Call to Action

<h2>Education</h2><ul><li>Millsaps College, Else School of Business - Master of Business Administration</li><li>University of Southern Mississippi - Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Accounting</li><li>Warren Central High School - Public School High School Diploma</li></ul>

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<h1>More about Janet</h1>

<h2>City of College Station, Assistant Director of Finance/Budget Manager</h2>When our family relocated to the Brazos Valley, I continued my career of public service at the City of College Station—first as Budget Manager and then as Assistant Director of Finance—where I helped protect public dollars and keep essential services running.

Waveland

<h1>"Receipts"</h1>

Events Post

<h2>Mississippi Lions All State Band</h2><img src="https://run.imgix.net/6331b142-e6c6-4aeb-ada3-14cd7a88352b/6725f079-c96a-4d0b-8a92-1aae2472b95a/283f811c-0ac7-4759-b9cd-711173f9a9a9.webp?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=35&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C4096%2C1950&amp;w=1500" alt="Mississippi Lion's All State Band" caption="Mississippi Lion's All State Band" align="right" alignwidth="40" tiltdirection="left" variant="framed">Mississippi Lion's All State BandFine arts education is essential in public schools—it develops the creativity, discipline, and confidence students need to succeed in every future path. I know firsthand how powerful music and arts can be: as a 1st chair tuba high school band student who competed statewide, those programs didn’t just teach notes and rhythms—they taught teamwork, leadership, and perseverance. If you can dream it, you can do it—if you put in the work.When we fund fine arts, we strengthen classrooms, support students who may otherwise go unheard, and build communities that take pride in achievement. I will work to protect and expand fine arts education so every student has the opportunity to create, perform, and excel.

Miss Lions Band

<h2>Became a Mom</h2>I grew up in Little Theatre audiences. My mom was the original “Little Johnny Appleseed,” not with apple seeds—but with Little Theaters and Arts Councils. If we moved to a town that didn’t have one, she’d help start it. Those theaters were my babysitters growing up—listening to rehearsals, going over lines, learning that art isn’t a luxury. It’s how communities connect, how kids find confidence, and how people make something together.My senior year of high school, I tried out for a play—*Damn Yankees*—and landed a role in the chorus. That’s where I met the man who would become my husband. We married the summer after graduation, and a year later, our family grew—baby made three.That’s the thread of my life: build community, show up consistently, and keep working—because when you’ve watched the arts bring people together, you don’t settle for less than a community that works for everyone.

Greg Abbott marshaled an out-of-state billionaire’s millions to win support for vouchers — including from the private school trustee I’m running against, who sponsored and voted for the bill. Now, the same insiders who pushed this scheme stand to benefit from public dollars.Texans deserve better: leadership with ethics, integrity, and the courage to put constituents and communities ahead of political favors.

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<h2>Latest Campaign Developments</h2>

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Read below for some of our top priorities

<h2>Headline text here</h2>

<h4>Clean Up Public Corruption</h4>

<h4>Public Education</h4>

<h4>Academic Freedom &amp; 1st Amendment</h4>

<h4>Affordability &amp; Healthcare</h4>

<h4>Data Centers, Water &amp; Energy &amp; Local Control</h4>

<h4>Decriminalize, Regulate &amp; Tax Adult-use THC</h4>

<h4>Get ICE off our streets</h4>

<h4>Reform property taxes</h4>

<h3>Fighting for Our Community</h3>Some of the top priorities Janet is focused on

Priorities List

<h2>Texas A&amp;M University, Academic/Business Administrator</h2>

Antina

<h2>Headline Text Here</h2>

<h2>I'm running to Hold Texas politicians accountable!</h2><img src="https://run.imgix.net/6331b142-e6c6-4aeb-ada3-14cd7a88352b/29dff1af-e39a-48cb-aa02-9a4e5e29d910/29dff1af-e39a-48cb-aa02-9a4e5e29d910.png?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=538%2C0%2C1510%2C1356&amp;w=1500" alt="" caption="" align="left" alignwidth="40" tiltdirection="left" variant="framed"><h4>I’ve been a governmental CPA – a governmental accountant and auditor – for over half my life. Texas, we can do better.</h4><h5>First time I marched since high school marching band was after the 2016 election.</h5>It took a LOT to get a governmental CPA – a professional woman from the Deep South – to take to the streets. I’ve spent my life fighting “stupid government” and the government in Texas needs some wising up.I grew up in public schools - so did my daughter and grandchildren. I’ve spent my career in public finance, making sure taxpayer dollars do what they’re supposed to do. Texas has more resources than most states—I know we can do better.I know how local and state governments work, and I also know the growing issues Texas families face.My opponent -the Chairman of the Board of a private school- was hand-picked so Abbott’s vouchers could move forward. Public schools have no more than three students per classroom receiving that level of funding, and they serve all our kids every day. The voucher scheme raids public schools to fund private ones—and it’s wrong.

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Organizations and leaders are standing together!

<h2>Janet Tycelia Dudding for HD 14</h2>

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<h2>1st Job out of School - investigating public corruption</h2><img src="https://run.imgix.net/6331b142-e6c6-4aeb-ada3-14cd7a88352b/38585d7d-4b63-41f0-897a-95db68b6d565/ae3f2797-cc23-4a77-bacf-ec168b4b1b24.webp?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=34&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C1692%2C2518&amp;w=1500" alt="" caption="Office of the State Auditor Investigative Auditor" align="right" alignwidth="40" tiltdirection="left" variant="framed">Office of the State Auditor Investigative AuditorI began my career with the State of Mississippi Office of the State Auditor in the Investigative Audit Division, where I worked under <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Mabus" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">State Auditor Ray Mabus</a> and Director of Investigations Louisa Dixon. I helped lay the groundwork for <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Pretense" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Operation Pretense</a>, which put over 50 corrupt politicians in prison for procurement fraud. That experience gave me an early foundation in investigative review, government accountability, and ethical public service. To qualify for CPA licensure, I later transferred to County Audit to gain the required governmental auditing experience under a certified public accountant. That transition expanded my background in public finance, compliance, and audit practices, and helped shape the professional standards I have carried throughout my career. My work has been grounded in integrity, careful analysis, and responsible stewardship of public resources. I value roles that require sound judgment, attention to detail, and a commitment to transparency and accountability.

20 year career

The incumbent sponsored and voted for a $1 billion private-school voucher program while serving as Vice-Chair of Allen Academy’s Board of Trustees, and Allen Academy is participating in that same voucher program. That kind of overlap raises serious ethical questions and undermines public confidence that public decisions are being made solely in the public interest. For Janet, that choice matters: taxpayer dollars should be spent transparently and elected officials should be accountable to the families and communities they represent. Janet Dudding will bring the same discipline she used in investigating waste, fraud, and corruption to the Texas House — demanding transparency, enforcing accountability, and standing up for the public interest every time.

