Texas State Rep. Gina Hinojosa (D-Austin), a candidate for governor, stated on Sunday that she would seek an immediate moratorium on data center construction and the repeal of associated tax breaks if elected. During an interview on CBS News' "Face the Nation," Hinojosa argued that hyperscale data centers are currently moving into unincorporated rural communities without sufficient zoning or legal protections, leading to concerns regarding water usage, electricity costs, and property rights.
The proposal follows a 20-year tax break incentive provided by Governor Greg Abbott (R) intended to make Texas a center for artificial intelligence development. Hinojosa's platform, which she described as a "populist agenda," also includes a focus on public school funding and health care access. She reported that 181 Texas school districts are currently operating only four days a week, a situation she attributed to the withholding of state funding during a 2023 legislative dispute over school vouchers.
Regarding health care, Hinojosa stated she intends to ensure every child in Texas has access to quality care, noting that the state has the highest number of uninsured children in the country. While she confirmed she supports expanding Medicaid, she said she is not explicitly running on that specific terminology because she believes voters better understand the concept of child health care access. She also proposed banning "bad faith denials" by insurance companies to assist those who already have coverage.
For Texas families and students, the funding debate involves at least $1 billion that Hinojosa says was redirected from neighborhood public schools toward private school vouchers. With 181 districts already operating on shortened four-day weeks, students and teachers would see changes in their weekly schedules or resource levels depending on future funding decisions. In health care, Medicaid expansion could affect a portion of the state's uninsured population, which currently includes more children than any other state, though the candidate did not report specific per-household savings or the exact number of people who would gain coverage under her plan.
The next steps for these proposals depend on the outcome of the gubernatorial election and Hinojosa’s ability to work with a state legislature she acknowledged would likely remain under Republican control. She is also currently pursuing a lawsuit to obtain emails between Governor Abbott and Elon Musk regarding a $100 million broadband contract and the potential sale of Boca Chica Beach to Musk for rocket launches. Further details on these initiatives or the specific dates for legislative action were not reported.