Harvey Kronberg's Quorum Report - Mobile

DAILY BUZZ	CALENDAR
R & D	FREE SIGNUP
NEWS CLIPS	LOGIN
PRESS RELEASES	LOGOUT
SEARCH	FULL SITE
	SUBSCRIPTIONS

August 21, 2026 2:07 PM

People on the Move

Staffer moves, lobby changes, association hires and more

After a week off, Quorum Report Radio will be back on your favorite podcast app this evening. We’ll cover it all: Data centers, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s latest crusade against “filthy books,” Speaker Dustin Burrows’ reaction to conservative skepticism, and Big Bend border wall construction. The links to follow the show are on the QR homepage.

Meantime there are staffer moves, lobby changes, association hires and more to share this week in People on the Move. It’s the most efficient way to share career news with the entire Texas Capitol community, as y’all know. So, feel free to send that kind of news anytime to ksbraddock@gmail.com and use POTM in the subject line or I tend to lose track.

Thanks so much. Here's the latest edition.

The rest of the story, subscribers only

By Scott Braddock

Return to Top of Page

August 19, 2026 3:32 PM

Texas House State Affairs Committee takes more modulated approach than the Senate on transmission lines and data centers

The data center industry still faces tough questions about community outreach and developments in different parts of the state; on major transmission lines, major industry players tell GOP leadership there's urgency to addressing reliablity needs sooner than later

Editor’s note: Late in the day, a letter from industry groups to GOP leadership was distributed about the transmission lines. It’s available for download in this story – SB

As protestors rallied in opposition to data centers and proposed 765-kV transmission lines outside the Texas Capitol and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick targeted books filled with smut in the Texas Senate, House State Affairs held a mega hearing on two of the biggest liabilities for Republicans this fall.

The marathon hearing on those data centers and 765 kV electricity lines began around 8am and was scheduled to last at least 12 hours or so, said Chairman Ken King, R-Canadian, as things were getting underway.

Some of the initial testimony seemed to go a bit off script as ERCOT President and CEO Pablo Vegas talked about what the transmission lines will be used for.

The rest of the story, subscribers only

By James Russell

Return to Top of Page

August 19, 2026 2:23 PM

Updated: As Patrick pushes to make it easier for the state to take over ISDs, the Texas Education Agency gets harsh review from state auditor

The audit required by a bipartisan budget amendment adopted last session found the agency bloated in terms of staff, lacking when it comes to contracting, not following its own policy on procurement and travel expenses, and more

While Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick pushes today to make it easier for the state to take over local ISDs over “filthy books” and Gov. Greg Abbott asks Comptroller Don Huffines to audit those local school districts, the Texas Education Agency got a less-than-glowing review from the State Auditor today.

Seems to at least a few Texas Capitol observers as a classic case of “watch my thumb.”

Among the auditor’s findings:

The rest of the story, subscribers only

By Scott Braddock

Return to Top of Page

August 19, 2026 12:03 PM

Thomas Graham departs TABC to join the Wholesale Beer Distributors of Texas as President

Tom Spilman to serve as President Emeritus

Here’s the full announcement.

Return to Top of Page