The Texas Dispatch

Texas could face a $770 million annual obligation to fund SNAP benefits under new federal rules, even as food banks across the state struggle to meet growing demand. Celia Cole, CEO of @FeedingTexas, joins @bradswail on @TXTalksPodcast to discuss rising food insecurity, the consequences of federal changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and the difficult decisions facing Texas lawmakers ahead of the 2027 legislative session. Feeding Texas represents a network of 20 food banks serving all 254 Texas counties. Cole explains how rising food prices, transportation costs, and household expenses are putting increasing pressure on families, particularly in rural communities where grocery stores and affordable fresh food can be difficult to access. The conversation examines changes to SNAP under H.R. 1, commonly known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Cole explains how new federal cost-sharing requirements could leave Texas responsible for approximately $770 million annually if the state's SNAP payment error rate remains above the federal threshold. She also addresses a critical distinction often overlooked in the debate: SNAP payment errors are not the same as fraud. According to Cole, SNAP enrollment in Texas has declined by approximately 738,000 participants, or 20%, over the past year. She discusses expanded work requirements, administrative challenges, and the consequences for children, older adults, and working families who depend on food assistance. Brad and Celia also explore whether food banks, churches, and private charities could realistically replace declining government food assistance. Cole explains that for every meal provided by food banks, SNAP provides approximately nine, illustrating the enormous scale of the federal program. The discussion turns to the economic consequences of hunger, including its effects on health care costs, children's education, workforce productivity, and local businesses. Cole argues that maintaining access to food assistance is both a humanitarian priority and an important economic consideration for Texas. They also examine possible solutions, including reducing the state's SNAP payment error rate, improving government technology, strengthening employee training, and delaying the new federal cost-sharing requirements. Finally, Cole outlines Feeding Texas's legislative priorities, including protecting funding for surplus agricultural products, improving SNAP employment and training programs, and expanding access to summer food assistance for children. Can Texas address growing hunger while navigating new federal requirements and mounting budget pressures?

$8.6 billion a year to end school taxes on homesteads. The three biggest business breaks the governor-elect wants to redirect: $3.6 billion. Less than half. The math, in 20 seconds. thetexasdispatch.com/texas-h…

Texas Could Owe $770M for SNAP — Here’s Why Celia Cole, CEO of @FeedingTexas, breaks down how the One Big Beautiful Bill is changing SNAP financing for the first time in 60+ years. She explains the new state cost-share tied to payment error rates, why Texas could face roughly $770 million a year, and how that collides with a 3% budget cut directive. She also clarifies that the error rate is an accuracy measure, not fraud, and why food banks cannot replace SNAP’s scale. @bradswail @TXTalksPodcast

Sunset staff on HHSC, 289 pages: the agency paid Conduent more than $59.6 million on a Medicaid claims contract before canceling it in 2024. The finding: HHSC "failed to conduct adequate planning." It's one of several. thetexasdispatch.com/hhsc-su…

Sen. Judith Zaffirini prefiled five data center bills. SB 32: a PUC permit before building anything at 75 MW or more. SB 34: county zoning districts for data centers, in a state where counties can't zone. thetexasdispatch.com/sb-34-s…

SB 293 would end Texas's data center tax breaks, even the ones already granted. 23 of 31 senators signed. What it says, what it costs, and the House versions, in 75 seconds. (AI visuals and narration.) thetexasdispatch.com/sb-293-…

ERCOT has asked Texas utilities for a list of every site with 25 MW or more of peak demand and at least 1 MW of backup generation, due Dec. 15, in case a federal emergency order lets it tell them to run. thetexasdispatch.com/ercot-b…

Texas local governments owed nearly $561 billion in fiscal 2025, per a new TPPF paper, which proposes four reforms to how cities, counties and districts borrow. thetexasdispatch.com/tppf-re…

Ted Delisi started his firm on March 1, 2003, in a spare bedroom with an old laptop, a Nokia phone and a $23.16 first check. The goal: survive 90 days. A Profile of a Texan. thetexasdispatch.com/ted-del…

Two summers of floods on the Guadalupe. TPWD and the river's Trout Unlimited chapter are rebuilding the state fish's numbers; anglers raised $20,000 for hatchery upgrades. thetexasdispatch.com/tpwd-gu…

Austin ISD vs. the comptroller: Huffines says the district quit cooperating with his performance review. He's finishing it anyway. thetexasdispatch.com/comptro…

Three House bills would put 50% to 90% of surplus state revenue into school tax cuts automatically, until the M&O tax hits zero. HB 872, HB 1065, HB 1040 and HJR 60, read in 75 seconds. (AI visuals and narration.) thetexasdispatch.com/hb-872-…

3 state bodies meet today. The one to watch: Texas A&M System Board of Regents, Nov. 11–12 — next construction phase of the Bryan semiconductor institute. Previews: thetexasdispatch.com/texas-a…

November 11, 1918: The Guns Stop, and Texas Counts Its Dead. Nearly 200,000 Texans served in the First World War; about 5,000 did not come home. history.thetexasdispatch.com

Data Centers Ranked Dead Last in What Texas Voters Care About Despite dominating headlines and local fights, “evaluating the growth of data centers” ranked 13th out of 13 issues that would make Texans more likely to vote for a candidate. Only about 2% named data centers as their top issue in an open-ended question. Meanwhile, building water infrastructure and lowering electricity bills both polled above 80%. John Hryhorchuk explains why the basics (water, power, healthcare, education) are driving voter concern far more than data centers, and what that means for the 2027 legislative session. @JohnHryhorchuk @bradswail @TXTalksPodcast

Veterans Day flag placements at the state veterans cemeteries: Corpus Christi Tuesday 5 p.m., Killeen Wednesday 8 a.m., Mission Wednesday 9 a.m. Flags provided, no RSVP. thetexasdispatch.com/glo-vet…

Only 18% of Texans Want to Keep the Healthcare System As-Is Texas voters overwhelmingly reject the healthcare status quo. Just 17.5–18% say things are fine as they are. Nearly 90% want to know who owns hospitals, physician groups, and insurers. Support for regulating healthcare mergers and even breaking up companies has risen sharply. John Hryhorchuk also details a striking finding on teacher healthcare: premiums in the TRS ActiveCare plan are rising at twice the rate of recent teacher pay increases, and family coverage can consume up to 40% of a teacher’s income. @JohnHryhorchuk @bradswail @TXTalksPodcast

26 years without a deathless day on Texas roads. 3,763 deaths last year, down from 4,162. The #EndTheStreakTX push runs two weeks. thetexasdispatch.com/txdot-d…

How Texas pays for a governor's inauguration: private gifts, no cap, a three-line report. The law and the money, in 80 seconds. (AI visuals and narration.) thetexasdispatch.com/texas-i…

Texas state employees get paid parental leave: 40 days for the birth parent, 20 for the other. It starts at birth, so a NICU stay can use it up before the baby comes home. thetexasdispatch.com/texas-h…