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.
Saluting Texas Lone Stars – Mary Babcock
Mary Babcock Director of the Human Resources Division Texas Department of Criminal Justice Public career highlights and education: I have had the privilege to serve the state of Texas over the last 18 years, most of which has been spent in criminal justice and victim...
Benjamin Barkley reappointed as chief executive and public counsel of OPUC
Benjamin Barkley has been reappointed to the Office of Public Utility Counsel (OPUC) as chief executive and public counsel. His term will expire Feb. 1, 2027. As public counsel, Barkley will handle OPUC’s overall operations and spearhead the office’s consumer...
ACC plans $100 million project to revitalize Highland Campus Building
Austin Community College (ACC) has issued a solicitation for a designer for a $100 million renovation or replacement project. While the design phase is approved, a construction timeline has not yet been decided. The project will either renovate the Highland Campus...
Texas HHS appoints deputy chief information officer and interim chief deputy chief information officer
Texas Health and Human Services (HHS) has made two promotions to lead the department’s IT and technology initiatives, systems and projects. MacGregor Stephenson has been selected to take over as interim chief deputy chief information officer. Stephenson...
Round Rock approves designer for $28 million highway expansion project
The city of Round Rock will spend $28 million to expand Highway 79. The City Council recently approved a company for engineering work and will collaborate with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to see the project through to completion. While the design is...
Gov. Abbott makes two appointments to Sulphur River Basin Authority Board of Directors
Gov. Greg Abbott has appointed two new members to the Sulphur River Basin Authority (SRBA) Board of Directors. The SRBA oversees construction, maintenance and operations inside the state and watershed of the Sulphur River. All the river’s tributaries, both inside and...
BDO halts grants and contracts made through federal broadband expansion and equity program
The Broadband Development Office (BDO) announced it is pausing all grants and contracts associated with the state’s allocation of the federal State Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program (SDECGP). Texas was allocated $55.6 million from the SDECGP, the distribution of...
Williamson County Judge Bill Gravell transitions to federal advocate role for 4.5 million small businesses
Williamson County Judge Bill Gravell has resigned from his most recent position to accept a new role with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to advocate for Texas. His first official day was March 10. Now with the SBA, Gravell has assumed his role as Region...