have an eco - nomic downturn, how do we keep paying for the tax cuts that we've committed to?"
TxDOT says more public transit needed
A draft report from the Texas Department of Trans -
portation says the state needs to boost public trans - portation in rural and small - er urban areas and add rail between the state's major urban areas if Texas is go - ing to continue to grow, the Texas Standard reported.
"We have almost 32 million Texans, millions of (jobs), thousands of com - panies locating to Texas in droves, headquarters, etc.," said Caroline Mays, TxDOT's director of plan - ning and modal programs. "The fundamental need is, how do we address mobil - ity needs for this growing Texas?" While the state plans to spend $146 billion over the next decade to maintain and expand the state's highway system, public transit fund - ing has largely languished. The state spends nothing on public transit in major urban areas, reserving its limited funding for rural and small - er urban transit agencies.
"What I would tell you is that it's foolish, short - sighted and moronic not to start making comprehensive plans when you know un - questionably that the pop - ulation growth is going to double in the next 25 years," state Rep. Terry Canales, D-Edinburgh, said.
Opportunities for kinship foster families boosted The Texas Health and Human Services Commis - sion has eliminated 195 rules viewed as obstacles to Texas families fostering family members, the agency announced last week. A total of 75% of all administra - tive requirements have been eliminated, making it easier for relatives to become foster parents.
"By removing unneces - sary barriers, we're helping Texans open their homes to relatives in need," said HHS Executive Commissioner Cecile Erwin Young. "These changes will give more chil - dren in foster care the oppor - tunity to grow up in a famil - iar, loving environment." Regulation changes in - clude: Streamline housing inspections to focus on the health and environmen - tal safety of kinship foster homes.
Eliminate unnecessary training requirements for kinship foster parents.
Require less documen - tation for over-the-counter medications.
Gary Borders is a veteran award-winning Texas journalist.
He published a number of community newspapers in Texas during a 30-year span, including in Longview, Fort Stockton, Nacogdoches, Lufkin and Cedar Park.
Email: [email protected].
