March 17, 2025 (Houston) – A new report by the Barbara Jordan Public Policy Research and Survey Center at Texas Southern University draws from the Center’s recent statewide public opinion survey to analyze support among Texas registered voters for a series of legislative policy proposals being considered by the Texas Legislature this spring. A prior report covered popular support for education-related legislation such as the creation of Education Savings Accounts and the expansion of funding for dyslexia screening and instruction in Texas public schools.
Texas is one of only 10 states that have not expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. More than half (51%) of Texans want the Texas Legislature to expand Medicaid access this session while just under one-third (31%) favor maintaining the status quo, with the remaining 18% unsure of their position on this issue. Dr. Michael Adams, the Founding Director of the Barbara Jordan Public Policy Research and Survey Center at Texas Southern University noted that “support among Black Texans for Medicaid expansion is overwhelming, with 73% of Black Texans in favor and only 19% against.”
More than one-half (55%) of Texans support the legalization of recreational marijuana in Texas, while 28% support the legalization of medical marijuana only, with 17% preferring that both recreational and medical marijuana use remain illegal. Almost three-fourths (73%) of Black Texans favor the legalization of recreational marijuana, compared to around half of white (53%) and Latino (48%) Texans. Support for the legalization of recreational marijuana is especially high (91%) among Black Texans under the age of 35.
More than three-fifths (62%) of Texans support legislation that would permit the operation of a limited number of Las Vegas-style destination resort casinos in Texas, compared to 38% who oppose this casino gambling legislation. Support for destination resort casinos is especially strong (69%) among Black Texans.
More than three-fourths (78%) of Black Texans reported voting for Democrat Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election while 19% reported voting for Republican Donald Trump. Black women (86%) were significantly more likely than Black men (65%) to report having voted for Harris, while Black men (31%) were significantly more likely than Black women (12%) to report having voted for Trump.
The report also explores the opinions of all Texans, and of Black Texans in great detail, on a wide range of other issues being debated in Austin this spring, including the regulation of abortion, increased funding for vocational training programs in Texas prisons, and placing greater limits on the ability of law enforcement to arrest people for fine-only traffic offenses.
