Texas
Texas Legislature is primed for red meat issues, but expect some bread and butter, too
AUSTIN – With Republicans firmly in control of the Texas Legislature, the 2025 session could offer plenty of cultural conflict issues that appeal to many GOP voters and activists, but lawmakers are also expected to mix bread and butter with their red meat.
Conversations with nearly a dozen lawmakers and legislative staffers indicate the session could focus on improving the state’s infrastructure and adding safeguards against ever-changing technology, including artificial intelligence.
Last week during a forum sponsored by the lobby group Professional Advocacy Association of Texas, the chiefs of staff for Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dade Phelan said the legislative session could largely involve bolstering the state’s infrastructure.
Here are some of the major issues lawmakers could tackle during their 140-day session, which starts in January.
Abbott says he has enough votes in the Legislature to approve a plan allowing Texas families to use public money to attend private schools. The proposal, which involves publicly funded education savings accounts, has been defeated in the Legislature by a bipartisan coalition of urban and rural legislators.
The fallout from this year’s hard-fought primary elections, in which Abbott used his resources to oust some House lawmakers who blocked his plan, has led proponents to predict a voucher-style program will pass next year. Such a plan could be joined with increased dollars for public schools and teacher pay raises, as some lawmakers against Abbott’s plan will work to get the best deal possible.
The emergence of a new House speaker could change the calculation in the House on school choice, particularly if blocking the proposal is part of a deal the new speaker makes with Democrats.
“Everybody knows what a priority that [school choice] is for the governor,” said Robert Black, Abbott’s chief of staff.
Other education issues could be top of mind for lawmakers, including discipline in public schools. Some teachers have complained that some students are increasingly out of control.
In 2023 Sen. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock, sponsored legislation that would allow a teacher to remove a student based on a single incident of unruly or disruptive behavior. The bill would have let schools suspend students for longer periods and kick them out of traditional public schools for a broader range of infractions.
Civil rights advocates argued that Perry’s proposal would have been a return to the kind of zero-tolerance discipline that disproportionately impacted children of color.
Black said he expected lawmakers to also deal with public school safety and workforce readiness.
Texas can expect another significant budget surplus, so Abbott and some lawmakers are pushing for another major property tax relief package. Last year, lawmakers — after contentious debate — voted for a historic $18 billion property tax cut. With a surplus projected at $20 billion, another relief package is likely.
Lawmakers could consider whether to stop linking public school funding to property taxes. That would provide additional relief but require an overhaul in the state’s approach to public school funding.
Since a 2021 winter storm left millions of Texans without power and water, lawmakers have made fixes to the energy grid. Expect more fortification next year as ERCOT’s meteorologist predicts an elevated chance for extreme weather this winter.
“People want to make sure we have a fortified grid,” said Darrell Davila, Patrick’s chief of staff.
Texas leaders want the grid to be protected against attack while meeting the demand created by data centers and rapid population growth.
Lawmakers could also move to address the state leaders’ need to make sure Texans will have enough water going forward, particularly with its massive growth. Part of the water problem is created by an aging infrastructure. It’s an issue that will take more than one legislative session to solve.
The emergence of AI means dramatic changes in how we live and conduct business, but the new frontier is fraught with risks and dangers. There’s already a special House committee looking into ways to make sure artificial intelligence is used properly.
“We also need to make sure our state is protected from cyberattacks,” Black said.
Access to health care in rural areas has been a growing problem that affects more than health. Small towns have become attractive for companies across the world looking to build plants and headquarters. Not addressing quality of life issues, including nearby hospitals and doctors, could cause potential suitors to look elsewhere.
According to the Texas Organization of Rural & Community Hospitals, Texas has had 26 permanent or temporary rural hospital closures since 2010, which leads the nation.
“The governor can’t go and sell bringing a manufacturing facility back from China to Texas if there is not water there and there is not a doctor to deliver a baby there,” said Mike Toomey, chief of staff for Phelan. “We have an obligation to help rural Texas.”
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The No. 5 UConn Huskies (9-1) will attempt to continue a five-game winning streak when they host the Texas Longhorns (7-3) on Friday, December 12, 2025 at PeoplesBank Arena. The contest airs at 8 p.m. ET on FOX.
Keep reading to get all you need to know ahead of wagering on the UConn-Texas matchup.
UConn vs. Texas How to Watch & Odds
- When: Friday, December 12, 2025 at 8 p.m. ET
- Where: PeoplesBank Arena in Hartford, Connecticut
- TV: FOX
- Streaming: FOXSports.com, FOX Sports App and FOX One (Try free for 7 days)
UConn vs. Texas Prediction
The Huskies are holding opponents to just 60.4 points per game while averaging 91, giving them one of the strongest scoring margins in the country. Their defense has been particularly sharp, limiting opponents to 37.4% shooting from the field.
Solo Ball and Tarris Reed Jr. continue to set the tone. Ball is averaging 15 points per game, and Reed Jr. has provided steady interior production with 14.8 points and 5.4 rebounds. Their consistency has been central to the Huskies’ early-season dominance.
The Longhorns have shown they can score, averaging 85.8 points per game, but their defense has struggled, allowing opponents to shoot 48.5%. That could be an issue against a UConn offense that moves the ball well and attacks efficiently.
