AUSTIN (Nexstar) — Texans voiced growing concerns about the expansion of artificial intelligence data centers, while the Texas House Natural Resources Committee examined their potential impact on the state’s water supply and electric grid during a hearing last week.
A recent poll from the Texas Politics Project found that 56% of Texans oppose the construction of data centers in their communities. The survey showed stronger opposition in rural and suburban areas, where existing and proposed data center projects have become more common.
Lawmakers heard similar concerns during the committee hearing as local officials, industry representatives and residents discussed the demands data centers could place on Texas’ water resources and power infrastructure.
Trent Ashby said constituents have expressed overwhelmingly negative views about data centers. He also acknowledged the challenge of balancing local concerns with national security interests tied to artificial intelligence development.
Several county officials urged lawmakers to give local governments greater authority to regulate or block data center projects before construction begins.
Greg Abbott also addressed the issue in an interview with NewsNation, saying Texas will require data centers to generate their own power, reuse their own water and help lower electricity costs for residential and small-business customers.
In a separate development, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled 6-3 on Thursday that the Trump administration lawfully ended Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian and Syrian nationals, clearing the way for the federal government to terminate protections for hundreds of thousands of immigrants, including more than 147,000 people in Texas.
Congress created TPS in 1990 to allow people from countries experiencing extraordinary conditions to live and work temporarily in the United States. Haiti received TPS after the 2010 earthquake, while Syria received the designation in 2012 following the country’s civil conflict.
Former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem ended TPS for Haiti and Syria in 2025 after reviewing both designations.
The Supreme Court ruled that federal law bars courts from reviewing the Homeland Security secretary’s decisions to terminate TPS designations.
Ted Cruz argued in a court filing that federal law requires the Homeland Security secretary to review and terminate TPS when countries no longer meet the legal criteria.
Justice Elena Kagan disagreed in a dissenting opinion, arguing that the majority overlooked comments President Donald Trump made about Haitian immigrants.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security welcomed the ruling, calling it a victory for immigration enforcement. Abbott also praised the decision on social media, writing that “temporary means temporary.”
Former DHS and White House immigration official Andrea Flores said the ruling could remove hundreds of thousands of workers from the labor force and worsen the cost of living.
Meanwhile, bipartisan legislation that would establish national rules for college athletics continues to advance in Congress despite opposition from two major athletic conferences.
The Protect College Sports Act, which Cruz and Maria Cantwell introduced, passed the Senate Commerce Committee earlier this month.
The proposal would establish federal standards for name, image and likeness compensation, allow athletes five years of eligibility, limit transfers, protect women’s and non-revenue sports, and require local broadcasts of college football and basketball games.
The Southeastern Conference and the Big Ten Conference oppose the bill, arguing that it does not fully replace varying state laws and could reduce direct revenue-sharing opportunities for athletes.
The Big 12 Conference and the Atlantic Coast Conference have expressed support for creating a national framework.
The legislation must still pass both chambers of Congress before reaching President Trump for his signature.
Separately, Camp Mystic and several affiliated entities filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Wednesday, temporarily halting lawsuits related to the deaths of 25 campers and two counselors during last year’s Independence Day flooding.
Attorney Sarah Foss said bankruptcy automatically pauses lawsuits against the entities unless the bankruptcy court allows them to proceed.
Attorney Randy Howry, who represents the family of flood victim Eloise “Lulu” Peck, said the lawsuits against members of the Eastland family can continue because they did not file for bankruptcy.
Camp Mystic and its affiliated entities have faced five lawsuits since March over the deadly flooding.
Attorneys representing several victims’ families criticized the bankruptcy filing, arguing that it delays accountability rather than resolving the claims.