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🚨 JUST IN: GINA HINOJOSA CLARIFIES HER PLANS FOR TEXAS, ANNOUNCES MAJOR CHANGES TO DATA CENTRE TAX INCENTIVES AND EXPLAINS WHY SHE HAS HALTED ACTION ON ELON MUSK’S PROPOSED SPACE EXPANSION LAND DEAL! Texas Governor-elect Gina Hinojosa has begun outlining what her administration intends to change after her historic election victory, addressing growing concerns surrounding major technology companies, data centres, corporate tax incentives and Elon Musk’s SpaceX operations. During her first post-election press conference and subsequent media interviews, Hinojosa made it clear that Texas would no longer approach large technology investments in exactly the same way under her incoming administration. 1. MAJOR CHANGES TO DATA CENTRE TAX BREAKS AND NEW REGULATIONS Hinojosa wants to end the generous tax incentives currently available to large data centre operators, arguing that taxpayers should not be subsidising massive corporations while ordinary Texans face concerns over rising electricity costs and pressure on local resources. She specifically wants data centres to pay sales taxes on the electricity they consume, arguing that the existing exemption costs Texas more than $1 billion annually in potential revenue. She has also called for a temporary halt to new data centre approvals until lawmakers introduce stronger protections for local communities. Her proposed measures include: • Ending tax subsidies and exemptions for large data centre operators. • Requiring data centres to pay sales taxes on the electricity they consume. • Protecting local water supplies from excessive industrial consumption. • Ensuring electricity costs associated with data centres are not passed on to ordinary households. • Requiring stronger transparency from companies operating major facilities, including addressing the use of non-disclosure agreements that prevent residents from understanding developments in their communities. • Giving local communities a meaningful voice in deciding whether large data centre projects should be allowed in their areas. • Pushing for data centre operators to hire union workers and ensure Texas workers benefit from the investments. Hinojosa argues that companies should not receive enormous public subsidies without providing sufficient benefits to the communities hosting their operations. 2. ELON MUSK’S SPACEX LAND DEAL NOW FACES A MAJOR OBSTACLE Another major issue concerns Elon Musk’s SpaceX expansion plans in South Texas. The Texas government had been considering a proposal involving approximately 1,300 acres of publicly owned land, including Boca Chica State Park, near SpaceX’s Starbase operations. However, Hinojosa has asked the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to take no action on the proposed land transaction during the transition to her administration. She argues that public land should not be transferred to wealthy corporate interests without proper consideration of the interests of ordinary Texans, environmental concerns and public access. The proposed transaction has attracted criticism from residents and environmental advocates concerned about the future of Boca Chica Beach and surrounding public land. Hinojosa has made her position clear: she is willing to work with Elon Musk and his companies, but any relationship must operate on terms acceptable to Texas residents. 3. HINOJOSA SAYS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT MUST COME WITH PUBLIC PROTECTION Despite the controversy surrounding her proposals, Hinojosa insists that she is not against technology companies or economic development. Her argument is that Texas can attract major investments while introducing regulations to protect electricity supplies, water resources, public land and local communities. She is expected to work with lawmakers when the new legislative session begins in January 2027 to pursue the proposed changes. She also takes office on January 19, 2027, meaning these proposals have not yet become new laws.