University Texas Government: State Policy and Criminal Justice Notes

Current Events and Local Politics

Iran Relations: Recent reports indicate there is currently no major conflict ongoing with Iran.
Democratic Representative Eric Swadwell: Representative Swadwell is dropping out of the California governor race and resigning from Congress. This decision follows a situation where he sent messages to a staffer who subsequently committed suicide.
Texas Tech University: The university council is putting a stop to gender and sexuality programs.
State Board of Education: There is a preliminary approval for the Bible to be included in the curriculum; it has passed the first stage of approval but is not yet finalized.
Gerrymandering and Political Consequences: In $2025$ , a House Democrat was fined approximately $8,000\,dollars$ for traveling to Chicago rather than attending work.
Hungary's Leadership Change: Hungary held an election on Sunday. The former Prime Minister, who ruled for $16\,\text{years}$ , was defeated. He was known for developing a bureaucracy with a heavy political focus on government input. Discussions are ongoing regarding how this will impact the European Union and trade.
Legislative Injunctions: * Farm Bill: There is a $2\,\text{week}$ injunction on changes to the farm bill because it reportedly interferes with farmers' ability to earn a living. Discussion specifically touched upon $THCA$ and $TCA$ . * Travis County Court: A judge in Travis County temporarily blocked a ban on "multiple hips." According to recent reports, it is currently permissible to do $2\,\text{days}$ , though this may change.

Student Presentations: Texas Education Freedom Accounts (SB 2)

Overview: Presented by Selma, this topic covers the school choice voucher program, also known as the Texas Education Freedom Accounts or the $TFAB$ program.
Legislation and Funding: Texas passed Senate Bill $2$ ( $SB\,2$ ) in May $2025$ , creating the program with approximately $1\,Billion\,dollars$ in funding for the $2026$ - $2027$ school year.
Program Structure and Financial Amounts: * Private school expenses: Up to $10,500\,dollars$ per child. * Homeschooling: Up to $2,000\,dollars$ per child. * Students with disabilities: Up to $30,000\,dollars$ .
Supporter Arguments: Proponents believe it provides parents more control and makes private education affordable for families who previously could not afford it.
Criticisms and Challenges: * Access: Critics argue it primarily benefits families already in private school. Statistics from the first application round show that $71\%$ of applicants were already attending private schools. * Tuition Gaps: Private school tuition often ranges from $20,000\,dollars$ to $25,000\,dollars$ per year. In Austin, the average is $17,600\,dollars$ , with selective schools exceeding $30,000\,dollars$ . The $10,500\,dollars$ voucher may only cover a small portion of actual costs (uniforms, signup fees, etc.). * School Non-Participation: Many selective private schools refuse to participate to avoid state oversight, reporting, testing requirements, or influence over their curriculum. * Public School Funding: Critics argue the $1\,Billion\,dollars$ should go to public schools, especially since some counties are closing schools to save money.
In-Class Q&A on Vouchers: * Question: What makes the program different for middle-class or poverty-level families regarding registration? * Response: Applications closed in late March. Funds are deposited into dedicated accounts for supplies and tuition. However, many private schools have early deadlines (e.g., November), requiring deposits long before state funding is available, making it difficult for lower-income families to access. * Discussion on Special Needs: Private schools can select their students and may not be prepared for students with disabilities. An example was shared about a student with $ADHD$ and autism who returned to public school because they had better facilities (e.g., quiet rooms) and preparation.

Student Presentations: Heavens 27th Law

Overview: Presented by Talia, this covers a law inspired by the devastating floods in Kerrville on July $3rd$ of the current year.
The Incident: Floods washed away a girls' camp; the camp was located only about $4\,\text{feet}$ from the water. Due to poor internet and a lack of sirens, there was no warning system.
Components of Heavens 27: The law comprises three separate bills: * Youth Camper Act: Requires camps to update plans annually, train staff, and notify parents of floodplain risks. The Department of State Health Services enforces this; non-compliance leads to license revocation. * Safety Standards: Prohibits licensing for cabins without a flood plan and creates an online registry of licensed youth camps. * Grant Funding: Allocated $50,000,000\,dollars$ for a flood warning siren system, $24,000,000\,dollars$ for atmospheric forecasting, and $20,000,000\,dollars$ for swift water training.
Personal Connection and Debate: The presenter lost her cousin in the flood. There is currently a debate over whether the camp should reopen within a year, especially since one girl (referred to as "COVID is 27" in transcript) remains missing. Her parents visit the Capitol monthly to plead for the camp to stay closed until safety measures are ready.

