Texas Talks

Texas has experienced extraordinary economic growth over the past 25 years, but are Texans actually feeling the benefits?

John Hryhorchuk, Senior Vice President of Policy and Advocacy at Texas 2036, returns to Texas Talks with Brad Swail to discuss the organization's latest statewide polling, the issues motivating Texas voters, and the policy challenges facing lawmakers ahead of the 2027 legislative session.

Despite decades of economic expansion, Texas 2036's polling reveals a growing disconnect between the state's economic success and how residents feel about their own lives. Only 52% of surveyed voters believe they have personally benefited from Texas's growth, while 67.7% say they are extremely or very concerned about the future.

John explains what these findings reveal about affordability, economic opportunity, and voters' confidence in their ability to control their own futures. He also examines the surprising areas of agreement between Republicans and Democrats, particularly on education, health care, and infrastructure.

Education emerges as one of the strongest priorities in the polling, with voters emphasizing the importance of children reading and performing math at grade level. The conversation explores why education has risen in importance, how attitudes toward border security have shifted, and what these changes could mean for the next legislative session.

Health care affordability is another major concern. John discusses widespread dissatisfaction with the current system, growing support for price transparency and oversight of health care consolidation, and the rising insurance costs facing Texas teachers.

The discussion then turns to water, electricity, and the rapid expansion of data centers across Texas. While data centers receive significant public attention, Texas 2036's polling suggests voters are more strongly motivated by broader concerns about affordable electricity, reliable water infrastructure, and everyday quality of life.

Brad and John also explore how Texas government agencies can better coordinate their data to improve services, evaluate education and workforce outcomes, and help policymakers respond more quickly to changing economic conditions.

Finally, they examine the growing influence of artificial intelligence in classrooms and the workforce, the importance of career and technical education, and the challenges of preparing students for jobs that may look very different in the years ahead.

As Texas approaches its bicentennial in 2036, the conversation raises a fundamental question: Can the state translate its remarkable economic growth into a better quality of life for all Texans?

Join Brad Swail and John Hryhorchuk on Texas Talks for a data-driven discussion about the future of Texas and the decisions facing its elected leaders.

00:00 - Opening: What Texas Voters Think About Data Centers

00:26 - Introducing John Hryhorchuk and Texas 2036

03:27 - The Texas Miracle: Are Texans Benefiting From Growth?

06:46 - Political Divisions, Economic Confidence and Voter Priorities

11:23 - Education Becomes a Top Priority for Texas Voters

14:57 - Why 67.7% of Texans Are Concerned About the Future

20:10 - Healthcare Affordability and Growing Support for Reform

25:39 - Rising Health Insurance Costs for Texas Teachers

27:07 - Data Centers, Water Infrastructure and Electricity Costs

33:09 - Government Accountability and Connecting State Agency Data

39:18 - Artificial Intelligence, Education and Workforce Readiness

44:59 - Texas 2036's Priorities for the 2027 Legislative Session

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Can Texas produce enough electricity to power the artificial intelligence revolution, or are the state's massive data center projections creating an infrastructure bubble?

Dr. Joshua Rhodes, a research scientist at the University of Texas at Austin, nonresident fellow at Columbia University, founding partner of IdeaSmiths LLC, and host of the Energy Capital podcast, joins Brad Swail on Texas Talks to examine the future of Texas' electricity grid, the explosive growth of AI data centers, and the challenges facing ERCOT.

Rhodes discusses the current state of the Texas power grid, including improvements made since Winter Storm Uri and remaining concerns about natural gas supply during extreme weather. He explains how new solar generation and battery storage helped Texas manage record electricity demand without the dramatic price spikes that have accompanied previous summer peaks.

The conversation then turns to projections suggesting Texas could need approximately 400 gigawatts of electricity capacity to accommodate future demand. Rhodes argues that reaching those levels within the proposed timeframe would require an unprecedented expansion of power generation, transmission infrastructure, manufacturing capacity, and construction resources.

Brad and Joshua explore whether the rapid expansion of AI infrastructure and data centers resembles an economic bubble, what happens if proposed projects never materialize, and whether excess power generation could ultimately benefit ordinary Texans through lower electricity prices.

They also discuss the potential of small modular nuclear reactors and geothermal energy, the rising cost of natural gas turbines and transformers, and the question of who should pay for the infrastructure required by large technology companies.

Beyond electricity demand, the discussion examines community concerns surrounding data center water consumption, cooling systems, noise pollution, local tax incentives, and the economic benefits these facilities can provide.

Finally, Rhodes explains ERCOT's Batch Zero process, recent efforts to bring greater accountability to large-load connection requests, and what he hopes the 90th Texas Legislature will prioritize when developing future energy policies.