Issues Post

<h1>Receipts</h1>

<h2>Healthcare crisis</h2>My college career was interrupted by a health scare. Thankfully, I was a full-time student, and my parents had health insurance so I was able to be covered. If I hadn’t had that coverage, I could still be paying off medical debt. And if I’d had that health scare in Texas today, I might not be here—I had endometriosis and needed a D&amp;C, which isn’t an option in Texas right now.Women’s health care shouldn’t depend on where you live or whether you can afford the cost of delay. When basic care like time-sensitive procedures and reliable coverage are taken away, people don’t just suffer—they risk their health and even their lives.

Investigations

Endorsements

Here are "receipts" to back that up.

<h2>Brazos Valley Council of Governments (BVCOG)</h2>CFO at Brazos Valley Council of Governments (BVCOG), leading finance strategy, budgeting, financial reporting, compliance, and risk management across public-sector programs. I partnered with executive leadership and program teams to strengthen internal controls, improve forecasting accuracy, and ensure timely, accurate reporting to stakeholders and funding partners.&nbsp; I bring a focus on operational excellence—streamlining processes, strengthening policies and procedures, supporting grant and contract financial management, and driving continuous improvement in audit readiness and financial governance. I’m committed to delivering transparent, dependable financial stewardship that helps BVCOG fulfill its mission and serve the community.

Education

HOW WE GOT HERE (link with further details below in footer)

<h2>MY STORY </h2>

ALL STATE BAND

BECAME A MOM

SCHOOL AND WORK

HEALTHCARE CRISIS

GRADUATED

20 YEAR CAREER

HURRICANE KATRINA

2016

Timeline

News Post

<h2>Community</h2><ul><li>Arts Council of the Brazos Valley, STARs Volunteer</li><li>College Station Noon Lions Club, Past Treasurer</li><li>Bryan Rotary Club, Past Grants Committee</li><li>Beverly Estates HOA, Past Treasurer</li><li>Texas A&amp;M Women's Club, Past Assistant Treasurer</li><li>Brazos County Branch of the NAACP, Past Board Member</li><li>Bay-Waveland Garden Club, Past President</li><li>Christ Episcopal Church, Past Vestry Member</li><li>Former Texas Master Naturalist</li><li>Former Mississippi Master Gardner</li><li>Indivisible, Texas Lege Healthcare Committee, 2021</li><li>Texas Democratic Party, Former Rules Committee, SD5, 2018</li><li>Texas Democratic Party, 2022 Nominee Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts</li><li>Texas Democratic Party, 2020 Nominee Texas House District 14</li><li>Texas Democratic Women, Former At-Large Board Member, 2018</li><li>Texas Democratic Women, Former Audit Committee, 2018, 2019</li><li>Texas Democratic Women of the Brazos Valley, Former President, 2021</li><li>Texas Democratic Women of the Brazos Valley, Former Silent Auction Chair, 2018</li></ul>

Red Box

<h2>School and Work</h2><img src="https://run.imgix.net/6331b142-e6c6-4aeb-ada3-14cd7a88352b/69b2446f-9f1e-4367-bd85-714ad5fc1b82/c2bda127-bc5b-47ed-9cfc-4fdd0a213789.webp?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=35&amp;rect=0%2C826%2C2452%2C3270&amp;w=1500" alt="" caption="Learning to cook" align="left" alignwidth="40" tiltdirection="left" variant="framed">Learning to cookWhen our marriage dissolved, I had my high school diploma and he had his PhD. It was time to get busy. I didn’t have a plan so much as a starting point—I could sew—so I enrolled in a fashion merchandising degree with a business minor, and I taught myself how to cook along the way.One summer I took 18 credit hours, including an economics course. My teacher—someone who reminded me of Betty Crocker—brought calculus into the explanations. Suddenly it all clicked. It was like the sky opened up—I could almost see the calculations forming as the concepts came together.I transferred out of fashion merchandising into accounting. I finished my degree averaging 20 hours a semester, working part-time as a waitress at about the same hourly rate waitresses are still paid.The minimum wage for waitresses was last raised in 1991—to $2.13 per hour. We can do better than that, and we should.

School Work

<h2>20 year career</h2>I spent 20 years building a career in governmental accounting and audit—focused on accountability, fraud detection, and protecting public dollars.After I left investigations, I worked with the Office of the State Auditor auditing county governments, independent school districts, state agencies, universities, and community colleges. I worked extensively with Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME grant compliance, both as an auditor and as a management consultant, ensuring funds were properly administered and used as intended.I’ve partnered closely with the OIG and served as an Internal Auditor for municipalities. I’ve also worked in private practice, and as Comptroller (CFO) in Mississippi for Hancock County and the City of Pass Christian, and the City of Ocean Springs.Whether as an auditor or as finance leadership, I’ve delivered independent oversight for municipalities, governmental agencies, counties, and school districts—driving corrective action, strengthening controls, and holding systems to the standard taxpayers deserve.I’m bringing that same proven discipline and commitment to District 14: results, accountability, and integrity in government.

Katrina

<h1>News</h1>

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<h2>Hurricane Katrina</h2><img src="https://run.imgix.net/6331b142-e6c6-4aeb-ada3-14cd7a88352b/dc40b95f-25ce-40c8-af45-aba052d1c20c/d994fa2e-d6b4-404d-b8f0-a2657772e075.webp?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=34&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C4096%2C2246&amp;w=1500" alt="" caption="Waveland MIssissippi after Hurricane Katrina" align="left" alignwidth="40" tiltdirection="left" variant="framed">Waveland MIssissippi after Hurricane KatrinaFor some people, climate change is still a theory, a partisan argument, or a problem for someone else’s future. For those of us shaped by <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna9744786" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Hurricane Katrina’s destruction on the Mississippi Gulf Coast</a>, it is none of those things. It is personal. I remember what storm surge did to roads, homes, and whole neighborhoods; I remember how quickly the familiar became unrecognizable. A year later, my family relocated to Texas A&amp;M University, but relocation did not erase what Katrina taught me: when we ignore climate risk, the cost is paid in communities, not concepts.

COCS

<h1>A CPA who will hold Texas accountable</h1>

With over 40 years of state and local government experience - in governmental auditing, accounting &amp; investigation - I know, like you know, thatTax dollars are OUR dollars -- Texas state government needs to remember that &amp; start acting like it. I can help.

