Texas Government Insider
2025 Archive
New leadership to guide Texas Regulatory Efficiency Office panel
Gov. Greg Abbott has announced new appointments to the Texas Regulatory Efficiency Office (TREO) Advisory Panel, a new state office established in October seeking to reduce regulatory burdens and unnecessary regulations across state agencies. In this round of...
Laredo receives updated plan to construct federal DHS border wall
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has informed Laredo that, as part of its plan to build the U.S.-Mexico border wall - it will build parts of the wall within city limits. The federal government has been working toward completing the border wall along the...
Richardson voters approve $1.4B bond for RISD improvement plan
Richardson voters approved a school bond package on Nov. 4 supporting the Richardson Independent School District's (RISD) $1.4 billion improvement plan. The bond package is made up of three measures: Proposition A, Proposition B and Proposition C, each with its own...
DART advances $2.1B Silver Line rail project
The Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) Silver Line, an ambitious $2.1 billion rail project connecting Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) with surrounding cities, was officially launched in late October. DART plans to use the rails for passenger travel,...
Texas wins authority to regulate carbon-storage wells
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has ruled that Texas may administer permitting for Class VI underground injection wells. The authorization recognizes the state’s capability to utilize these wells for carbon sequestration while protecting water resources...
Austin expands university partnerships to address civil challenges
The city of Austin has renewed a partnership with The University of Texas (UT) at Austin, expanding the research-driven model to deliver innovative solutions to regional and community needs. The city will invest $12 million over the next five years to maintain the...
Design phase begins for two new Corpus Christi fire stations
The Corpus Christi City Council approved a design contract for two new fire stations that will replace aging facilities with modern buildings during a recent meeting. The approval authorizes the start of formal design work using funds secured through Bond 2024’s...
“Y’all Street” is expanding as Nasdaq unveils new Texas exchange
Nasdaq is making itself at home on Y'all Street, expanding into Texas after announcing its plans at the Permian Basin BBQ Cookoff in Midland on Nov. 12. If the Securities and Exchange Commission agrees, Nasdaq Texas will begin operations in early 2026 as a dual...
UT Arlington unveils major campus projects under updated Master Plan
The University of Texas at Arlington (UT Arlington) recently held a town hall to share major updates for the Campus Master Plan. The university outlined new infrastructure plans, including modernizing the entrance to the campus and building a boutique hotel,...
ERCOT, TAMU partner to research large power loads on state electric grid
Skyrocketing energy grid demands brought on by increasingly large electric loads have been impacting grid stability and reliability, complicating power distribution during and after grid disruptions. To better understand how these large loads behave, the Electric...
Nacogdoches County’s $75M jail bond receives approval from voters
Nacogdoches County residents approved a $75 million bond measure Tuesday that will fund construction of a new county jail. Proposition A passed with 63 percent of the vote. The new facility will accommodate 570 inmates, nearly double the 300-bed capacity of the...
Bexar County voters back $311M publicly funded plan for new Spurs arena
Bexar County voters have voiced their approval for the San Antonio Spurs’ new stadium after passing a bond measure to allocate $311 million in public funds to the $1.3 billion project. The Spurs arena approval with the support of public funds will accelerate the...
New $235M TAMU learning center set to break ground in 2026
The Texas A&M University at College Station (TAMU-College Station) will build a $235 million Center for Learning, Arts and Innovation (CLAI) for the College of Performance, Visualization and Fine Arts. Construction is anticipated to begin in late 2026. The...
NEISD improvement plan gains $483M boost following voter approval
Voters in the North East Independent School District (NEISD) in San Antonio have approved three out of five propositions featured in the $495 million bond ballot, advancing NEISD's improvement plan. Propositions D and E were denied by voters, turning down $12 million...
Dallas Love Field launches $800M Love Field Expansion Airport Program
Dallas Love Field Airport (DAL) has officially finalized its 2025 Master Plan and begun planning the $800 million Love Field Expansion Airport Program (LEAP) — the largest capital undertaking in the airport’s history. The program’s design phase is slated to begin in...
Governor appoints inaugural eight to AI Systems Advisory Board
Gov. Greg Abbott has officially established the Public Sector Artificial Intelligence (AI) Systems Advisory Board after appointing its inaugural eight members. All appointment terms are set to expire Sept. 1, 2027. The board was founded as part of the Texas...