From nuclear power and grid reliability to artificial intelligence, data centers, and electricity costs, this episode explores how Texas can balance economic growth, technological innovation, and affordable, reliable energy without placing unnecessary burdens on everyday Texans.

Watch Texas Talks with Brad Swail for an in-depth conversation about the future of energy in the Lone Star State.

00:00 — Can Texas Meet 400GW of Electricity Demand?

00:19 — Introduction to Dr. Joshua Rhodes

01:51 — Why Rhodes Studies the Texas Power Grid

03:44 — ERCOT and Lessons from Winter Storm Uri

06:16 — Texas' Record Electricity Demand

08:53 — Data Centers and the 400GW Forecast

11:54 — Why ERCOT's Demand Projections Are So High

14:15 — How Much Electricity Demand Is Realistic?

16:07 — Is the AI Data Center Boom a Bubble?

19:10 — Small Modular Nuclear Reactors and Geothermal Energy

21:14 — Could Overbuilding Power Plants Lower Electricity Prices?

25:55 — Rising Infrastructure Costs and Electric Bills

29:02 — Data Center Water Consumption and Noise

32:54 — Data Center Tax Breaks and Local Economic Benefits

36:00 — ERCOT's Batch Zero Process and SB 6

37:42 — Governor Abbott's Data Center Audit

40:40 — What Should the 90th Texas Legislature Do?

43:51 — Energy Subsidies and Market Competition

44:40 — Future Energy Policy and Closing Thoughts

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Texas State Representative Carl Tepper joins Brad Swail on Texas Talks to discuss some of the major issues being examined by the House Select Committee on Governmental Oversight.

Tepper discusses the committee’s examination of district attorneys and criminal prosecution, including the scrutiny surrounding the Travis County District Attorney’s Office and possible approaches lawmakers could consider during the 90th Texas Legislature.

The conversation then turns west to a highly unusual question: Could counties currently in New Mexico eventually become part of Texas? Tepper discusses interest from communities along the Texas-New Mexico border, the economic and cultural ties between those counties and West Texas, and what would have to happen for a boundary change to move forward.

Finally, Tepper and Brad discuss oversight of taxpayer-funded contracts, nonprofits and local government programs, including questions surrounding homelessness spending in Austin and how governments should respond when publicly funded programs fail to meet their goals.

00:00 — Introducing Rep. Carl Tepper
01:08 — Texas' Governmental Oversight Hearings
02:53 — Crime & Repeat Offenders
04:39 — Scrutiny of District Attorneys
05:12 — What Could the Legislature Do?
07:22 — Could Texas Expand Into New Mexico?
08:32 — Why New Mexico Counties Are Looking at Texas
11:05 — How a Texas-New Mexico Boundary Change Could Work
11:57 — Rural & Frontier Texas
14:38 — Safeguarding Taxpayer Funds
15:09 — Austin's Homelessness Spending
16:51 — Accountability for Government Contracts
19:10 — Closing

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In Part 2 of our special Texas Talks series recorded live at the Texas Hospital Association Annual Conference in Fort Worth, host Brad Swail sits down with Chris Bryan, Vice President of Clarity Child Guidance Center in San Antonio, to examine the state of children’s mental healthcare in Texas.

Bryan shares the personal experience that led her from a career in technology to becoming an advocate for children’s mental health and explains how technology and social media have changed the environment in which children grow up.

The conversation explores gaps in the mental health system, including the lack of a consistent continuum of care, difficulties sharing health information, insurance and reimbursement challenges, workforce shortages and the difference between having mental health coverage and actually being able to access treatment.

Bryan also reflects on nearly two decades of advocacy at the Texas Capitol, how the conversation surrounding children’s mental health has changed and what she hopes lawmakers will address during the 90th Texas Legislature.

This is Part 2 of our two-part Texas Hospital Association special. Be sure to watch Part 1 with Allen Harrison on the economics and financial pressures facing Texas hospitals.

00:00 — Introducing Chris Bryan
01:56 — A Personal Journey Into Mental Health Advocacy
04:20 — Technology Meets Healthcare
06:05 — Behavioral Health vs. Mental Health
07:13 — How Technology Is Changing Childhood
10:21 — Gaps in the Mental Health System
11:47 — The Missing Continuum of Care
12:40 — Health Data & Funding Challenges
15:26 — Why Mental Health Coverage Falls Short
17:53 — Coverage Doesn't Mean Access
20:13 — 20 Years of Mental Health Advocacy
22:14 — How the Texas Conversation Has Changed
23:42 — Priorities for the 90th Legislature
24:22 — Closing

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In Part 1 of a special two-part Texas Talks series recorded live at the Texas Hospital Association Annual Conference in Fort Worth, host Brad Swail sits down with Allen Harrison, President of Medical City Healthcare, HCA Healthcare’s North Texas Division, and Chair-Elect of the Texas Hospital Association Board of Trustees.