<h1>The experience to deliver for you.</h1>

<h2>"Saved" the City of Waveland</h2>One of the toughest situations I ever faced started with a call from Waveland, Mississippi. They were “<a href="https://www.wlox.com/story/17805347/wavelands-fincances-out-of-the-red-but-not-out-of-the-woods/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">upside down</a>” on federal disaster grants that were on a reimbursement basis, and without the cash flow needed for payroll, they had already reduced personnel to just 20 essential employees. With no bankruptcy option, Waveland was at serious risk of losing its charter—while state auditors investigated whether malfeasance had occurred.I stepped in to help. I reworked their accounting, procurement, and payroll/human resources systems, and I worked side-by-side with Mississippi Emergency Management and FEMA to put the cash-flow plan back on track. That meant pre-auditing expenditures so reimbursement dollars could come in on time and the city could pay its bills.When I arrived, Waveland had a <a href="/waveland-fye-9-30-2011-revised-disclaimer.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Disclaimed Audit Opinion</a>. Two years later, they had a <a href="/waveland-fye-9-30-2013-clean.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">clean (Unqualified) Audit Opinion</a> and cash reserves.That’s the kind of competence and accountability I’ll bring to District 14—solving problems, restoring trust, and protecting the resources families depend on.

TAMU

<h2>Public Service</h2>2022 Nominee for Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts2020 Nominee for Texas House District 14

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<h2>License/Certification</h2>Certified Public Accountant, Texas State Board of Public AccountancyCertified Financial Governmental Officer, Government Finance Officers Association of Texas<h2>Professional Memberships</h2>Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA)Government Finance Officers Association of Texas (GFOAT)Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM)<h2>Trainings</h2>Texas Cannabis Policy, January 2026GFOAT Property Tax - Budget Academy, February 2026Produced Water Society 11th Annual Permian Basin Conference &amp; Exhibition, planned August 2026

Community

<h1>Volunteer</h1>

I'm running for the Texas state legislature because I believe in something.We're all in this together.That's the idea that's kept me in public service for more than 4 decades. It's what's carried me through my work as an auditor, an investigator, a finance officer - make sure taxpayer dollars are treated as the trust they are.

<h2>Our Campaign’s Top Issues</h2>

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<h1>Events</h1>

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<h2>Let's bring back Ethics &amp; Integrity!</h2>

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<h2>How to handle donations on your website</h2>Run does not process donations directly on our platform, as is standard with most political and advocacy sites.Campaigns are often required to comply with reporting requirements, donation limits, and other regulations, so using a donation processor that specializes in serving campaigns is generally a good idea. Sign up with a donation processor and then on your Pages sidebar, click the Link icon on the Donate page and add the link to your donation page. Some common options for donation processing include:<ul><li><a href="https://secure.actblue.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">ActBlue</a></li><li><a href="https://www.campaigndeputy.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Campaign Deputy</a> </li><li><a href="https://goodchange.app/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">GoodChange</a></li><li><a href="https://numero.ai/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Numero</a></li><li><a href="https://www.ngpvan.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">NGP VAN</a></li></ul>

<h2>Antina Ranch</h2>During 2023, I worked briefly as CFO with Antina Ranch after my statewide race for Texas Comptroller. During the Comptroller campaign, I saw the Texas Monthly <a href="https://www.texasmonthly.com/news-politics/ashley-watt-rancher-chevron-toxic-water/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">reporting</a> on the geyser in the Permian Basin.<img src="https://run.imgix.net/6331b142-e6c6-4aeb-ada3-14cd7a88352b/317c804b-5004-4561-9fbf-37f120730dc0/b087e9a5-a3c5-448b-8a47-02f2cfa86e01.webp?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=35&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C4096%2C3910&amp;w=1500" alt="" caption="The Chevron CT112 geyser flowed ~25k bbld for 2 weeks" align="right" alignwidth="40" tiltdirection="left" variant="framed">The Chevron CT112 geyser flowed ~25k bbld for 2 weeksI visited Antina Ranch in Crane County, Texas, where I was hosted and toured the property with Sarah Stogner and Hawk Dunlap. We reviewed areas including leaking wells, and I also visited <a href="https://www.texasmonthly.com/news-politics/lake-boehmer-dead-sea-west-texas/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Lake Boehmer</a> in neighboring Pecos County. I first met Sarah in Montgomery County, Texas, when she was campaigning for Railroad Commissioner. While I was seated in Antina Ranch's Hacienda, I heard stories about Ashley and Christina’s mother, Mary, whose sudden sickness and death was thought to have been due to tainted water on the ranch, and I learned that the cattle had been moved to protect them. Hawk Dunlap—2026 Railroad Commissioner candidate—spoke with me in depth about produced water and produced-water disposal, orphan wells (wells that had never been properly plugged), and how deteriorating well plugs can affect groundwater. He shared his perspective based on more than 30 years of hands-on oilfield experience around the world. I also met with Ty Edwards, Executive Director of the Pecos Groundwater District in Fort Stockton, Texas, where he showed me how local aquifers sit in relation to Lake Boehmer. I obtained testing results from samples taken at Lake Boehmer and shared them with a former Railroad Commission geologist I met while campaigning in El Paso, who interpreted the findings for me. Finally, I met (Zoom) with Robert Mace, Executive Director of The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment, to discuss Lake Boehmer and potential next steps. <a href="https://youtu.be/1CZ0mW3mC7Q?si=nO_39ZQiTgeROxOf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Lake Boehmer is still flowing</a>. I’m a CPA, and my work with Antina Ranch was strictly accounting-focused. My interest in Antina and the danger of groundwater contamination goes back to Katrina and, before that, to my spouse’s cancer—something I was concerned could have been linked to well water.Texas has 2 water crises. We're running out of potable (drinking) water and we've got way too much "produced" water. We need to require industry, like data centers, to recycle produced water for their cooling needs. From the testimony given this summer to the Natural Resources Committee, this is within their reach.

BVCOG

Janet Dudding, CPA, spent her career fighting governmental corruption; she’s running for Texas HD-14 to fight for you.

Janet Dudding CPA fights governmental corruption

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"Receipts"

Janet Tycelia Dudding is widely considered a subject matter expert in governmental finance and legal compliance. A governmental certified public accountant (CPA), Janet has spent her professional career fighting governmental fraud, waste and abuse.  

Janet Dudding is a well respected CPA, community leader and public school advocate running for Texas HD14 in Brazos County.

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Write a short blurb about an issue your campaign is highlighting. Try to keep the text a similar size between the various issue blurbs.

Too many families are being taxed as if their homes were investment properties. In Bryan and College Station, investor-driven rental pricing can distort homeowner appraisals and drive up tax burdens.I’m standing with the families who live in these neighborhoods, not the market forces that turn homes into yield calculations.My priority is the homeowner trying to stay in their home, not the investor trying to maximize rent.When investor pricing distorts homeowner tax values, government should fix the appraisal model — not expect families to absorb the cost.