Student Presentations: Urban Sprawl and Jane Jacobs

Overview: Presented by Rachel, focusing on the work of activist Jane Jacobs and the concept of walkable cities.
Urban Sprawl: Defined as the growth of cities via residential housing and zoning areas, leading to car-dependent suburbs and massive highway infrastructure.
Impact of Sprawl: Isolation for the elderly or disabled who cannot drive, and inefficient land use as outskirts are developed into housing rather than expanding the city core.
Jacobs' Advocacy: Spoke out against destroying minority neighborhoods for highway expansion. She argued that walkable neighborhoods with a mix of buildings and diversity are more resilient, vibrant, and community-focused.
Economic Benefits: Walkable cities encourage local shopping (cafes/shops) because residents don't have to waste gas to drive, leading to higher city income.

The Texas Bail System and Judicial Reform

Concept of Bail: Paying a set amount to be released from prison while awaiting trial.
The "Debt Prison" Concern: Critics argue the system discriminates against the poor. An example cited is an elderly woman in San Antonio who has been in jail for $6\,\text{months}$ on a trespassing charge because she cannot afford bail.
Reform Efforts (Since 2019): * Judge Training: Training judges to set bail more fairly based on the offender's history and the specific crime to create a "blanket effect." * The Waco Case: A Justice of the Peace set bail at $1,000,000\,dollars$ for participants in a biker gang shooting, which caused public outrage over the impossibility of payment. * Non-Cash Options: For non-violent offenders, counties like Harris County are exploring personal bonds, ankle monitors, or reporting to parole officers instead of cash bail. * Violent Offenders: Legislation requires that violent offenders must pay cash bail. * Bondsmen: Defendants can pay $10\%$ of the bail to a bondsman, who then assumes custody and ensures the defendant's court appearance.

The Death Penalty in Texas: Legal and Ethical Considerations

Ethical Questions: Should any government institution have the power to take a life?
Capital Offenses: In Texas, a capital charge applies to the murder of a judge, a police officer on duty, or a firefighter on duty.
Costs: The death penalty is more expensive than a life sentence due to the cost of lethal injection chemicals, legal fees, and multiple appeals.
Eighth Amendment: This amendment protects against "cruel and unusual punishment." It is the basis for many challenges regarding the death penalty and solitary confinement.
Death Row Conditions: * Inmates remain on death row for an average of $13\,\text{years}$ . * Currently, there are $210$ inmates on death row in Texas. * Death row is in Livingston, Texas, while the execution chamber is in Huntsville.
Last Meals: Texas stopped offering specific requests for last meals in $2011$ due to costs and potential for abuse (e.g., inmates throwing food at guards).
Lethal Injection and Chemical Shortages: * Texas uses Pentobarbital. * A shortage arose because the European Union banned the production of "death drugs." * Texas does not publicly state its chemical supplier.
Botched Executions: Occur when the process does not go as planned, leading to pain or seizures. An Alabama inmate survived a first legal injection attempt and was executed successfully $2\,\text{years}$ later.
Alternative Execution Methods: * Alabama: Nitrogen gas. * Missouri and Wyoming: Gas chamber. * Virginia and Tennessee: Electric chair. * Utah: Firing squad.
Texas Execution Statistics: There are $6$ lethal injections available this year. There have been $2$ executions since January, with $4$ more scheduled for later this year.
International Jurisdiction: The U.S. withdrew from World Court jurisdiction (similar to Russia), meaning it is not bound by international rulings on individual capital cases, as seen in $2011$ and $2017$ .
Monitoring: The website "Execution Watch" provides a countdown to upcoming executions, including case details and live broadcasts of protests outside the Huntsville chamber.
Upcoming Case Studies: The next class will focus on the cases of Rodney Reed, Anthony Grace, Robert Robertson, and Clarence.