Harrison shares the personal story that led him to a career in healthcare before turning to the financial pressures facing Texas hospitals and the growing debate over healthcare affordability.

The conversation examines Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement, uninsured patients, the role of commercial insurance, hospital pricing and the growing financial burden placed directly on patients. Harrison also discusses what Texas hospitals are watching ahead of the 90th Texas Legislature and why protecting existing Medicaid funding is a major priority.

Brad and Harrison also explore Texas’ healthcare workforce, including improvements in the nursing shortage, continued demand for specialized healthcare workers and how the patient experience can be complicated by an increasingly difficult-to-understand billing system.

This is Part 1 of our two-part Texas Hospital Association special. Part 2 continues tomorrow with another conversation from the THA Annual Conference.

00:00 — Introducing Allen Harrison
01:47 — A Personal Connection to Healthcare
04:11 — How Healthcare Has Changed
06:29 — Preparing to Lead the Texas Hospital Association
07:45 — Healthcare Affordability & the 90th Legislature
09:22 — Medicare, Medicaid & Hospital Finances
12:09 — Protecting Texas Medicaid Funding
13:25 — What Really Drives Healthcare Costs?
14:53 — How Hospital Pricing Actually Works
16:25 — Managing Financial Uncertainty
18:00 — Insurance & Rising Patient Costs
20:52 — Texas' Healthcare Workforce
23:00 — Shortages in Specialized Healthcare Jobs
24:22 — What Patients Want From Healthcare
26:22 — Closing

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Women are paying $350 for a testosterone pellet. The same hormone, in a men’s tube, can last a year for $86.

Texas Rep. Katrina Pierson (HD 33) — former Trump national spokesperson and chair of the House Subcommittee on Maternal Health, Menopause and Access to Evidence-Based Medicine — sits down with Brad Swail on Texas Talks to walk through her Texas Women’s Health Initiative: baseline hormone testing, HRT coverage, physician liability, iron and prenatal access, and why she says doctors now practice insurance instead of medicine.

Pierson spent 14 years in healthcare, including OB-GYN. She filed a menopause-coverage bill in 2025 that never got a hearing. After the FDA lifted the HRT black-box warning, she took a larger package to the Speaker and got interim charges. In this conversation she explains:

• Why she wants insurance to cover physician-prescribed perimenopause and menopause treatment — including testosterone when medically necessary
• The case for baseline hormone testing before women get labeled with depression or anxiety
• Prior authorization, compounding clinics, and telehealth HRT after the black box came off
• Why Medicaid still requires a prescription for prenatal vitamins, and why she wants physicians able to dispense iron and basics in the office
• What she heard in her subcommittee’s first hearing on prenatal nutrition and Healthy Texas Women
• The gap she flagged in HTW: enrollment is up, participation is down
• The next hearing (date TBD) on menopause and perimenopause, including patient testimony at the Capitol

Texas Talks — policy conversations with the people shaping Texas.

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Chapters
0:00 If a doctor prescribes it, why can’t you get it?
0:55 Intro: Rep. Katrina Pierson
2:26 How the Women’s Health Initiative started
4:28 Baseline hormone testing
7:37 Physician liability and testosterone
8:51 The $350 pellet vs. the $86 men’s tube
10:04 Why women use testosterone
11:25 Telehealth HRT and prior authorization
13:34 Iron, folic acid, and standing orders
24:19 The black-box studies and starting HRT early
27:33 Yesterday’s subcommittee hearing
28:28 Physician dispense and rural access
31:32 What Healthy Texas Women actually is
33:04 Enrollment up, services down
35:59 How is women’s health in Texas right now?
37:22 North Texas Maternal Health Accelerator
38:42 Close

#TexasTalks #KatrinaPierson #WomensHealth #HRT #Menopause #TexasLegislature #txlege

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Why is it so difficult to know what healthcare will cost before you receive it?

On this episode of Texas Talks, host Brad Swail sits down with Patrick Quigley, CEO and co-founder of Sidecar Health, following his testimony before the Texas House Select Committee on Health Care Affordability.

Quigley explains Sidecar Health’s approach to insurance and why he believes greater price and quality transparency, fewer restrictions on where patients receive care, and stronger financial incentives for consumers could help lower healthcare costs.

The conversation explores provider networks, prior authorization, prescription drug prices, clinical quality data and the high cost of delayed care. Quigley also explains how Sidecar’s model rewards members for choosing care that costs less than the plan’s benefit amount and discusses the company’s experience with primary care, mental health services and emergency room utilization.