<h2>Property Tax Reform</h2>

TDWBV Monthly Meeting with Texas House Candidates Janet Dudding for HD14 &amp; Andie Ho for HD12

<h4>Texas Democratic Women of Brazos Valley host Dudding &amp; Ho</h4>

Texas Democratic Women of Brazos Valley host Dudding & Ho

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Janet Dudding&nbsp;Email: <a href="mailto:janet@janetdudding4texas.com" style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text);">janet@janetdudding4texas.com</a> Phone/text: 979-436-2229Join Indivisible CenTex and SATX Indivisible: Release the Names, not Ghislane Maxwell&nbsp;All the White Men in Austin talk about is “protecting women” - then allow a sexual predator to come to a MINIMUM SECURITY camp in OUR neighborhood!? Join us Saturday at 9:30 at Sue Haswell Park or 10:00 outside the Federal Prison CampBryan–College Station, Texas — Friday, January 2, 2026 — If you heard anything from the last Texas Legislative session, it was “protect our women.” While being referred to as “someone’s property” to protect could be seen as offensive to some, the whole idea of providing safe space flies in the face of what’s happening right here in our city. Ghislane Maxwell - that’s right, Jeffrey Epstein's paramour and young female sex-purveyor - moved in around the corner from downtown Bryan, Texas.According to <a href="https://www.nealdavislaw.com/blog/sex-crimes/ghislaine-maxwell-texas-minimum-security-prison/" style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text);">Neal Davis Law Firm</a>, as “a convicted sex offender, Maxwell should not have been eligible for transfer to the minimum-security prison in Bryan while serving her sentence.”The Federal Prison Camp (FPC) Bryan, is 1 of 3 minimum security prisons in the entire country. According to <a href="https://www.bop.gov/policy/progstat/5100_008cn.pdf" style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text);">Bureau of Prisons policy</a>, Sex offenders are NOT eligible for minimum security prison treatment. So why did the white men so intent on saying they’re out to protect “their” white women allow it? Could it have anything to do with the powerful white men on “Epstein’s list?”Now Ghislane Maxwell is petitioning for early release. As SARC (<a href="https://www.sarcbv.org/" style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text);">Sexual Assault Resource Center</a>) will tell you, sexual preditors of women and young girls have a high recidivism rate - they repeat their offenses.Join SATX Indivisible and Indivisible Centex tomorrow, Saturday, Jan 3, 2026 from 10am-2pm outside the Federal Prison Camp in Bryan. Protest posters should only be about Maxwell’s crimes and incarceration in a camp instead of a prison. Save other issues for No Kings or other major protests.A core principle behind all Indivisible events is a commitment to nonviolent action. We expect all participants to de-escalate any potential confrontation with those who disagree with our values.###

All the White Men in Austin talk about is “protecting women” - then allow a sexual predator to come to a MINIMUM SECURITY camp in OUR neighborhood!? Join us Saturday at 9:30 at Sue Haswell Park or 10:00 outside the Federal Prison Camp

<h4>Release Names-Not Maxwell</h4>

<h4>When you have your health, you have everything.</h4>I know that personally. A health scare changed the way I think about care, coverage, and how quickly life can turn upside down. In a moment, everything else falls away. What matters is whether you can see a doctor, get the tests you need, afford treatment, and focus on getting well instead of worrying about the bill.That is why it is so wrong that Greg Abbott has refused to let Texas bring back the federal healthcare dollars we have already paid. Texans do not get a discount from the IRS. Our families pay in, but Abbott has blocked funding that could expand coverage, lower costs, and help keep rural hospitals open.For too long, Texas has kept healthcare coverage far too limited. Many adults have been locked out unless they were pregnant, a child, living with a disability, or a very low-income senior. That approach is not just cruel — it is costly. When people cannot get preventive care, they wait until small problems become emergencies. Families suffer, hospitals absorb uncompensated care, and the costs get shifted to everyone else.Expanding coverage is the practical choice. It would help more Texans get care earlier, strengthen the risk pool, reduce cost shifting, and provide a lifeline to rural hospitals that are struggling to survive.<h4>Mental Health is Health.</h4>Healthcare today also means recognizing that mental health is health. More Texans are turning to online tools, including AI, when they are anxious, depressed, isolated, or in crisis. These tools can help with information and support, but they are not a substitute for trained professionals, and they should never operate without clear guardrails.We need strong standards for AI in mental health: clear warnings that it is not a licensed clinician, immediate escalation when someone may be in crisis or at risk of self-harm, protection against harmful or manipulative responses, strong privacy safeguards, and real human oversight. Technology should support care — not replace it, and never put vulnerable people at greater risk.When you have your health, you have everything. Texas should use our own federal dollars to cover more people, lower costs, protect rural hospitals, and build a healthcare system that treats both physical and mental health with the seriousness they deserve.

**Header:**  
**Women’s Healthcare Is Not Politics**

**150–160 character line:**  
Nobody politicizes gallbladders, but women’s health is treated differently. Women in Texas deserve timely care without political interference.

Get politicians out of healthcare decisions.

There's truth in the addage: "When you have your health, you have everything."So why does Greg Abbott refuse to allow the money we've already paid to the federal government to come home to Texas to pay for healthcare? IRS doesn't discount our income tax.Before Trump's Big Bad Bill's cuts, Texas only covered pregnanct women, children, the patiently disabled, &amp; very elderly-low-income people.Expanding the pool lowers the cost for all of us. - and is a lifeline for keeping our rural hospitals open.

