I found where the problem originated. In this thread someone fixes the SayText2, but breaks the coloring along the way.
https://forums.alliedmods.net/showthread.php?t=206537
Another thread about the update:
https://forums.alliedmods.net/showthread.php?t=205993
There's some nice info on the protobuf, but other than that, nothing too new here.
EDIT:
I think I was incorrect in saying that the hlx_sm_psay sets a player's name to white, I believe it is actually setting it to the player's corresponding team color. Not sure
how this fits into anything else. I also now realize that when I wrote that long post, I was looking at the 1.6.19 hlstatx.smx release, not the hlxce.smx from the thread I
previously linked. The hlxce.smx has the protobuff implemented, It doesn't look like coloring was attempted to be added, but I could be wrong. That doesn't mean I
have any idea how to add it, but I'm trying to get there...
EDIT2:
Just so you know, if you'd prefer your messages in white and not the teamcolor, you can set BroadCastEventsCommand to hlx_sm_psay2 and PlayerEventsCommand to hlx_sm_psay2.
EDIT3, POST-SOLUTION:Don't do what I said to do in EDIT2. That will only work with the broken plugin. Install the new plugin and your messages will be white/green.