Finally, Quigley discusses Texas’ healthcare affordability debate and what he would like lawmakers to consider as the state approaches the 90th Texas Legislature.

00:00 — Introducing Patrick Quigley
01:05 — Sidecar Health & the Healthcare Affordability Problem
04:34 — Testifying Before Texas Lawmakers
06:15 — What's Wrong With Provider Networks?
07:43 — Why Patients Don't Know What Healthcare Costs
10:14 — Measuring the Quality of Medical Care
15:58 — Networks, Insurance Companies & Patient Choice
17:20 — How Much Should Healthcare Cost?
20:10 — The Texas Healthcare Opportunity
22:12 — Prior Authorization & Trusting Doctors
23:37 — Access to Care & Emergency Room Costs
26:33 — Prescription Prices & Consumer Incentives
29:26 — Why Healthcare Prices Vary by Location
32:11 — What Should Texas Lawmakers Do?
35:00 — Closing Thoughts

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What is driving rising litigation and insurance costs in Texas—and what does Texans for Lawsuit Reform want lawmakers to do about it?

On this episode of Texas Talks, host Brad Swail sits down with Ryan Patrick, the new CEO of Texans for Lawsuit Reform, to discuss his vision for the organization and its priorities heading into the 90th Texas Legislature.

Patrick draws on his career as a prosecutor, judge, U.S. Attorney and private-practice attorney to explain why he believes Texas needs to refocus on civil justice and tort reform. He discusses the impact of large verdicts and litigation on insurance premiums, businesses and consumers, as well as TLR’s concerns about medical damages, litigation surrounding commercial vehicles, and the incentives created by the current system.

The conversation also looks ahead to the next legislative session, where Patrick says TLR will pursue reforms addressing medical damages, staged accidents, insurance fraud, liability involving criminal activity, and other areas of Texas civil law.

Patrick also explains how he hopes to lead a new generation at TLR while building on the organization’s three decades of work in Texas.

00:00 — Introducing Ryan Patrick
00:50 — From Prosecutor to Judge to U.S. Attorney
03:18 — Why Patrick Joined Texans for Lawsuit Reform
04:59 — A New Generation at TLR
07:06 — Refocusing on Tort & Civil Justice Reform
09:28 — Texas Courts & the Case for Reform
13:48 — Venue Shopping & Consistency in the Courts
16:40 — Litigation, Insurance Premiums & Rising Costs
19:26 — How Lawsuits Can Impact Small Businesses
23:03 — Medical Damages & TLR’s Next Reform Push
28:32 — Do Large Verdicts Make Texans Safer?
30:34 — When Insurance Becomes Unaffordable
33:04 — How Texas Compares with Other States
40:41 — Staged Accidents & Insurance Fraud
41:36 — Priorities for the 90th Legislature
47:21 — TLR’s Strategy for the Next Session
48:10 — Final Thoughts

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Texas lawmakers are taking a closer look at government transparency, taxpayer spending and accountability at the state and local levels.

On this episode of Texas Talks, host Brad Swail welcomes back State Rep. Cody Vasut, who represents House District 25 and chairs the House Select Committee on Government Oversight.

Vasut explains the committee’s mission and the wide range of issues lawmakers are examining during the interim—from Texas’ public information laws and the growing impact of AI on records requests to education foundations, taxpayer money flowing to nongovernmental organizations, and prosecutorial discretion.

The conversation covers:

• Whether Texas' public information laws provide enough transparency
• How AI could transform public records requests
• Oversight of education foundations and public funds
• Taxpayer dollars flowing to NGOs and outside organizations
• Prosecutorial discretion and proposals for greater state oversight
• The unusual effort by eastern New Mexico counties interested in joining Texas

Vasut also discusses how his previous experience in local government influences his approach to state oversight and what he hopes the committee can accomplish before the next legislative session.

00:00 — Introduction & Rep. Cody Vasut
03:02 — The House Government Oversight Committee
05:26 — Could New Mexico Counties Join Texas?
11:13 — Government Transparency in Texas
15:08 — AI & Public Information Requests
20:15 — Education Foundations & Public Funds
24:02 — Taxpayer Money Going to NGOs
30:05 — Prosecutorial Discretion & District Attorneys
37:23 — What Success Looks Like for the Committee
38:12 — Local Government, Transparency & Taxpayers
42:03 — Closing

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How should Texas prepare its colleges, workforce, tax system, and infrastructure for the state's continued growth?

On Episode 126 of Texas Talks, host Brad Swail sits down with State Rep. Vince Perez, who represents House District 77 in El Paso, to discuss some of the major policy questions facing Texas ahead of the next legislative session. Perez describes his district at the center of the El Paso–Ciudad Juárez region and explains how its location along the U.S.-Mexico border shapes its economy and workforce.