<h2>Healthcare</h2>

SUBJECT LINE:PARA PUBLICACIÓN INMEDIATA: La CPA Janet Dudding Anuncia su Candidatura para la Cámara de Representantes de Texas, Distrito 14**PARA PUBLICACIÓN INMEDIATA Contacto: Matthew Arnold Correo electrónico: <a href="mailto:info@corsaircampaigns.com" style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text);">info@corsaircampaigns.com</a> Teléfono/texto: 662-416-1908CPA Janet Dudding Anuncia su Candidatura para la Cámara de Representantes de Texas, Distrito 14Comprometida a frenar el plan de vales escolares del gobernador Abbott, defender la integridad académica y restaurar la rendición de cuentas en AustinBryan–College Station, Texas – Lunes, 8 de diciembre – La contadora pública certificada (CPA) y auditora gubernamental de larga trayectoria, Janet Dudding, anunció hoy su campaña para la Cámara de Representantes de Texas por el Distrito 14, comprometiéndose a luchar contra la agenda de vales escolares del gobernador Greg Abbott, proteger la integridad académica y llevar un liderazgo honesto y responsable al gobierno estatal.Dudding tiene más de cuatro décadas de experiencia en auditoría gubernamental, investigaciones y finanzas públicas. Su trayectoria incluye sentar las bases para condenas penales por malversación de fondos y fraude en contrataciones por parte de funcionarios públicos, restaurar la integridad financiera en ciudades y agencias, y desempeñarse en puestos clave de finanzas tanto para la Ciudad de College Station como para el Consejo de Gobiernos de Brazos Valley. Dudding también trabajó como personal profesional académico en el área de negocios en la Universidad Texas A&amp;M.“No me gusta pagar impuestos, y me enoja mucho cuando se desperdician esos impuestos”, dijo Dudding. “Austin está malgastando nuestro dinero en corrupción, contratos sin licitación y un plan de vales que da a las escuelas privadas más fondos públicos por estudiante que a las aulas donde estudian nuestros hijos. El Distrito 14 merece una CPA que sepa cómo hacer que el gobierno rinda cuentas. Los valores Aggie son más que palabras en el MSC”.Dudding traza un contraste muy claro con su oponente, quien fue escogido directamente de la junta directiva de una escuela privada para impulsar el plan de vales del gobernador en la Legislatura estatal.“El dinero público pertenece a las escuelas públicas", afirmó. “Nuestro gobernador recibió una donación de 6 millones de dólares de fuera del estado para su campaña con el fin de imponer a la fuerza los vales escolares y entregar miles de millones de nuestros dólares de impuestos a empresas de otros estados. Quitar dinero a nuestras escuelas públicas no está en nuestro mejor interés. Yo defenderé a las familias, maestras, maestros y estudiantes de esta comunidad”.Su agenda de asequibilidad incluye:<ul><li>Despenalizar y regular el uso de productos con THC para adultos, a fin de generar recursos para la educación pública, la atención médica, la vivienda y un alivio significativo en los impuestos a la propiedad. </li><li>Proteger la jubilación del magisterio, y al mismo tiempo incluir al personal de escuelas públicas en el Seguro Social además de TRS, igual que las y los miembros de TRS en A&amp;M. </li><li>Ampliar el acceso a banda ancha mediante alianzas públicas y cooperativas para que los municipios puedan ofrecer servicios de internet de banda ancha a un precio accesible. Hoy tenemos capacidad de banda ancha financiada por contribuyentes aquí mismo, en Brazos Valley, a la que no podemos acceder debido a una ley estatal vigente. Eso hay que corregirlo. </li><li>Proteger nuestra agua. Durante los últimos 100 años, el petróleo y el gas han sido el motor de nuestra economía en Texas, pero el petróleo no se puede beber, como se está viendo por todo el estado. Desde el “agua producida” hasta los centros de datos, necesitamos establecer límites claros antes de que los políticos estatales malgasten lo que necesitamos para vivir, a cambio de engordar su fondo de campaña.</li></ul>Dudding participa activamente en la vida cívica de Brazos Valley. Ha sido presidenta de Texas Democratic Women of the Brazos Valley, tesorera del College Station Noon Lions Club, integrante de la Junta Ejecutiva de la NAACP del condado de Brazos, tesorera del Texas A&amp;M Women’s Club, tesorera de la asociación de vecinos Beverly Estates HOA y miembro del Bryan Rotary.“Un gobierno inteligente es divertido. Un gobierno tonto te cuesta dinero”, dijo. “He pasado mi vida arreglando sistemas rotos. Austin necesita a alguien que sepa leer los libros contables y que no tenga miedo de decir cuando algo está mal”.En los próximos días, la campaña lanzará su sitio web, el calendario de actividades comunitarias y el programa de voluntariado.###Acerca de Janet DuddingJanet Dudding es contadora pública certificada (CPA) y auditora gubernamental con más de 40 años de experiencia en rendición de cuentas y finanzas del sector público. Vive en Bryan con su esposo James, miembro de la facultad de ingeniería de Texas A&amp;M. Son miembros de la iglesia episcopal St. Andrew’s.

Comprometida a frenar el plan de vales escolares del gobernador Abbott, defender la integridad académica y restaurar la rendición de cuentas en Austin

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<h4>La CPA Janet Dudding Anuncia su Candidatura para la Cámara de Representantes de Texas, Distrito 14</h4>

If you want above average schools, invest. For 30 years, Texas lagged behindJanet Dudding, CPA and public servant, is running for Texas House District 14 with a clear promise: ethics, integrity, and accountability in every decision. Texans deserve leaders who treat taxpayer dollars with care, follow the law, and answer to the people they serve — not wealthy insiders or special interests. With a background in governmental policy, accounting, and oversight, Dudding has spent her career focused on measurable stewardship: transparent spending, responsible budgeting, and real accountability for how public programs operate. She believes public office is a public trust, and that trust must be earned through honesty, independence, and results. Dudding offers voters a sharp contrast with incumbent Paul Dyson. Dyson sponsored and voted for a $1 billion private-school voucher program while serving as Vice-Chair of Allen Academy’s Board of Trustees, and Allen Academy is participating in that same voucher program. That kind of overlap raises serious ethical questions and undermines public confidence that public decisions are being made solely in the public interest. For Dudding, that choice matters: taxpayer dollars should be spent transparently and elected officials should be accountable to the families and communities they represent. Janet Dudding will bring the same discipline she used in investigating waste, fraud, and corruption to the Texas House — demanding transparency, enforcing accountability, and standing up for the public interest every time.

Dyson sponsored and voted for a $1billion private-school voucher program while serving as a trustee for a private school participating in that same voucher program.

Keep public tax money out of private schools while making Texas public schools the very best they can be. We can LEAD on this -- Texas has the 8th largest economy in the WORLD and more resourses than most states.Gov. Abbott pocketed $12,250,000 to buy Rep Dyson &amp; enough Representatives to give $10,474/student of our tax money to private schools and pay for kids already in those schools,while giving only an additional $55/student attending public schools and leaving teachers' pay ~$10,700 below the national average.Fully fund public schools. Pay teachers top salariesAnd cover all ISD employees under TRS and social security - like we do the TAMU employees.