HCFCD unveils plan for $410M in Harris County flood control projects
The Harris County Flood Control District has published its latest outlook for projects over the next 12 months with plans to put approximately $410 million worth of flood projects out to bid. These efforts are among the early waves of flood projects led by the...
Lone Star: Gerard Hudspeth Denton’s Mayor
Saluting Texas Lone Stars: The Lone Star section spotlights and recognizes powerful figures across Texas’ public sector landscape. This week’s Lone Star profile is Gerard Hudspeth, the mayor of the city of Denton. My public career highlights and education: I...
El Paso allocates $110M for new police headquarters, command facilities
The city of El Paso will spend $110.1 million to build a new police headquarters and a Central Regional Command facility. Both projects are in the design phase with construction anticipated to begin in 2026. The projects were originally approved as part of a public...
Texas A&M University System to launch modular nuclear collaboration at Texas A&M-RELLIS
A new collaboration with The Texas A&M University System will bring a nuclear energy project to its applied research and testing campus. Answering a national call for pilot projects, the university system announced plans for the microreactor at Texas...
Texas launches clean bus program to cut diesel emissions statewide
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) announced a funding plan for more environmentally friendly school transportation for students around the state. The Texas Clean School Bus Program, a part of the Texas Emissions Reduction Plan, is offering $16.3...
GLO targets state history, cartography at upcoming Save Texas History Symposium
On Nov. 7-8, the Texas General Land Office (GLO) will host the Save Texas History Symposium at the Bullock Texas State History Museum in Austin. The GLO is encouraging residents and other stakeholders to attend to learn more about historic preservation, cartography...
Travis County funds study for Austin-San Antonio passenger rail line
Travis County has approved a rail study to determine the feasibility of developing a commuter rail line between Austin and San Antonio. Over the next six months, the engineering firm selected for the study will examine car-alternative passenger rail options between...
Federal judge strikes down Texas book rating law as unconstitutional
Following a two-year-long legal battle, a federal judge has shot down a Texas law that would have banned books with mature themes from schools after declaring that it would violate the U.S. Constitution. House Bill 900 – known as the READER Act – was passed in 2023...
Waco kick starts $1.4B downtown redevelopment
The city of Waco’s vision for its ambitious $1.4 billion Downtown Redevelopment Plan is taking shape as the first portion of the four-phase initiative has advanced. Over the next decade, Waco will continually invest in developing more than 100 acres of the city’s...
Four statewide ballot issues to understand before Nov. 4
On Nov. 4, Texas residents will have the final say on 17 proposed amendments in the constitutional amendment elections. Should these amendments receive voter approval, they would enact major changes to taxes and funding for colleges, water infrastructure, research and...
Texas Capital’s main street to get major facelift under new urban design plan
The city of Austin is planning a transformative redesign of downtown’s historic Congress Avenue, targeted to start in early 2026. The Congress Avenue Urban Design Initiative (CAUDI), led by the city in partnership with the Downtown Austin Alliance, will initially...
Hawkins accepts nomination to Texas Supreme Court
Kyle Hawkins has been chosen as the latest addition to the Supreme Court of Texas. His term is set to expire on Dec. 31, 2026. Hawkins currently works as partner and chair of Texas appellate practice at a law firm, a role held for more than three years. In the public...
Texas DMV set for wave of new public sector leaders
Gov. Greg Abbott has announced appointments to the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles Board. New appointees are Chase Cooley of Dallas and Mark Roesler of League City. Cooley is president, chief operating officer, and general counsel of Clay Cooley Auto Group....
McAllen announces $230M redevelopment for new mixed-use community
The city of McAllen is working on a $230 million plan to transform a former 70-acre water retention pond into a mixed-use development focused on promoting luxury, connectivity and community. Proposals for the project are due by Dec. 15. City officials have expressed...
TEA announces Fort Worth ISD takeover following failing academic standards
The Texas Education Agency (TEA) has announced that it will take over the Fort Worth Independent School District (ISD), assuming control of the school board and replacing elected members with state appointments. The agency’s decision is the latest in its efforts to...
