Texas State Senator Robert Nichols

Super Bowl LVII was this weekend and, for the first time in history both starting quarterbacks are from the great state of Texas Whichever team you supported, it will be a winfortheLoneStarState!

Here are five things happening around your state:

1 Business and Commerce hearing on the electricgrid

Weather for the Lake Conroe area

My Five Cents...

A weekly column from Sen. Robert Nichols by Sen. Robert Nichols, Senate District 3

This week the Senate Business and Commerce Committee met to discuss possible redesign of the electric market and the electric grid. Representatives from the Public Utility Commission, the grid manager, and the Independent Market Monitor attended to give testimony and answer questions about the PUCs recent decision to adopt a new market design known as the Performance Credit Mechanism, or PCM

Wednesday

A40percentchanceofshowersandthunderstormsafter1pm.Mostlycloudy,withahighnear 73.Southwind5to15mph,withgustsashighas 20mph.

WednesdayNight

Achanceofshowersandthunderstormsbefore 7pm,thenachanceofshowersandthunderstorms after1am.Mostlycloudy,withalowaround52.

Southwind10to15mphbecomingwestafter midnight.Windscouldgustashighas20mph.

Chanceofprecipitationis50%.

Thursday

A50percentchanceofshowersandthunderstormsbefore7am.Partlysunny,withatemperaturefallingtoaround50bynoon.Breezy,witha northwind15to20mph,withgustsashighas30 mph.

ThursdayNight

Mostlyclear,withalowaround36.

Friday Sunny,withahighnear51.

FridayNight

Partlycloudy,withalowaround36.

Saturday

Partlysunny,withahighnear56.

SaturdayNight

Partlycloudy,withalowaround43.

Sunday

Partlysunny,withahighnear68.

SundayNight

Mostlycloudy,withalowaround56.

Washington'sBirthday

Partlysunny,withahighnear74.

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Essentially, the PCM is meant to help produce enough power in peak demand hours when electricity production drops due to equipment breakdown or renewable energy sources go offline. It’s designed to incent the creation of new gaspowered generation plants that would produce during critical, “high-risk” hours and would require utilities andretailersthatconsumed power during those hours tobuyperformancecredits from the generators Concerns were raised about the reliability of the proposed new system and it’s ability to incentivize construction of plants that produce dispatchable electricity, meaning electricity that can be turned off and on as needed The committee will continue to discuss options to ensure grid reliability in the market redesignprocess.

2. Online sports betting bills filed in the House, Senate

This week Senator Lois Kolkhorst and Rep. Jeff Leach filed bills in their respective chambers that would allow Texans to bet on sporting events Legalizing sports betting would require a change to the state constitution, so the bills would have to receive a 2/3rds vote in bothchambersandthengo before the voters in November If the measure passed in November Texans could start placing bets in 2024 The bill wouldrequireanyrevenue collected by the state from sports betting to go to education, specifically for property tax relief. The TexasLotteryCommission would be charged with overseeing and regulating the industry In total, 36 states have approved legalized sports betting, whether through online platforms or in casinos. The bills as introduced herewouldallowTexansto useonlineplatforms.

3 Opal Lee portrait unveiledintheSenate

The Grandmother of Juneteenth, Opal Lee, was honored on the Senate floor this week during the unveiling of her portrait. The portrait was commissionedbytheTexasSenate andcreatedbynativeTexas artist Jess Coleman. Opal Lee is best known for her worktomakeJuneteentha federal holiday to commemorate the end of slavery in the United States President Biden signed a bill to officially recognize Juneteenth as a federal holiday in 2021. It was the first new federal holiday since Martin Luther King, Jr Day was created in 1983 Her portrait will join the late Rep. Barbara Jordan’s as the only two BlackTexans to have portraits in the Senatechamber

4. Governor announces plan to ban TikTok on all statedevices

This week Governor Abbottannouncedaplanto ensuresecurityonpersonal andstate-issueddevicesby banning TikTok on those devices, among other measures The social mediaappTikTokisowned by a Chinese company ByteDance, that has been linked to the Chinese government The app collects data from users that can be sensitive or personal in nature. There has been some concern about TikTok posing a national security threat because of the data it collects. The Governor’s new cybersecurity initiatives would ban and prevent the download or use of TikTok and prohibited technologies on any state-issued device It would also prohibit employees or contractors from conducting state business on prohibited technology-enabled personal devices, prohibit those devices from entering sensitive areas, and implement networkbased restrictions so that prohibited technology couldn’t be used on state networks. It’s imperative that the state protects sensitive information and critical infrastructure from cybersecurity threats. This planisanimportantstepin thatdirection.

5 Nederland ISD teacher wins 2023 Milken EducatorAward owned and is comments suggestions, editorials or throughout BulkRatePermitisheldby

Thisweek,JennaDean, a fourth grade teacher at Helena Park Elementary School in Nederland, was awarded the Milken Educator Award The awardisgiventooutstandingteacherswhoareinthe early-to-mid point in their career for their accomplishments and for the promiseofwhat’stocome. Recipients receive a $25 000 unrestricted award. The program was created by Lowell Milken in 1987 and has awarded nearly 3,000 educators with almost $70 million. Many know the Milken Award as “The Oscars of Teaching ” Congratulationstoourwell-deserving winner!

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Rebel Joan Of Arc, ELAINE COLLINGS, was Honored to be asked to serve as Chairman by Texas Division President, LOUANNRUBEL,asher Chairman to the PRESIDENT’S PIN PROJECT All the President’s multiple Projects serve to preserve the Texas DivisionHistory(1896)of the United Daughters of the Confederacy Serving onthisdistinctivecommittee is RJOA LYN HOWARD, proudly showing her new Pin! CHAIRMAN: ELAINE COLLINGS is displaying the gorgeous new Pin Arrival around her neck. TX Division President Louann Rubel completes the Team and is wearing her new creation on her Red and White UDC TX Division President’s Ribbon. These Belles SOLD OUTTheirPinsonArrival at Forum in College Station! New Orders are now being taken for a 2nd shipment.