<h2>Public Education</h2>

<h2>Affordable Living for HD-14 Families</h2>Families in House District 14 are being squeezed by rising costs at every turn — gasoline, housing, groceries, insurance, prescriptions, doctor visits, and property taxes. Homeowners should not be taxed out of the homes they live in, and working families should not have to fall behind just to keep up. I’m running to lower everyday costs, raise wages, protect access to health care, and fight for tax fairness for the people who actually live in and care for their homes.<ul><li>Lower housing costs: Expand affordable housing options and support practical solutions that help families stay in Bryan, College Station, and communities across HD-14.</li><li>Reform property tax appraisals: Appraisals should reflect reality, not speculative spikes that push families out of their homes.</li><li>Protect owner-occupied homes: A family’s home is not a REIT portfolio. Owner-occupied properties should be treated differently from corporate-owned investment properties.</li><li>Raise paychecks: Support raising the minimum wage and policies that help working Texans keep up with the cost of living.</li><li>Make health care more affordable: Lower the cost of prescriptions, protect access to care, and expand preventive, maternal, and mental health services.</li><li>Strengthen local care: Support local hospitals, clinics, and community providers so families can get quality care close to home.</li><li>Address climate-driven costs: Extreme heat, drought, flooding, and supply chain disruptions are driving up costs for families, farmers, and small businesses across our region.</li></ul>

It's not a hoax when you run out of money when you go to pay your bills.Property taxes have gone up 54% while Greg Abbott 's been in office. That's a problem if you rent or own your home. Home prices have gone up 89%, while a waitress' wage remains $2.13/hr and minimum wage is stuck at $7.25/hr.Now he wants to raise your sales taxes. Even Dan Patrick disagrees.

<h2>Affordability</h2>

<h3>Data Centers: No Special Deals, No Local Sellouts</h3>Texas communities should not be forced to sacrifice their water, power, and local control so massive data center corporations can cash in on tax breaks and cheap infrastructure.I support economic growth. I support technology. But I do not support a system where politically connected corporations get sweetheart treatment while local families, farmers, ranchers, and small businesses are left to deal with the consequences.That has to stop.<h2>My Position</h2>If a data center company wants to build in Texas, it should meet one basic standard: respect the community, pay its own way, and protect our water.That means no backroom deals, no blank-check subsidies, and no state preemption that strips power away from local voters and local governments.That is not conservative. That is not fair. And it is not good government.<h2>My Policy Agenda</h2><h4>1. Protect Local Control</h4>I will fight to ensure that counties, cities, groundwater districts, and local utilities keep the authority to make decisions about where data centers go and whether local infrastructure can handle them.I support:<ul><li>Local authority over siting and expansion</li><li>Public hearings before major approvals</li><li>Strong local review of water, wastewater, noise, vibration, and power impacts, with enforceable mitigation requirements</li><li>The right of communities to say no when a project threatens local resources</li></ul>The people who live there should have more say than than donors and their lobbyists in Austin.<h4>2. Put Water Protection First</h4>Texas should not allow massive facilities to drain high-quality water supplies when safer alternatives are available.I will push for policies that:<ul><li>Prioritize produced water, greywater, and other non-potable sources</li><li>Require data center build-out to include its needed infrastructure for water and wastewater</li><li>Require full public reporting of water sourcing and total usage</li><li>Include data center demand in regional and state water and energy planning</li><li>Protect aquifers, rivers, and local wells from overuse</li></ul>Our drinking water should be for people first, not corporate convenience.<h4>3. Make Corporations Pay Their Own Way</h4>If a billion-dollar company needs new substations, transmission upgrades, pipelines, roads, or water infrastructure, taxpayers should not be stuck with the bill.I support:<ul><li>Corporations paying their own state and local taxes</li><li>Full-cost infrastructure requirements for large industrial users</li><li>Utility rate structures that prevent residential customers from subsidizing data centers</li><li>Buffering, sound control, and vibration mitigation must be built in and paid for by the developer, not shifted onto neighbors or taxpayers</li><li>Impact fees or similar mechanisms when local systems need expansion</li><li>Independent review of long-term grid and water costs before approval</li></ul>No special deals. No hidden subsidies. No passing the bill to working families.<h4>4. End Blank-Check Tax Giveaways</h4>Tax incentives should be rare, transparent, and tied to real public benefit.I will work to:<ul><li>Review existing data center tax exemptions and abatements</li><li>End giveaways </li><li>Require clawback provisions if companies fail to meet job, investment, or community commitments</li><li>Publish all subsidy agreements in plain language for public review</li></ul>If a project is profitable, it should not need a secret handout.<h4>5. Demand Transparency and Accountability</h4>Communities deserve facts before deals are signed.I support:<ul><li>Public disclosure of projected and actual water use</li><li>Public disclosure of projected and actual energy demand</li><li>Annual environmental and infrastructure impact reporting</li><li>Strong enforcement for permit violations or false reporting</li></ul>If a company wants public trust, it can start with public honesty.<h2>What I’m Fighting For</h2>I’m fighting for a Texas where:<ul><li>local communities stay in charge</li><li>water is protected</li><li>energy is affordable and dependable</li><li>families are not forced to subsidize global corporations</li><li>economic development actually serves the public</li></ul>We can welcome innovation without surrendering common sense.<h2>Bottom Line</h2>Development should respect local control, use water responsibly, relying on alternatives like produced water and greywater, and pay the full cost of its impact.Texas should work for its people first — not for corporate insiders looking for one more special deal.

Development should respect local control, use water responsibly, relying on alternatives like produced water and greywater, and pay the full cost of its impact.

Protect Texas Water. Defend Local Control. Stop Corporate Special Deals.

For the past 100 years, oil &amp; gas’s the engine that runs our economy here in Texas, but now we've got 2 water crises here in Texas: too much "produced water" contaminating our groundwater - and - not enough water to drink.From produced water to data centers, we need guardrails in place before state politicians squander what we need to live – in exchange for their campaign war-chest.Let's restrict drinkable water for drinking &amp; require data centers to use recycled produced water - or greywater - for their cooling &amp; energy generation needs.

<h2>Protect Texas Water. Defend Local Control. Stop Corporate Special Deals.</h2>

I believe the relationship between the governor and the legislature should be defined by independence, accountability, and constitutional checks and balances. The governor should set priorities and advocate for policy, but legislators should represent the people of their districts first, not serve as instruments of executive power or outside political influence. In Texas, that balance has become strained, particularly on the issue of education. Rather than respecting the legislature as a coequal branch of government, Governor Abbott used extraordinary political pressure and outside money to reshape the House around support for his voucher agenda. In HD14, that matters directly. Paul Dyson was elected as part of that effort, and his support for vouchers is especially concerning given his position as vice-chair of Allen Academy, a private school that could benefit from voucher funding. I believe the legislature should act independently, ask hard questions, and protect the public interest—even when that means disagreeing with the governor. In our district, that means standing up for strong public schools and universities, local representation, and a government that answers to constituents rather than powerful donors or political insiders.Janet Dudding, CPA and public servant, is running for Texas House District 14 with a clear promise: ethics, integrity, and accountability in every decision. Texans deserve leaders who treat taxpayer dollars with care, follow the law, and answer to the people they serve — not wealthy insiders or special interests. With a background in governmental policy, accounting, and oversight, Dudding has spent her career focused on measurable stewardship: transparent spending, responsible budgeting, and real accountability for how public programs operate. She believes public office is a public trust, and that trust must be earned through honesty, independence, and results. Dudding offers voters a sharp contrast with incumbent Paul Dyson. Dyson sponsored and voted for a $1 billion private-school voucher program while serving as Vice-Chair of Allen Academy’s Board of Trustees, and Allen Academy is participating in that same voucher program. That kind of overlap raises serious ethical questions and undermines public confidence that public decisions are being made solely in the public interest. For Dudding, that choice matters: taxpayer dollars should be spent transparently and elected officials should be accountable to the families and communities they represent. Janet Dudding will bring the same discipline she used in investigating waste, fraud, and corruption to the Texas House — demanding transparency, enforcing accountability, and standing up for the public interest every time.