A major focus is higher education. Perez discusses recent interim hearings, Texas' performance-based community college funding system, funding shortfalls facing those institutions, workforce development, and how artificial intelligence could transform the jobs awaiting today's college students.

The conversation covers:

• Community college funding and workforce development
• Academic freedom and state involvement in higher education
• Preparing Texas students for AI and the future economy
• Property taxes and how Texas funds state and local government
• The massive expansion of data centers around El Paso
• Energy, water, tax incentives, and the economic impact of those facilities

Perez also lays out his concerns about the enormous electricity and water requirements associated with new data centers, questioning whether the jobs and economic benefits they generate will justify the incentives and infrastructure demands placed on local communities.

00:00 — Introducing Rep. Vince Perez & House District 77
02:20 — Texas Higher Education & Community College Funding
05:11 — Why Community Colleges Are Facing Shortfalls
09:26 — Can Texas Make Colleges Whole?
11:09 — Higher Education & the Future of Warfare
13:18 — AI, Healthcare & Texas' Future Workforce
15:52 — Academic Freedom in Texas Universities
20:39 — The Fight Over Texas Property Taxes
25:32 — West Texas' Massive Data Center Boom
27:53 — Water, Electricity & the Cost of Data Centers
29:15 — Closing Thoughts

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Pilot. Flight paramedic. Firefighter. State Representative.

Rep. Armando Martinez (HD 39) joins Texas Talks to break down why Texas general aviation airports are more important than most people realize — and what the new House Select Committee on General Aviation is trying to fix.

In this episode we cover:

• Why Speaker Burrows created a Select Committee on General Aviation

• The real difference between general aviation and commercial airports • Infrastructure and funding challenges facing small and rural airports

• How Mid-Valley Airport in Weslaco is expanding to become a regional disaster response hub

• The economic power of corporate aircraft landing in small communities

• The serious aviation workforce shortage (especially avionics)

• South Texas launching its first-ever avionics training program

• How HB 4520 lowered the local match requirement from 10% to 5%

• What Martinez wants to see from the committee heading into the 90th Legislature

Timestamps:

0:00 – Cold Open

1:15 – Why a Select Committee on General Aviation now?

4:40 – What actually is general aviation?

8:30 – The funding problem for small airports

12:05 – Mid-Valley Airport expansion & disaster response hub

14:50 – Economic impact of corporate jets in small towns

18:10 – Aviation workforce shortage & the new avionics program

24:10 – Role of general aviation airports in disasters

27:40 – HB 4520: Lowering the match requirement

34:15 – Goals of the Select Committee

36:50 – Priorities for the 90th Texas Legislature

39:40 – Closing thoughts

If you care about Texas infrastructure, rural economic development, or disaster readiness, this conversation is for you.

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What would it take for Texas to become the national leader in health, wellness, and regenerative medicine?

On this episode of Texas Talks, host Brad Swail sits down with Jack Collier, co-founder and CEO of Optimized Health and Performance, a nationwide telehealth clinic based in the Austin area. Collier explains how his own experience with hormone testing led him into the health and wellness industry and why he believes patients need more information and control over their healthcare decisions.

The conversation covers:

• Preventive health, hormone optimization, and regenerative medicine
• Healthcare costs and the role of insurance
• Peptides and the growing online gray market
• How Texas could encourage research while protecting consumers
• The Make Texas Healthy Again movement and health education
• Why Austin has become a hub for health and wellness innovation

Collier argues that Texas has an opportunity to become a national center for emerging healthcare research and innovation while improving health education and giving patients greater choice in how they manage their health.

00:00 — Introduction & Jack Collier
02:09 — Hormone Optimization & Jack’s Health Journey
05:09 — The Future of Health & Regenerative Medicine in Texas
09:17 — Prevention, Nutrition & the Current Healthcare Model
16:03 — Healthcare Costs, Insurance & Patient Choice
20:17 — The Long-Term Value of Preventive Health
23:27 — What Texas Can Do Through Public Policy
24:53 — Peptides, Safety & the Online Gray Market
28:53 — Peptide Therapies & Medical Innovation
31:04 — Regulation, Research & the Future of Healthcare
32:40 — Make Texas Healthy Again & Health Education
36:17 — Austin’s Health & Wellness Boom

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What will higher education look like in an age of artificial intelligence, and how can Texas universities make sure their degrees continue to deliver value?

On this episode of Texas Talks, host Brad Swail sits down with Brandon Creighton, Chancellor of the Texas Tech University System and former Texas state senator and representative, to discuss higher education reform, artificial intelligence, and his vision for Texas Tech’s future.