UConn’s home court-advantage and Texas’s 2-2 road struggles tilt the matchup toward the Huskies.
- Pick ATS: Texas (+16.5)
- Pick OU: Over (145.5)
- Prediction: UConn 81, Texas 69
Prediction provided by FOX Sports’ Sports AI. Download the FOX Sports App for free access to Sports AI.
UConn vs. Texas Betting Insights
Betting Line Implied Predictions
- Based on the spread and over/under, the implied score for the matchup is Huskies 81, Longhorns 64.
- The Huskies have a 95.9% chance to win this meeting per the moneyline’s implied probability.
- The Longhorns have an 8.3% implied probability to win.
Key Spread Facts
- UConn has compiled a 3-7-0 record against the spread this season.
- Texas has won six games against the spread this year, while failing to cover four times.
- UConn has covered the spread once this season (1-4 ATS) when playing as at least 16.5-point favorites.
Key Total Facts
- The Huskies and their opponent have broken the 145.5-point mark four times this year.
- Longhorns games have gone over 145.5 points on eight occasions this season.
- The total for this matchup is 145.5 points, 23.4 fewer than the combined scoring average of the two teams.
Key Moneyline Facts
- UConn has won six of seven games when the moneyline favorite this season (85.7%).
- Texas has split the two games it has played as underdogs this season.
- UConn has played as a moneyline favorite of -2326 or shorter twice this season, and won both.
- Texas has not entered a game this season with longer moneyline odds than +1103.
UConn vs. Texas: Recent Results
| Date | Favorite | Spread | Total | Favorite Moneyline | Underdog Moneyline | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12/8/2024 | Longhorns | -1.5 | 141 | -121 | +101 | 76-65 UCONN |
UConn vs. Texas: 2025-26 Stats Comparison
| UConn | Texas | |
|---|---|---|
| Points Scored Per Game (Rank) | 79.8 (137) | 89.1 (21) |
| Points Allowed (Rank) | 61.7 (10) | 73.2 (189) |
| Rebounds (Rank) | 9 (234) | 11.7 (49) |
| 3pt Made (Rank) | 7.7 (203) | 8 (175) |
| Assists (Rank) | 17.9 (38) | 14.6 (179) |
| Turnovers (Rank) | 8.8 (10) | 11.5 (167) |
UConn 2025-26 Key Players
| Name | GP | PTS | REB | ASST | STL | BLK | 3PM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solomon Ball | 10 | 15 | 3.3 | 1.6 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 2 |
| Tarris Reed Jr. | 5 | 14.8 | 7.6 | 1.4 | 1.2 | 1.6 | 0 |
| Alex Karaban | 10 | 13.4 | 5.4 | 2.2 | 0.9 | 1.2 | 2 |
| Silas Demary Jr. | 10 | 10 | 4.5 | 5.1 | 1.8 | 0.2 | 0.3 |
| Eric Reibe | 10 | 9.6 | 4.6 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 1.3 | 0.3 |
Texas 2025-26 Key Players
| Name | GP | PTS | REB | ASST | STL | BLK | 3PM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matas Vokietaitis | 10 | 15.9 | 6.6 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 1.1 | 0 |
| Dailyn Swain | 10 | 15.7 | 6.9 | 3.5 | 1.6 | 0.3 | 0.7 |
| Jordan Pope | 10 | 12.5 | 2.1 | 3 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 2.4 |
| Tramon Mark | 10 | 9.9 | 2.8 | 2.5 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 1 |
| Simeon Wilcher | 10 | 9.4 | 2.4 | 1.9 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 1.6 |
FOX Sports used technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar to create this story.
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At this point in time, opting out of bowl games is nothing new, but Texas is going to have more opt-outs in the Citrus Bowl against Michigan than many—self included—expected. This problem pales in comparison to what’s going on in Ann Arbor, but the amount of lost experience will be something for Texas to overcome, primarily on defense.
Neimann Lawrence list the Longhorns as one school that is standing out
As the Longhorns continue to build for the future, one of their targets is four-star prospect Neimann Lawrence. The Miami native is one of the best quarterbacks in the 2028 class and is attracting interest from some of the nation’s top programs. On Monday, Lawrence revealed the schools that have stood out so far, including the Longhorns.
While Mondays update was encouraging, Texas was not the only school Lawrence mentioned. He also highlighted Michigan, Miami, Ohio State, Texas A&M, and Tennessee. That is not an easy list of schools to go to battle with; the Longhorns have time to make themselves stand out.
Currently, the Miami Northwestern High star is ranked as the fourth-best quarterback in is class by 247Sports. They also rank him as the ninth-best player from Florida and the 39th-best player in the nation. With collegiate debut still over a year away, those rankings could change.
At the moment, the Longhorns do not have a commitment in the 2028 class, but they have made offers to some of the top recruits. That includes Brysen Wright, Jalanie George, Jamarios Canton, Micah Rhodes, and King Pitts. Landing any of those players would give Texas a bright future.
With a decision still months away, Lawrence will be a player to watch. A lot could change as his recruitment continues, but it is a good sign for Texas that they are standing out early on in the process.
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