A study conducted by the Stanford Center on Poverty and Inequality focuses on where families have lived over time. It uncovered that poverty has not become more concentrated over time. However, it is the same families living in poverty for decades. The conclusion being that the racial inequality we see today is a continuation of inequality passed down from generations.

The Texas Black Caucus Foundation has recently stepped up to address the challenges faced by Black farmers in Texas. To empower these vital members of the agricultural community, the foundation has initiated a remarkable program tailored to meet their specific needs.

According to a report by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), the estimated peak demand for power this summer is expected to be about 6,000 megawatts higher than last year. When demand for power during the hottest days exceeds grid supply, Texans will rely on renewable energy sources like wind and solar to keep the lights on. North Texas could experience brownouts this summer under extreme scenarios. Brownouts typically occur when utility companies temporarily reduce electricity flow to specific areas to prevent large-scale blackouts.

In February, a Texas Politics Project poll revealed 60 percent of Texans feel the state is not investing enough in mental health. Mental health care costs are a barrier for many, as Texas has the highest uninsured rate in the nation. According to Mental Health America, in 2022, Texas ranked last for access to children’s mental health services and 33rd for adult care. Today, 98% of Texas’ 254 counties were wholly or partially designated by the federal government as “mental health professional shortage areas.”

As we wrap-up the 87th Legislative session, we are honored to bring you a summary focused on Criminal Justice Reform, Digital Inclusion, Workforce Development, and Healthcare.

Several environmental groups, including one based in Texas, are suing the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for allegedly not preventing harmful pollutants from entering bodies of water. Oil refineries, chemical and plastic plants, and other industrial facilities “dump billions of gallons of wastewater that contain nitrogen that fuels algae blooms, dead zones, and toxins that are harmful to humans and aquatic life.”

According to a recent Pew Research Center survey, the share of women who earn as much as or significantly more than their husbands has tripled over the last half-century. Today, 55% of opposite-sex marriages have a husband who is the primary or sole breadwinner, down from 85% 50 years ago. About 16% of opposite-sex marriages have a breadwinner wife, a jump from just 5% 50 years ago.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, over 2.8 million Texas households and 7 million Texans lack broadband, disproportionately affecting rural areas in East Texas. East Texas lawmakers Sen. Robert Nichols and Rep. Trent Ashby have proposed Senate Bill 1238 and House Bill 2662 that could increase the broadband funding East Texas receives.

On March 10, 2023, regulators shut down Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), making it the second-largest bank failure in U.S. history. SVB — headquartered in Santa Clara, California, and with operations in Europe and Asia — was a leading provider of financial services to the technology and innovation startup industries.

A public hearing at the Texas Capitol is scheduled for Monday, April 3 to discuss Senate Bill 2209, proposed by Kelly Hancock (R) of Senate District 9 in Tarrant County. The bill defines "civilian oversight commission" as “any civilian body created or appointed by a political subdivision to oversee, monitor, or investigate firefighters, law enforcement officers, or departments”.