The Brief: A lawmaker told Abbott a hot air balloon hog hunting bill could be a "future catastrophe." Abbott signed it anyway.

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What you need to know

Wild hogs and hot air balloons aren't a good mix, wrote one Republican lawmaker to Gov. Greg Abbott in May, trying to convince the governor to veto a bill he said could create a "future catastrophe." The request seemingly fell on deaf ears; Abbott signed the legislation last month. Here's what you need to know: 

• The bill creates "a false sense of safety," state Rep. John Cyrier, R-Lockhart — whose district was the site of a deadly balloon crash last summer — told Abbott in a May 27 letter, referencing a measure that will soon let Texans hunt feral hogs from a hot air balloon. Lawmakers unanimously passed the legislation in May, but Cyrier said he didn't speak up because "it was something that I personally had missed" amid the session. People in Texas are already able to hunt feral hogs using a helicopter, thanks to a bill the Legislature passed in 2011. Cyrier, a licensed airplane pilot, said he's done it more than 10 times. 

• There are plenty of feral hogs in Texas. More than 2 million wild pigs currently roam the state, and officials have taken numerous jabs at trying to halt the destructive species' growing population. A company behind an EPA-approved brand of hog poison withdrew its request in April to operate in Texas after meat processors and hog hunters mobilized against it, placing the measure on hold (for now). Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller, a supporter of the pesticide, stepped in mud when he suggested his agency could remove important warnings on the label of the approved hog poison. 

• A hog wild memory from the Texas Capitol: When the Texas House debated its proposed 2018-19 budget in April, state Rep. Jonathan Stickland, R-Bedford, suggested lawmakers defund the state's feral hog abatement program, calling it a waste of taxpayer money. That angered some in the chamber, including state Rep. Drew Springer, R-Muenster, who said he'd support Stickland's proposal — but only if lawmakers would nix the same amount of funding for roads and highways in Bedford, Stickland's legislative district. Almost 100 of the 150 representatives backed Springer's slap at Stickland, ultimately forcing Stickland to withdraw his proposal. Here's how the exchange ended. 

Other stories we're watching today:

• Decorated Air Force veteran MJ Hegar is launching a Democratic challenge against U.S. Rep. John Carter, R-Round Rock, in a solidly red district that includes one of the country's largest military bases. "I see a threat to our Constitution, our democracy," Hegar recently said, "and I feel compelled to do something more about it." 

Give us your take: As part of our ongoing effort to engage people directly affected by state policy, we’re conducting video interviews to learn more about how the “bathroom bill” debate affects people across Texas. Who should regulate access to bathrooms in Texas? Tell us what you think here.

Tribune today

Securities fraud charges against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton began nearly two years ago, and Paxton's "family friends" are continuing to donate hundreds of thousands of dollars to help pay his legal bills. 

Pencil us in

Join us on July 19 for coffee and conversation previewing the 85th special legislative session with state Reps. Carol Alvarado, D-Houston, Drew Darby, R-San Angelo, and Matt Schaefer, R-Tyler.

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What we're reading

Links below lead to outside websites; we've noted paywall content with $.

Endangered Texas Rep. Will Hurd, charts an independent course, USA Today

Travis County investigates possibility 17 people voted twice in 2016 election, KXAN

'Recipe for discrimination': Legal battle brews over new 'religious refusal' child welfare law, Texas Observer

After surges in West Texas, ERCOT pushes a plan to expand transmission lines, KUT

Turner changes mind, says unlikely he will ask voters to remove rev cap, The Houston Chronicle ($)

A year later, fallen Dallas officers' families 'just still trying to figure it out,' The Dallas Morning News ($)

Photo of the day

Texas Congressman Vicente Gonzalez spoke to the crowd during a July 4 parade in McAllen. Photo by Doug Young. See more photos on our Instagram account. 

Quote to note

"I think being a Republican is not what it used to be."

— MJ Hegar, who's launching a Democratic bid against U.S. Rep. John Carter, R-Round Rock, about the Republican party's evolvement in recent history — including the election of Donald Trump. 

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