Creighton reflects on his transition from writing higher education policy in the Texas Legislature to implementing it as chancellor, including Texas Tech’s review of roughly 14,000 courses under Senate Bill 37. He discusses curriculum reform, degrees of value, workforce needs, and how universities must adapt as AI rapidly changes both education and the private sector.

The conversation also explores Texas Tech’s work with NVIDIA, its plans for advanced AI computing infrastructure, and the potential applications for healthcare research, energy, national security, and other major challenges facing Texas.

The episode covers:

• Senate Bill 37 and higher education reform
• Texas Tech’s review of roughly 14,000 courses
• Preparing students and universities for AI
• Texas Tech’s work with NVIDIA and advanced computing
• AI research, healthcare, energy, and national security
• Creighton’s priorities heading into the 90th Texas Legislature

Creighton ultimately argues that Texas universities have an opportunity to lead rather than follow as AI transforms education, research, and the economy—summarizing his approach with a simple warning: “You’re either designing the menu or you’re on it.”

00:00 — Introduction
00:23 — Brandon Creighton’s move from the Legislature to Texas Tech
02:39 — Creighton’s background and interest in education
04:30 — What is Senate Bill 37?
07:37 — From writing SB 37 to implementing it
09:34 — Reviewing 14,000 Texas Tech courses
12:15 — Curriculum reform and degrees of value
14:06 — Texas Tech’s approach to higher education reform
16:18 — What could come next for SB 37?
17:30 — Preparing Texas Tech for the AI era
21:00 — Students, AI, and academic integrity
25:08 — Texas Tech’s NVIDIA partnership
29:09 — Sovereign data independence and national security
32:08 — Priorities for the 90th Texas Legislature
33:41 — Closing thoughts

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How can Texas improve healthcare access, strengthen public education, and prepare its workforce while balancing competing budget priorities?

On this episode of Texas Talks, host Brad Swail welcomes State Representative Donna Howard, who represents House District 48, for a wide-ranging conversation on healthcare, higher education, workforce development, public school funding, and the state's fiscal outlook. As Vice Chair of both the House Higher Education Committee and Article II Appropriations, Howard offers insight into some of the biggest policy debates facing Texas ahead of the next legislative session.

The discussion explores the challenges of funding public education, improving rural healthcare access, expanding workforce training through community colleges, and addressing shortages of nurses and healthcare providers. Howard also discusses property tax relief, the Sunset Commission's ongoing review of health agencies, dementia research, and how lawmakers are preparing for the state's next budget cycle.

The episode covers:

• Texas public education funding and property taxes
• Community colleges, workforce development, and credentials of value
• Rural healthcare access and provider shortages
• Expanding the role of nurse practitioners
• Sunset Commission priorities and state health agencies
• Texas budget outlook heading into the next legislative session

Howard also discusses child healthcare, Medicaid enrollment challenges, maternal healthcare deserts, medical research, housing growth, local infrastructure, and the difficult balancing act legislators face when weighing competing policy priorities.

00:00 — Community college funding controversy
00:33 — Introducing Rep. Donna Howard
02:06 — Sunset Commission and health agency review
04:10 — Children's healthcare and Medicaid challenges
07:23 — Public education funding and state mandates
08:17 — Community colleges and workforce outcomes
10:34 — Higher education priorities
12:22 — Nursing shortages and workforce development
16:28 — Education funding and ESAs
17:45 — Property taxes and state revenue challenges
25:05 — Rural healthcare and maternal health access
27:16 — Nurse practitioners and healthcare shortages
32:58 — Dementia research and medical innovation
36:25 — Housing growth, infrastructure, and local planning
40:35 — Texas budget outlook and closing thoughts

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Texas Talks host Brad Swail sits down with State Representative Gary Gates, Chairman of the House Land and Resource Management Committee and longtime Fort Bend County representative.

As one of the Legislature’s leading voices on housing policy, Chairman Gates breaks down the interim hearings focused on restoring affordability across Texas. The conversation covers the real-world impact of recent bills, aggressive local pushback from cities, and bold solutions to cut red tape and deliver more attainable housing.

Major topics include:
• The dramatic rise in home prices and interest rates since 2020 and their effect on Texas families
• SB 840 and by-right conversion of offices/retail into housing
• SB 15 and reduced minimum lot sizes to increase supply without disrupting established neighborhoods
• Local resistance tactics — from Olympic-sized pool mandates to public art fees and three-bedroom requirements
• Impact fees, their unintended consequences, and why they drive prices higher
• Municipal Utility Districts (MUDs), transparency, and their role in financing rapid growth
• Third-party plan reviews and inspections to speed development and lower costs
• The balance between state leadership and legitimate local concerns

Chairman Gates shares how the committee is preparing strong legislation for the 90th Session and why housing affordability remains a top priority for Texas leadership.

