Texas Government Insider

Your Inside Track to Texas Government & Contracting
Texas Government Insider (TGI) is SPI’s essential weekly publication, delivering the latest developments in state and local government for those doing business with the public sector in the Lone Star State.
Each issue provides a roundup of government contracting news, political insights, key policy updates, and expert analysis from SPI’s team of seasoned researchers, consultants, and subject matter experts. TGI also features exclusive interviews with influential government insiders, details on upcoming conferences, gubernatorial appointments, and valuable procurement intelligence you won’t find elsewhere. Subscribe today!
Making Headlines in Texas This Week
Texas legislative session enters final stretch with key bills pending
As of press time on May 16, 2025. All figures and statistics in this report are current as of deadline but are subject to rapid change as the legislative session progresses. With just over two weeks remaining in the Texas Legislature's 89th regular session, lawmakers...
Celina voters greenlight $2.3B school building project
The Celina Independent School District (CISD) will move forward with a historic $2.3 billion investment in a slate of new school campuses and improvements to existing facilities. Voters approved the bond measure May 3. With funding secured, the district will start...
Sinking Texas cities create costly infrastructure threat
Major cities across the nation are sinking, affecting more than 34 million people and putting thousands of buildings at risk, according to newly released satellite data. In Texas, metropolitan areas such as Houston, San Antonio, Austin and Dallas are among the most...
New criteria for Texas flood projects awaits final approval
A groundbreaking bipartisan bill designed to open and distribute vital funding to support water infrastructure has been approved by both the Texas House and Senate. If the governor approves Senate Bill 1967, the state will expand the definitions of a "flood project"...
San Antonio establishes panel to advance transportation priorities
The city of San Antonio has created an advisory body focused on advancing community-based transportation plans and policies. The Multimodal Transportation Commission will ensure the city places its residents first in all current and future transportation matters. The...
Water infrastructure gets $113.5M boost in Texas
The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) will distribute $113.5 million to support water and wastewater system improvements, line replacement and contaminant remediation projects. The city of Paducah will receive the largest sum—$22.7 million—to make various water...
Victoria to transform community center into multi-use covered arena
The City of Victoria has approved a $35 million renovation of its community center to transform the venue into a modern, multi-use facility capable of accommodating a broader range of events and activities. The renovation project includes a new covered arena with...
Port Houston maintains nation’s top waterway ranking
Port Houston is once again ranked the top waterway in the U.S., according to a report issued by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). The sheer volume of tonnage passing through the port, compared to the report’s runner-up, is so large that the difference alone is...
Saluting Texas Lone Star: Ben Thatcher, Boerne City Manager
Ben Thatcher City Manager, City of Boerne My career highlights and education: Growing up in a city management family, I’ve dedicated over 23 years to local government. I’m currently the city manager of Boerne, Texas—guiding a 23,000-resident community with a...