CapMetro unveils plan to expand rail, improve infrastructure throughout Central Texas
The CapMetro Board of Directors has released its plan to overhaul the city of Austin’s public transit system, prioritizing alignment with Project Connect through enhanced bus routes, improved infrastructure and light rail integration. Transit Plan 2035 contains...
Public Utility Commission attracts new leader following appointment
Morgan Johnson has been appointed to the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT). Her term is slated to end on Sept. 11, 2031. The PUCT is responsible for managing and overseeing the state’s utility providers. This includes implementing legislation and enforcing...
Texas intermodal ports contribute $26.9B to state GDP in 2024, reports find
Intermodal logistics facilities have been demonstrated to be among the most impactful economic drivers in Texas. The state’s two facilities – Port San Antonio and AllianceTexas - provided significant contributions to the $1 trillion in international trade earnings in...
New Texas leadership to guide Department of Defense
A Texas senator is making his way to Washington D.C. to lead the Department of Defense, following a recent wave of appointments announced by the White House. President Donald Trump has nominated Texas Sen. Brian Birdwell, R-Granbury, to serve as assistant secretary of...
Lone Star: Brian Gardner City of Austin’s Chief Information Security Officer
Saluting Texas Lone Stars: The Lone Star section spotlights and recognizes powerful figures across Texas’ public sector landscape. This week’s Lone Star profile is Brian Gardner, the city of Austin's Chief Information Security Officer. Your public career highlights...
Granbury secures $58M grant to upgrade water systems
The city of Granbury will move forward with plans to make major improvements to its water system, including the construction of a $100 million water treatment facility. The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) recently allocated $57.8 million to help the city advance...
Texas A&M launches disaster data platform to strengthen community resilience
Texas A&M University’s Institute for a Disaster Resilient Texas (IDRT) has launched an online interactive platform consolidating weather event data from across the state to better support Texas residents in preparing for, responding to and recovering from natural...
Texas seeks external auditors for state agency reviews
The Texas State Auditor's Office (SAO) issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) Oct. 13 seeking external auditors to conduct efficiency audits of 16 state agencies scheduled for review by the Texas Sunset Advisory Commission (Sunset) during the 2028-2029 cycle. The RFP...
El Paso moves forward with $316M CIP for airport improvements
The city of El Paso has approved a six-year $316 million Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) targeting airfield efficiency, safety, terminal improvements and additional developments. The City Council approved the 2025-2026 CIP to strengthen the El Paso International...
State distributes $1.1B in October sales tax revenue
Acting Texas Comptroller Kelly Hancock announced on Oct. 9 the distribution of $1.1 billion in monthly sales tax revenue to local governments. The allocations, distributed among cities, transit systems, counties and special purpose districts, are based on sales made...
Texas’ $850M technical college capital fund headlines residents’ Nov. ballots
On Nov. 4, Texas voters will have the opportunity to determine the future for a constitutional amendment that would create a permanent $850 million funding source to support capital projects for the Texas State Technical College (TSTC). The funds created through...
State announces tech leader to lead AI, innovation at DIR
Tony Sauerhoff has been appointed chief artificial intelligence (AI) and innovation officer (CAIO) at the Department of Information Resources (DIR), a new role leading the agency’s upcoming AI Division. The Department of Information Resources is responsible for...
Texas People on the Move: Oct. 4-10, 2025
Austin selects tenured city leader as homelessness strategist Chris Anderson has been named the deputy director for Austin Homeless Strategies and Operations. Anderson will oversee four critical departments functions, including policy and planning, street outreach,...
TWDB approves $30M for water, wastewater projects
The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) authorized $30 million in financial assistance for water and wastewater projects statewide. The largest share, approximately $23.8 million, will go to the city of Mercedes in Hidalgo County for major wastewater system...
Austin approves $46M in affordable housing funding
The city of Austin and the Texas Housing Department announced more than $46.1 million was approved to serve low- and moderate-income residents and develop affordable housing solutions citywide. The funding, which was awarded at meetings in April, May and September,...
Lone Star: Kevin Ward Trinity River Authority’s General Manager
Saluting Texas Lone Stars: The Lone Star section spotlights and recognizes powerful figures across Texas’ public sector landscape. This week’s Lone Star profile is J. Kevin Ward, Trinity River Authority's General Manager. Your public career highlights and education I...
