SUMMARY: Texas House lawmakers approved House Bill 8 to eliminate the STAAR test, replacing it with three shorter, adaptive exams administered at the beginning, middle, and end of the school year starting in 2027-2028. The Texas Education Agency (TEA) will create the tests, which provide results within 48 hours and measure student progress more frequently. The bill bans additional benchmark testing and establishes an Accountability Advisory Committee to advise TEA. Passed 79-47 along party lines, Republicans argue the new system reduces stress and improves assessment, while Democrats worry about increased testing burden. The bill now awaits Governor Greg Abbott’s approval.

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SUMMARY: Student groups from UT Austin and UT Dallas, supported by FIRE, sued university leaders over Texas Senate Bill 2972, which bans First Amendment-protected speech on public university campuses between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m., and restricts amplified sound, percussion, and invited speakers during finals. The law, linked to recent campus protests, is criticized for infringing constitutional rights and potentially punishing activities like prayer, journalism, music, and political expression. Plaintiffs include Christian, journalistic, musical, and conservative groups, who argue the law threatens free speech and campus support systems. The UT System has yet to respond to the lawsuit.

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SUMMARY: Recent reports claiming Google warned 2.5 billion Gmail users to change passwords due to a data breach are false. Google clarified there was no major security warning and emphasized its strong protections, blocking over 99.9% of phishing and malware attempts. A limited security incident affected a small number of corporate users earlier this summer, with those impacted already notified. Despite no widespread alert, Google noted increased phishing and credential theft attempts. To enhance security, users are encouraged to use Passkeys, 2-Step Verification, and remain vigilant against phishing emails. Suspicious messages can be reported directly to Google for investigation.

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