As a governmental CPA, fixing corruption is something I've been doing for over 40 years.Get politicians out of billionaires' back pockets. Limit contributions, limit terms in office, strengthen ethics rules and put teeth behind those laws.For forward action to happen, we need majority and ethical statewide leadership. We all need to work together .

<h2>Fix state Corruption</h2>

Families deserve to feel safe in their neighborhoods and confident that government is working for them, not against them. Public safety matters, but so does accountability, due process, and basic human dignity.I support coordination among state, local, and federal authorities. But no agency should be free from scrutiny, and no one should be treated as disposable.The deaths of Renee Good, Michael Pretty, Juan Jairo Coronilla Durán — a visitor on a valid tourist visa who was supposed to return home that same week — Houston's Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, and all the others killed in ICE encounters are painful reminders that when government action goes wrong, the consequences are irreversible. These cases demand hard questions, full transparency, and real accountability. We cannot claim to value safety while ignoring preventable harm or refusing to examine official failures.Whether someone is a citizen, legal immigrant, undocumented immigrant, or visitor, every person deserves to be treated lawfully and with dignity. No innocent person should be swept up without due process. No family should be left without answers when a loved one is harmed.As a state representative, I will support lawful enforcement, but I will also fight for strong oversight, accountability from state agencies, and help for constituents when government gets it wrong. I will work to protect taxpayer dollars and make sure public power is used fairly, responsibly, and within the law.Public office is a public trust. I will always stand for safety, fairness, accountability, and human dignity.

Whether someone is a citizen, legal immigrant, undocumented immigrant, or visitor, every person deserves due process, fair treatment, and dignity under the law.

No agency should be above scrutiny, and no person should be treated as disposable.

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<h2>ICE &amp; Public Safety</h2>

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Matthew Arnold Email: <a href="mailto:info@corsaircampaigns.com">info@corsaircampaigns.com</a> Phone/text: 662-416-1908CPA Janet Dudding Announces Campaign for Texas House District 14Committed to stopping Gov. Abbott’s voucher scheme, defending academic integrity, and restoring accountability in AustinBryan–College Station, Texas — Monday, Dec 8 — Certified Public Accountant and longtime governmental auditor Janet Dudding today announced her campaign for Texas House District 14, pledging to fight Governor Greg Abbott’s voucher agenda, protect academic integrity, and bring honest, accountable leadership to state government.Dudding has more than four decades’ experience in governmental audit, investigations, and public finance. Her background includes laying the groundwork for criminal convictions of public officials’ embezzlement and procurement fraud, restoring financial integrity in cities and agencies, and serving in key finance roles for both the City of College Station and Brazos Valley Council of Governments. Dudding also served as professional academic business staff at Texas A&amp;M University.“I don’t like paying taxes, and it really makes me angry when those taxes are wasted,” Dudding said. “Austin is wasting our money on corruption, no-bid contracts, and a voucher scheme that gives private schools more public funding per child than the classrooms that serve our kids. HD-14 deserves a CPA who knows how to hold government accountable.Aggie values are more than just words on the MSC.”Dudding draws a sharp contrast with her opponent, who was hand-picked from a private school governing board to carry the governor’s voucher plan through the State Legislature.“Public money belongs in public schools,” she said. “Our governor pocketed a $6 million out of state donation to his campaign to ram vouchers through and give billions of our tax dollars to out of state companies. Stripping money from our public schools – not in our best interests. I’ll stand up for this community’s families, teachers, and students.”Her affordability agenda includes: • Decriminalizing and regulating adult-use THC to generate revenue for public education, health care, housing, and meaningful property tax relief. • Protecting teacher retirement, while adding public school employees to social security in addition to TRS – just like the TRS members at A&amp;M.• Expanding broadband through public and cooperative partnerships so that municipalities can provide broadband utilities at an affordable price. We’ve got tax-payer funded broadband capacity right here in the Brazos Valley that we cannot access due to a state law currently on the books. Let’s fix it.• Guarding our water. For the past 100 years, oil &amp; gas’s the engine that runs our economy here in Texas, but you can’t drink oil – as we are finding out all over Texas. From produced water to data centers, we need guardrails in place before state politicians squander what we need to live – in exchange for their campaign war-chest.Dudding is active in Brazos Valley civic life, having served as president of Texas Democratic Women of the Brazos Valley, treasurer of College Station Noon Lions Club, on the Executive Board of the Brazos County NAACP, treasurer of the Texas A&amp;M Women’s Club, treasurer of Beverly Estates HOA, and a member of Bryan Rotary.“Smart government is fun. Stupid government costs you money,” she said. “I’ve spent my life fixing broken systems. Austin needs someone who can read the books — and isn’t afraid to say when something’s wrong.”The campaign will launch its website, community outreach schedule, and volunteer program in the coming days.###About Janet Dudding Janet Dudding is a CPA and governmental auditor with over 40 years of experience in public-sector accountability and finance. She lives in Bryan with her husband James, a member of the Texas A&amp;M engineering faculty. They are members of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church.

