The State of Texas has executed a 41-year-old man convicted of the 2004 brutal murder of a 20-year-old mother, making Moises Sandoval Mendoza the 13th death row inmate to have their sentence carried out this year.

A Texas man has been executed for the killing of a young mother more than 20 years ago. Moises Sandoval Mendoza apologized to the victim's relatives present just before he received a lethal injection Wednesday evening at the state penitentiary in Huntsville.

Mendoza, 40, was executed by lethal injection for the murder of 20-year-old Rachelle O'Neil Tolleson on March 18, 2004, in Farmersville, Texas.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed a bill Wednesday creating an office inspired by the Department of Government Efficiency and aimed at reducing state regulations, joining other Republican governors who have pledged their own versions of billionaire Elon Musk's cost-cutting group.

Although Republicans have run state government for two decades, the governor said he was "shocked" to learn Texas has fifth highest regulatory burden.