00:00 Intro & Welcome
01:13 Rep. Gary Gates Background & Committee Role
02:42 Interim Hearings Process & Preparation
05:11 Housing Affordability Crisis in Texas
08:50 Review of Key Bills: SB 840, SB 15 & Others
10:13 Local Resistance & City Ordinances
13:49 Why Cities Are Pushing Back (NIMBYism)
17:35 State vs Local Control Debate
21:15 Infrastructure & State Support for Growth
24:01 Supply Shortage vs Affordability Problem
28:10 Balancing Neighborhood Character & New Housing
30:44 Impact Fees & Their Real Effects
37:14 Municipal Utility Districts (MUDs) Explained
44:32 What Success Looks Like Next Session
48:21 Closing Thoughts

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"The Municipal Utility Districts hearing discussed in this episode is before the House Committee on Land & Resource Management, chaired by Rep. Gary Gates - not the Intergovernmental Affairs Committee."

What are the biggest public policy debates unfolding in Texas today?

In this solo episode of Texas Talks, host Brad Swail examines three major issues likely to shape the next legislative session: housing affordability, municipal utility districts (MUDs), and the ongoing debate over consumable THC products. Drawing on recent legislative hearings and policy developments, Brad explains what's happening, why it matters, and what Texans should watch as lawmakers prepare for 2027.

The episode covers:

• Texas' housing affordability reforms and local zoning disputes
• Municipal Utility Districts (MUDs) and their impact on homeowners
• The ongoing debate over THC regulation and public health
• How legislative interim hearings shape future policy
• What Texans should expect heading into the 2027 legislative session

Throughout the episode, Brad provides context for each issue, outlines the competing arguments on all sides, and explains how today's committee hearings often become tomorrow's legislation.

00:00 — Intro
00:30 — Housing affordability and zoning reform
06:09 — Understanding Municipal Utility Districts (MUDs)
11:50 — Texas' THC debate and what's next
17:00 — Closing thoughts

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Can Texas' electric grid keep up with the explosive growth of AI, data centers, and a rapidly expanding population?

On this episode of Texas Talks, host Brad Swail sits down with Mark Bell, President and CEO of the Association of Electric Companies of Texas (AECT), to discuss the future of the Texas electric grid, the unprecedented demand for electricity, and how the state is preparing for the next generation of economic growth.

Bell explains why Texas has become one of the nation's leading destinations for new industry, how AI-driven data centers are changing long-term electricity planning, and what lawmakers, regulators, and utilities are doing to ensure the grid remains reliable and affordable.

The conversation covers:

• Texas' rapid electricity demand and population growth
• AI data centers and their impact on the electric grid
• ERCOT's long-term planning and transmission expansion
• Senate Bill 6 and new rules for large energy users
• Who pays for new grid infrastructure?
• Nuclear energy, batteries, renewables, and natural gas
• Why Texas remains one of the nation's most affordable electricity markets

The discussion also explores how competitive electricity markets work, why new transmission lines are needed regardless of data center growth, and how Texas utilities are preparing to meet future demand while protecting residential ratepayers.

00:00 — Texas' exploding electricity demand
00:22 — Intro & Meet Mark Bell
03:22 — Why the grid conversation has changed
06:04 — AI data centers and future demand
11:16 — ERCOT's interconnection queue explained
16:15 — Building the next generation of power
20:11 — Who pays for grid expansion?
28:22 — Senate Bill 6 and new grid rules
30:55 — Local concerns about data centers
34:03 — What comes next for the Texas grid?
38:03 — Closing thoughts

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How should Texas prepare for rapid growth, extreme weather, and increasing demands on its infrastructure?

On this episode of Texas Talks, host Brad Swail sits down with Texas State Sen. Sarah Eckhardt to discuss the state's response to flooding, water infrastructure, data centers, public education funding, property taxes, and redistricting.

Sen. Eckhardt reflects on the aftermath of the devastating Central Texas floods, arguing that while progress has been made, key recommendations on emergency communications and floodplain regulations remain unaddressed. She also explains why long-term investments in water infrastructure and disaster preparedness are becoming increasingly important as Texas continues to grow.

The conversation covers:

• Lessons learned from recent Texas flooding
• Emergency response and radio interoperability
• Water infrastructure, drought, and desalination
• Data centers, energy demand, and water consumption
• Public education funding and property taxes
• Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) and school finance
• Texas redistricting and the state's political future

The discussion also explores balancing state and local authority, managing Texas' continued population growth, and how policymakers can prepare for future infrastructure challenges while maintaining affordability for Texans.