NCTCOG announces combined $75M NOFO for EV vehicles, charging infrastructure
The North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) will distribute $75 million across two programs to transition vehicles to zero-emission alternatives and build electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. The organization anticipates announcing a Call for...
Texas transportation commissioners greenlight airport, highway projects
In September, the Texas Transportation Commission (TTC) moved to shape the state’s roads and skies, approving more than $590 million in highway contracts, awarding $64 million in airport grants and installing new leadership in key roles. The decision is part of a...
Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board secures new leaders
Gov. Greg Abbott has appointed new leadership to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. Stacy Hock was named chair and Welcome Wilson Jr. vice chair. THECB oversees governance and coordination for the state’s higher education system. Hock, a private investor...
New leadership guides statewide energy efforts at ERCOT
Gov. Greg Abbott has appointed Neyma Figueroa of San Antonio to the Texas Energy Reliability Council, or ERCOT as it is better known. The council works to ensure reliable energy for human needs and critical infrastructure across Texas and to improve coordination in...
Austin approves $46M in affordable housing funding
The city of Austin and the Texas Housing Department announced more than $46.1 million was approved to serve low- and moderate-income residents and develop affordable housing solutions citywide. The funding, which was awarded at meetings in April, May and September,...
Fort Worth initiates new year under $4.3B budget
Oct. 1 marked a new fiscal year for the city of Fort Worth, initiating a new year of capital projects following the adoption of a $4.2 billion budget for 2026. The budget has seen an overall increase compared to the previous year’s, emphasizing an increased...
State shuffles leadership at TCEQ
Tonya Miller has been appointed to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). Her term is set to end Aug. 31, 2031. The TCEQ oversees the state’s efforts to protect public health and natural resources through sustainable economic development. Its mission...
CPA publishes online tool consolidating Texas economic, demographic statistics
The Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts (CPA) has released an interactive dashboard providing Texas with greater accessibility to the latest economic and demographic data. The TexStats Regional Data Dashboard features data from state, county and regional levels and...
University of Texas is offered preferential funding treatment by Trump Administration
The Trump administration has sent a letter to nine universities – including the University of Texas (UT) at Austin – formally requesting them to adopt a new set of principles in exchange for preferred access to federal funding. The 10-point compact is the latest...
College Station mulls P3 for multipurpose arena, mixed-use development
The city of College Station is seeking to create a public-private partnership (P3) with Texas A&M, the city of Bryan and Brazos County to convert a park into a mixed-use development. The initiative coincides with an ongoing College Station effort to redevelop the...
Austin-San Antonio joins nationwide accelerator for climate resilience
The Austin-San Antonio region has been chosen as the next hub for the Climate Resilient Communities Accelerator (CRCA) — a two-year initiative between key regional stakeholders to address ongoing climate threats to communities and strengthen economic stability. As an...
SEC clears Dallas-based stock exchanges for launch
With the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) official approval, the Texas Stock Exchange (TXSE) has been given the green light to operate as a national securities exchange. It is the first fully integrated national securities exchange to receive this...
Texas Water Development Board gains new leadership
New leadership will soon guide the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB), the state’s leading entity for water initiatives and flood planning, financing and data generation. On Sept. 26, Gov. Greg Abbott announced the appointment of Brady Franks to the board, leading...
State reshapes Texas Workforce Commission with new appointments
The Texas Workforce Commission’s (TWC) leadership hierarchy is changing with the appointment of Joe Esparza as chair and the addition of Brent Connett as the commissioner representing the public. Connett’s term is slated to expire Feb. 1, 2031. The TWC oversees and...
Lone Star: Dr. Stacia Haynie Midwestern State University President
Saluting Texas Lone Stars: The Lone Star section spotlights and recognizes powerful figures across Texas’ public sector landscape. This week’s Lone Star profile is Stacia Haynie, Ph.D, president of Midwestern State University. Your public career highlights and...
Lone Star: Emily Zalkovsky HHSC’s Chief Medicaid and CHIP Services Office
Saluting Texas Lone Stars: The Lone Star section spotlights and recognizes powerful figures across Texas’ public sector landscape. This week’s Lone Star profile is Emily Zalkovsky, Chief Medicaid and CHIP Services Officer for the Texas Health and Human Services...
