Members of the Texas Electoral College met at the state capitol building in Austin on Tuesday to cast their 40 electoral votes for president.

The office of Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson reported all 40 electoral votes were cast for President-elect Donald J. Trump and Vice President JD Vance.

The vote, the secretary’s office said, reflects “the will of the Texas voters in the 2024 General Election.”

Nelson presided over the proceedings in the Texas House Chamber. In an address to the electors, Nelson emphasized the historical significance of their duty.

“Today, you join a distinguished line of Texans who have served as electors—a role vital to the strength of our democracy,” Nelson said. “This event marks the culmination of months of effort to ensure free, fair, and secure elections.”

The event was broadcast live through Texas House media and can be watched here.

Texas may join several states in legalizing recreational marijuana if a bill is passed in the next legislative session.

If passed, the bill would let adults ages 21 and older possess, use and transport marijuana for personal use, up to 2.5 ounces. Up to ten ounces of marijuana could be possessed legally if stored in a secure location.

It would also require cannabis products to be clearly labeled and have child-resistant packaging, WFAA reports.

State Rep. Jessica Gonzalez (D-Dallas) filed the bill in November, to be considered during the next legislative session. The next session runs from Jan. 5 to June 2, 2025. If the bill passes, it will go into effect Sept. 1, 2025.

The bill would have limitations. Smoking marijuana in public would remain illegal, as would smoking in a vehicle on a public road.

Texas would join 24 other states in legalizing recreational marijuana. The Lone Star State established a medical marijuana program through the Compassionate Use Program in 2015 and is among the 38 states that allow it for medical use.

However, it’s unlikely that the new bill will be passed as Texas officials continue to tighten regulations on marijuana issues statewide.

People are also reading: Why a Texas House candidate says ‘it’s high time’ to legalize marijuana

Recreational marijuana bill filed after Texas AG files lawsuit against Dallas

Around the time Rep. Gonzalez filed the bill, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton added Dallas to the list of cities he is suing for the decriminalization of cannabis. The lawsuit came shortly after 67% of Dallas voters approved Proposition R, also known as the “Dallas Freedom Act.” The law amends the city’s charter and prevents police from arresting or citing individuals for possessing up to 4 ounces of cannabis, except in cases involving felony investigations tied to violence or narcotics.

The measure also prohibits officers from using the smell of cannabis as probable cause for searches or seizures and restricts city funds and resources from being used to test cannabis-related substances to determine whether they meet the legal definition of cannabis.

Before the vote, Dallas had been one of the largest U.S. cities that had not decriminalized cannabis possession.

Texas Lt. Gov. moves to ban sale of all THC products

Just weeks ago, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick launched an effort to pass Senate Bill 3, which would ban all forms of consumable tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) from being sold, according to a news release from his office. As president of the Senate, Patrick has a strong influence over which legislation is heard. The bill’s low number suggests it will be among the first to be debated in the next legislative session.

Read more: Proposed Texas bill would ban sale of all THC products, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick says

Arizona State defensive lineman Zac Swanson made it clear he has a rooting interest in the first-round matchup in this year’s College Football Playoff between Texas and Clemson. 

Swanson will be rooting for Texas on Saturday for no other reason than to have the chance to exact revenge on New Year’s Day against the team that “kicked me out” and told him he’d “never be good enough to play there.” 

The defensive lineman transferred from Texas to ASU in May after he said the Longhorns coaching staff gave him a harsh assessment. 

The Sun Devils went 11-2 this year and won the Big 12 Championship game.

Swanson recorded 16 tackles, two tackles for loss, half a sack and a quarterback hurry this season for the Sun Devils. 

Now he wants to stick it to the team that didn’t have faith in him. 

“That’s a team that kicked me out and said I’d never be good enough to play there, so that’s something that been on my agenda for a while,” Swanson told reporters, according to 12News’ Jake Garcia. “It’s like a dream scenario, so I’m very excited about that.” 

Swanson went on to describe the comments that he was told by Texas coaches that resulted in him heading for the transfer portal. 

“Exactly what was said was, ‘If you want to stay at Texas you might as well quit football and just go to school here.’ So, a lot of motivation there for me,” he said. 

He called it the “worst thing” that had ever been said to him and that “it was just said so carelessly.” 

Ultimately, Swanson said things worked out the way that he hoped they would have since he decided to transfer to ASU. 

Swanson is an Arizona native and his Sun Devils earned a bye in the College Football Playoff to automatically put them in the quarterfinals. 

For Swanson to get his wish, Texas will have to defeat the Tigers at home in Austin.