FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2023
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The work of the Texas Legislature is not done. Though both chambers adjourned in mid-July with a compromise on property tax relief, members of the Texas Senate are still in Austin for the historic impeachment trial of Attorney General Ken Paxton. Many believe the governor will call yet another special session in October to attempt once again to pass public school vouchers.
Of the new laws passed during the regular session, a small percentage have a direct impact on the University. The most notable were laws regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion offices at public universities and faculty tenure.
As the heat wave continues, grid operators came closer than they have been all summer to triggering power outages across the state.
The Texas economy is holding strong with the announcement of an 8.3% increase in general revenues for fiscal year 2023. You can read more on this below in the September 1 announcement from Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar.
Nationally, reports before Labor Day saw a modest jump in job creation, but unemployment also increased. The Federal Reserve continues to raise interest rates to temper inflation. While divisions within the Republican party threaten continued federal government funding talks, the Pentagon is looking to bolster our national security with the deployment of AI by land, sea, and air.
We have included a special section on Suggested Listening, with a link to a podcast featuring a discussion on the impact of technology on politics and policy.
We will be following legislation at the state and federal levels that pertain to higher education and its impact on UTA. As you receive updates, please let us know if there are any topics you would like to hear more about from Government Relations.
Thank you for your dedication to UTA and Go Mavs!
UTA Government Relations
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Faculty flee Texas politics
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After legislators passed laws banning diversity initiatives and targeting tenure at state universities, more than a quarter of the 1,900 Texas professors surveyed by faculty associations said they plan to look for positions out of state, The Texas Tribune reports.
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| Power grid buckles under historic heat
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Recent warnings issued by ERCOT show the vulnerability of Texas' electrical power grid, The Texas Tribune and AP News report. Gov. Greg Abbott has said improvements since 2021 have stabilized the grid. Earlier this year, Texas lawmakers passed bills aimed at luring developers to generate more “on-demand” electricity.
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National job market expands
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Kevin McCarthy is facing the greatest peril to his speakership since he clawed his way into the job eight months ago, with multiple factions of his party feuding and a looming revolt ahead during the battle to fund the government.
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The Department of Defense seeks an array of air-, land- and sea-based autonomous systems to keep pace with adversaries, the Wall Street Journal reports. Access this article through myapps.uta.edu.
Suggested Listening: The Politico Tech podcast is your daily download on the disruption that technology is bringing to politics and policy.
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- General Revenue-related revenue for fiscal 2023 totaled $82.84 billion, up 8.3% from fiscal 2022.
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Sales tax revenue was $46.58 billion, up 8.4% from fiscal 2022.
- Oil production tax revenue was $5.93 billion, down 6.8% from fiscal 2022.
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The Texas Senate and the Texas House of Representatives archived sessions are available online.
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The University needs the support of its faculty, staff, and alumni to ensure we continue to receive resources to serve our students, conduct research, and expand our programs. For more information on how you can support the University and its legislative goals, contact:
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Jeff Jeter, vice president of Government Relations, at jeter@uta.edu
- Martin Lujan, director of Government Relations, at martin.lujan@uta.edu
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Bogan Pollock, director of Public Policy, at bogan@uta.edu
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Trevor Simmons, senior budget analyst, at trevor.simmons@uta.edu
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Beth Robinson, administrative assistant, at beth.robinson@uta.edu
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The University of Texas at Arlington
701 S. Nedderman Drive | Arlington, TX 76019 US
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