Rural Attorney Shortages, Elder Fraud, and a Texas Statewide Prosecutor w/Rep. Mitch Little

How should Texas address rising property taxes, growing concerns about public safety, and the challenges facing the state's criminal justice system? On this episode of Texas Talks, host Brad Swail sits down with State Representative Mitch Little, who represents Texas House District 65 in southern Denton County, for a wide-ranging discussion on criminal justice policy, government regulation, property tax reform, and the priorities shaping the next legislative session. Little, an attorney and member of the Texas House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence, shares insights from recent interim hearings and discusses how lawmakers are evaluating issues ranging from rural attorney shortages and elder fraud to prosecutorial accountability and public safety. The conversation covers: • Rural attorney shortages and the concept of “legal deserts” • Law school debt, workforce incentives, and market-based solutions • Elder fraud and cryptocurrency kiosk scams targeting seniors • Regulatory challenges surrounding cryptocurrency transactions • Public safety and criminal justice reform priorities • Rogue district attorneys and prosecutorial accountability • Governor Abbott’s proposal for a statewide prosecutor • Judicial discretion, bail policy, and repeat offenders • Property tax reform and school finance • Government spending and affordability concerns • Priorities for the 90th Texas Legislature Little also explains why he believes many public policy debates should focus on underlying market realities rather than government subsidies, particularly when addressing workforce shortages in rural communities. The discussion explores broader concerns about law enforcement, prosecutorial discretion, judicial accountability, and the balance between local control and state oversight in Texas’ criminal justice system. Looking ahead, Little identifies property tax relief as one of the most significant issues facing Texas families and outlines his perspective on how lawmakers can reduce the burden on homeowners while maintaining essential public services. 00:00 — Intro + Meet Rep. Mitch Little 01:50 — Representing Texas House District 65 03:00 — What interim hearings accomplish 06:00 — Rural attorney shortages and legal deserts 08:39 — Law school debt and workforce incentives 12:15 — Are rural legal shortages really a crisis? 14:01 — Comparing attorney and physician shortages 19:20 — Market solutions versus government subsidies 20:24 — Elder fraud and cryptocurrency scams 23:07 — Why crypto kiosks are being scrutinized 25:33 — Should Texas regulate or ban crypto kiosks? 29:13 — Rogue district attorneys and lawlessness concerns 32:42 — Governor Abbott’s statewide prosecutor proposal 34:02 — Elections, appointments, and accountability 37:42 — Property taxes and legislative priorities 39:26 — How Texas could fund property tax relief 41:00 — Final thoughts and where to follow Mitch Little Watch Full-Length Interviews: https://www.youtube.com/@TexasTalks Follow us on social mediaX: @Texas_DispatchInstagram: thetexasdispatchLinkedIn: The Texas DispatchTikTok: texas_talks_podcast Find more at The Texas DispatchYour source for state news, policy, and investigative journalism.https://thetexasdispatch.com