GLO grants $45M for infrastructure upgrades in three counties
Texas has cleared more than $45 million in new infrastructure upgrades for three communities, the General Land Office announced earlier this month. The initiative is led by a $43.3 million commitment to Brazoria County to fund ditch, road, water treatment plant and...
TWDB approves $123M to improve water, waste systems in communities statewide
The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) will spend $123.5 million to improve water and wastewater systems statewide. In this round of funding, the new grants will supplement local funds to match on projects. A selection of the highest-value project receiving...
Texas university partners with federal lab on battery tech innovations
The University of Texas at Dallas (UTD) is partnering with the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory to develop and produce new battery technology. UTD and Argonne signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) as part of an effort to innovate new...
El Paso estimates $1B in economic gains through $207M deck plaza project
The upcoming $207 million El Paso Downtown Deck Plaza project – currently in the design phase with construction slated for 2027 – has been projected to return nearly $1 billion in economic gains over a span of 30 years according to an economic impact study. The...
Dallas Love Field receives approval for $800M airport expansion plan
An $800 million effort to expand and renovate the Dallas Love Field Airport (DAL) has received some wind under its wings after the Dallas City Council approved it in August. The design phase for the Love Field Expansion Airport Program (LEAP) has moved into the design...
TAMU plans $220M biology research facility in College Station
Texas A&M University (TAMU) will build a $220 million Biology Teaching and Research Building on the main College Station campus. The university is currently seeking a designer, with construction slated to begin in late 2026. The 184,651-square-foot, four-story...
San Antonio’s new budget features over $1.1B in capital investments
The city of San Antonio has adopted its $4 billion budget for fiscal year (FY) 2026, placing an increased emphasis on public safety, housing and infrastructure. The city council’s approval of the spending plan includes $1.1 billion allocated to the Capital Fund –...
Governor taps tenured auditor to lead one of state’s largest agencies
Audrey O’Neill has been selected as the permanent commissioner for the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS). Her term is slated to end Aug. 31, 2027. With a budget exceeding $4 billion and over 12,000 employees, DFPS is one of the largest and most...
Regulatory Efficiency Office secures director to lead statewide efficiency efforts
Jerome Greener has been selected to assume his responsibilities as director of the Texas Regulatory Efficiency Office (TREO). Originally pitched as Texas’ version of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), TREO was established in April to cut red tape,...
State kicks off Advanced Nuclear Office with newly appointed director
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has announced the appointment of Jarred Shaffer as director of the Texas Advanced Nuclear Office (TANO), one of the state’s largest efforts to renew nuclear energy dominance. TANO was officially signed into law in June to propel the state’s...
New Caney school district weighs expansions to meet explosive growth
New Caney Independent School District (NCISD) is actively pursuing the acquisition of 113 acres of land for future school sites and is considering a new bond program to address the anticipated growth in student enrollment. Over the past five years, NCISD saw a 19%...
Dallas adopts $5.2B budget, largest in city history
The city of Dallas adopted the largest budget in the city’s history during its Sept. 18 meeting, apportioning $5.2 billion for fiscal year 2025 through 2026. The city leveraged a new budget strategy known as Priority Based Budgeting (PBB) to focus funding for...
Lone Star: John Hall, HARC President and CEO
Saluting Texas Lone Stars: The Lone Star section spotlights and recognizes powerful figures across Texas' public sector and nonprofit landscape. This week’s Lone Star profile is John Hall, president and CEO of HARC, an independent sustainability solutions nonprofit...
Texas CPA releases $1.2B in local sales taxes to public entities
The Acting Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts (CPA) has announced that the office will distribute $1.2 billion in local sales tax allocations to local jurisdictions for September. Cities, counties, transit systems and special purpose districts will directly benefit...
Texas Cyber Command launches with retired admiral at the helm
Timothy James White has been appointed as chief of the newly established Texas Cyber Command (TCC). His term will expire Feb. 1, 2027. In his new role, White will oversee the TCC’s operations to propel and advance the state’s cybersecurity initiatives, policies and...