00:00 — Intro & Sen. Sarah Eckhardt joins the show
01:51 — Texas flood preparedness one year later
09:47 — Building standards and floodplain development
16:14 — Water infrastructure and drought concerns
21:05 — Data centers and Texas growth
27:00 — Public education funding and ESAs
38:44 — Redistricting and Texas politics
43:26 — Final thoughts

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Can artificial intelligence help make government more efficient while saving taxpayers and businesses billions of dollars?

On this episode of Texas Talks, host Brad Swail sits down with Reeve Bull, Policy Director at the Fulcrum Foundation and former Director of the Office of Regulatory Management under Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin, to discuss one of the nation's most successful state regulatory reform efforts—and how Texas is building on that success with artificial intelligence.

Bull explains how Virginia eliminated or streamlined more than 35% of its regulatory requirements, reduced nearly half the words in agency guidance documents, and generated an estimated $1.4 billion in annual savings for residents and businesses—all while maintaining protections for public health and safety.

The conversation covers:

• How Virginia reduced regulatory burdens and saved taxpayers billions
• Using AI to review regulations, permits, and government guidance
• Why transparency is just as important as cutting regulations
• Texas' new Regulatory Efficiency Office (TRIO) and what comes next
• Occupational licensing reform and reducing unnecessary barriers to work
• How states can compare regulations and learn from one another
• The future of AI in modernizing state government

Bull also discusses how AI can rapidly identify outdated regulations, duplicate rules across agencies, and compare state regulatory codes—tasks that would traditionally require thousands of hours of manual review.

Throughout the discussion, he argues that smarter regulation isn't about eliminating necessary protections, but ensuring government rules are effective, transparent, and no more burdensome than they need to be.

00:00 — Virginia's $1.4 billion regulatory reform
00:29 — Intro + Meet Reeve Bull
02:08 — Why regulations matter
04:12 — The cosmetology licensing example
08:32 — The goals behind Virginia's reforms
09:29 — Cost-benefit analysis explained
14:48 — Reviewing every regulation
16:31 — How AI changed the process
21:58 — AI's biggest advantages
27:17 — Did Virginia meet its goals?
30:37 — Texas' TRIO initiative
35:07 — How reforms actually get approved
37:22 — Building support for regulatory reform
40:14 — Why now is the right time for AI
42:25 — The Fulcrum Foundation
43:30 — Closing thoughts

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What happens when a livestock threat once thought eradicated begins moving north toward Texas?

On this episode of Texas Talks, host Brad Swail sits down with Dr. Lori Teller, licensed veterinarian and Executive Director of the Texas Veterinary Medical Association (TVMA), to discuss the growing concern surrounding New World screwworm, the state of veterinary medicine in Texas, rural veterinarian shortages, telemedicine, and the future of animal health.

Dr. Teller explains how New World screwworm infestations threaten livestock, wildlife, pets, and even humans, and why state and federal agencies are working urgently to prevent its spread throughout Texas and the United States.

The conversation covers:

• What New World screwworm is and how it spreads
• Why the threat has returned after decades of containment
• Sterile fly programs and eradication efforts
• The potential impact on Texas agriculture and food production
• How pet owners should respond to suspicious wounds
• State and federal coordination to contain outbreaks
• Rural veterinarian shortages across Texas
• Student debt and workforce challenges in veterinary medicine
• The Rural Veterinarian Incentive Program
• Veterinary telemedicine and its limitations
• Artificial intelligence in veterinary practice
• Priorities for the upcoming Texas legislative session

Dr. Teller also discusses how veterinary medicine extends far beyond dogs and cats, encompassing livestock, wildlife, public health, food safety, and emergency response efforts that are critical to Texas' economy and agricultural sector.

The discussion explores the challenges of attracting veterinarians to rural communities, where shortages can impact ranchers, farmers, and animal owners across large geographic regions.

The episode concludes with a look at how technology, telemedicine, and artificial intelligence are beginning to transform veterinary care while reinforcing the importance of maintaining strong veterinary networks throughout Texas.

00:00 — Intro + Meet Dr. Lori Teller
01:44 — Veterinary specialties and career paths
03:44 — What is New World screwworm?
06:50 — Why screw worm has returned
09:52 — Sterile fly facilities and containment efforts
11:30 — Worst-case scenarios for Texas agriculture
14:00 — State and federal response efforts
16:13 — Current screwworm cases in Texas
17:52 — What pet owners should do
20:15 — Rural veterinarian shortages
24:18 — The Rural Veterinarian Incentive Program
29:16 — Veterinary telemedicine explained
37:58 — Artificial intelligence in veterinary medicine
41:11 — Priorities for the next legislative session
41:48 — Closing thoughts

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