Texas leaders are defending a Black state official after a lawmaker’s public interrogation of the state’s DEI hiring practices left her in tears. State Rep. Brian Harrison, R-Midlothian, pressed Texas Water Development Board Chair L’Oreal Stepney for answers about a strategic plan that mentions diversity during a discussion of state funding for the agency. After a moment Stepney then found herself defending not only her agency’s work, but her own qualifications and dedication to Texas. Hours later, Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dustin Burrows praised and called for respect for L’Oreal. On social media, Abbott wrote, “There is no one better and no one I have more confidence in to lead and implement our water solutions than TWDB Chairwoman L'Oreal Stepney.” Last year, Abbott issued an executive order telling state agencies to stop considering DEI initiatives in hiring, fueling tensions over how state hiring and funding decisions should be made. Read more: trib.it/ufQsBE