Committed to stopping Gov. Abbott’s voucher scheme, defending academic integrity, and restoring accountability in Austin

<h4>CPA Janet Dudding Announces Campaign for Texas House District 14</h4>

SB 37, authored by Creighton, voted for by Dyson and backed by Lt. Gov. Patrick, was signed by Abbott in 2025. It shifts control of public universities to political appointees, sidelines faculty, and invites political interference in the core curriculum—a direct attack on academic freedom.Academic freedom on college campuses is more than a slogan—it’s the oxygen of learning. It’s the promise that students and professors can follow evidence where it leads, ask questions that make people uncomfortable, and explore ideas that haven’t yet been safely packaged into consensus. Without that freedom, education becomes training: neat, obedient, and ultimately shallow. With it, campuses become places where new knowledge is born.Academic freedom begins with courage. It takes courage to teach a controversial concept in good faith. It takes courage to challenge prevailing assumptions, not to provoke for sport, but to understand better. And it takes courage to let students wrestle with difficult material—especially when the “difficult” part is emotional as much as intellectual. When academic freedom is honored, disagreement doesn’t turn into punishment. Discussion doesn’t become a battlefield. Criticism doesn’t automatically mean cruelty. It means thinking.Academic freedom also serves the public, whether people realize it or not. Universities are trusted with some of society’s most sensitive tasks: research, medicine, engineering, law, and policy—work that can’t be done properly if inquiry is constantly constrained by fear. Every major scientific breakthrough has required someone to ask, “What if we’re wrong?” Every expansion of human rights required someone to insist, “The truth can’t be voted on.” When campuses protect academic freedom, they protect the long chain of inquiry that benefits everyone far beyond their walls.At its best, academic freedom is not a license to harm—it’s a commitment to standards. Teachers are expected to argue responsibly, distinguish facts from opinions, cite sources, and invite scrutiny. Students are expected to challenge ideas rather than suppress people, to debate with rigor rather than slogans. The point isn’t to shield anyone from critique; it’s to ensure that critique happens through ideas, not intimidation. Academic freedom means the battleground is the mind, not the mailbox, not the workplace, not the body.There’s a special kind of danger when campuses treat silence as success. When people believe that disagreement will cost them opportunities, reputation, or belonging, they will self-censor—not necessarily because their conscience demands it, but because survival does. That self-censorship is a quiet tragedy: the best questions are replaced by the safest ones, and the most important conversations never get started. A campus that can’t tolerate intellectual risk stops growing.Academic freedom shows up in tenure protections, transparent policies, due process for disputes, and classroom culture that treats questions as normal. It shows up when administrators defend scholars who are under pressure—not because every claim is correct, but because institutions must be stable enough to endure disagreement. It shows up when students learn that being challenged doesn’t mean being targeted.Ultimately, academic freedom is respect for the human capacity to learn. It says: you are allowed to think, you are allowed to change your mind, and you are allowed to explore ideas without being punished for the act of inquiry itself. That’s why it matters. That’s why it must be defended fiercely. Because a campus without academic freedom doesn’t just lose arguments—it loses the future.A campus without academic freedom also jeopardize its federal funding. Under 34 CFR 75.500(b)(1), academic freedom is expressly recognized as part of First Amendment compliance and a material condition of covered federal grants to public colleges and universities.

SB 37 shifts control of public universities to political appointees and invites political interference in the core curriculum—a direct attack on academic freedom.

No academic freedom, no federal funding: 34 CFR 75.500(b)(1)

Don't devalue an A&amp;M degree.Academic Freedom - the freedom to discuss, to teach, to research and to publish without political interference - is foundational to higher education.Gov Abbott, Lt Gov Patrick &amp; Rep Dyson's passage of SB37 infringes on Academic Freedom and the 1st Amendment and ultimately threatens accreditation, SEC eligibility and compliance with every research dollar coming into a top-tier research institution.On A&amp;M campus right now, one has to ask permission before discussing gender in the classroom.

<h2>Academic Freedom </h2>

<h4>THC Tax and Public Safety</h4>Texas currently applies only its regular sales tax to THC sales. That is not a serious public policy framework for a product that requires oversight, quality standards, consumer protections, and accountability. If Texas is going to allow THC products in the marketplace, then Texas should regulate and tax them in a way that protects the public and serves the public good.I support a 15% excise tax on recreational THC products in Texas, modeled on proven cannabis tax systems used in other states. This tax should apply to non-medical THC sales and should exist in addition to ordinary retail rules that ensure products are sold lawfully, labeled clearly, and tested properly.<h4>My Priorities for THC Policy in Texas</h4>Texas should adopt a THC tax structure that is simple, enforceable, and tied directly to public benefits. Revenue should not disappear into general spending without purpose. The law should dedicate proceeds by set percentages to the following priorities:- Regulation and administration: licensing, inspections, enforcement, lab standards, and compliance- Product quality testing and consumer safety: verifying potency, screening for contaminants, and preventing unsafe products from reaching consumers- Public school fine arts: supporting music, theater, visual arts, and other enrichment opportunities for Texas students- Mental health services: expanding access to treatment, crisis care, and community-based support- Veterans’ services: helping Texas veterans access care, housing support, and recovery services- Mandatory local government revenue sharing: ensuring cities and counties dealing with enforcement, zoning, infrastructure, and public health impacts receive a direct share<h4>Protecting Medical Patients</h4>Medical use should be treated differently from recreational use. Texans who use THC for legitimate medical reasons should not be punished with extra taxes on their care.I support exempting medical THC purchases from both the THC excise tax and sales tax, provided the patient presents a valid state-issued medical THC card. Patients should not pay higher costs because they are managing pain, PTSD, epilepsy, cancer symptoms, or other serious conditions under state law.<h4>Why Texas Needs a Better Approach</h4>Right now, Texas has an inconsistent and weak framework for THC policy. A simple sales-tax-only approach does not generate dedicated funding for oversight, testing, or public health. It also fails to ensure that communities affected by THC retail activity receive support.A better approach would:- Improve consumer safety- Fund independent testing and enforcement- Support schools and mental health- Honor veterans with dedicated investment- Require local revenue sharing- Protect medical patients from added tax burdens<h4>What I Support</h4>I support legislation in Texas that would:1. Create a 15% excise tax on recreational THC2. Require clear labeling, product testing, and enforcement standards3. Dedicate revenue by statute to regulation, public school fine arts, mental health, veterans’ services, and local governments4. Require mandatory revenue sharing with cities and counties5. Exempt medical THC purchased with a valid state-issued card from both excise tax and sales tax<h4>Bottom Line</h4>Texas should stop pretending ordinary sales tax is enough. If THC products are sold, they should be subject to a serious regulatory and tax framework that protects consumers, funds public priorities, supports local communities, and keeps medical access affordable for patients who need it.

Texas currently applies only its regular sales tax to THC sales, a poor policy for a product that should carry dedicated public safeguards and public-benefit funding. Texas should model its recreational THC excise tax on proven state cannabis tax systems.

THC excise proceeds dedicated to mental health, public school fine arts, and local government revenue sharing.

"If I can step accross the line into New Mexico and legally buy a $25 bag of gummies, I should not be a criminal one mile later. Decriminalize, Legalize, Regulate and TAX adult-use THC. In the enabling legislation, direct the revenue to public schools, healthcare, housing and real property tax reform.