TAMU System authorizes capital plan with $831M for new FY 2026 projects
The Texas A&M University (TAMU) System Board of Regents has approved a $6.6 billion, five-year System Capital Plan, guiding the system’s critical infrastructure and system decisions for the immediate future. The budgeting document includes nearly $2 billion in...
Beaumont plans $700M infrastructure plan for citywide upgrades
The city of Beaumont is moving forward with a plan to invest $700.1 million into infrastructure projects over the next five years. The Community Investment Plan (CIP) outlines a series of infrastructure initiatives scheduled between 2026 and 2030. While many projects...
Hood County places $149M infrastructure bonds on ballot
Voters in Hood County, Texas, will decide on two propositions regarding bond sales for infrastructure improvements this November. County commissioners have approved placing the two measures on the Nov. 4 ballot. Proposition A seeks funds to expand the county jail...
McKinney City Council allocates $327.7M for capital projects
The McKinney City Council has officially approved a $942 million budget for fiscal year (FY) 2025 through 2026. From that amount, the city will invest $327.7 million in capital improvement program (CIP) projects. The city’s upcoming CIP covers the first segment of...
Governor issues executive order targeting hemp restrictions for minors
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has released an executive order directing state agencies to regulate the sale and distribution of hemp-derived products. The order is the governor’s latest effort to protect minors after he vetoed a proposed hemp and THC ban in the state’s 89th...
Lone Star: Aubrey A. Spear, San Jacinto River Authority’s general manager
This week’s Lone Star profile is Aubrey A. Spear, general manager for the San Jacinto River Authority. Your public career highlights and education I am currently the general manager for the San Jacinto River Authority in Conroe, Texas, where I've served since 2024....
Eight Texas public universities emerge as America’s top institutions
Texas public universities continue to climb national rankings despite federal funding freezes, student loan reforms and changes to educational policy. Forbes has recently released its annual ranking of the nation’s public and private colleges and universities. Among...
Dallas Area Rapid Transit adopts largest service change in its history
The Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) Board of Directors adopted a variety of proposed service changes this week, amounting to some of the largest services changes in the transit agency’s 40-year history. The service changes come as the board attempts to resolve a...
Texas A&M scientist helps reveal strongest clues yet for ancient life on Mars
A Texas A&M geobiologist has joined NASA in what may be the most convincing case yet for ancient life on Mars. Aggie Michael M. Tice and an international team discovered that Mars' Jezero Crater contains a surprising mix of volcanic and sedimentary rocks in the...
Hays County initiates major development regulation overhaul
Hays County, Texas, is making moves to revise its development regulations for the first time since 2010, beginning with a round of public input on a variety of topics. County officials held several open-house meetings Sept. 2, inviting the community to hear current...
State investment drives major bank’s move into Dallas’ “Y’all Street”
Dallas’ “Y’all Street” – Texas’ own counterpart to the preeminent Wall Street in New York City – has expanded with one of the largest banks in North America establishing a major regional office in the financial district. The Bank of Nova Scotia’s (Scotiabank) opted...
Fort Worth to update ordinances, regulations to spur affordable housing development
In alignment with several bills enacted by the 89th Texas Legislature, Fort Worth will implement a series of amendments to comply with updated zoning ordinance and development regulations. The changes resulting from these amendments will primarily impact and expand...
UH carbon capture innovations show promise for clean energy future
Researchers at the University of Houston (UH) have announced two new innovative breakthroughs in carbon capture technologies that enhance sustainable practices in industrial sectors. For the first breakthrough, the researchers created a new method to capture carbon...
Drones become airborne first responders in El Paso
A Texas border city has deployed the first citywide drone network in the United States, seeking to expand and improve emergency services and response times. El Paso has expanded its emergency response system by installing 22 DJI drone docks and establishing a...
Baytown approves $152M infrastructure package for voter approval
A sweeping multimillion-dollar infrastructure plan is on the line for the city of Baytown this November. Voters will decide whether to move forward on $152 million bond election with six propositions, ranging from roads and drainage to parks and civic improvements. ...
TAMU Board of Regents appoints new leadership, welcomes 12th university to the system
The Texas A&M University (TAMU) System is embarking in a new direction after implementing changes to the leadership hierarchy at two instructions. Among these new leaders, Dr. Christopher Maynards has been named as the sole finalist for president of Texas A&M...
September marks a month of new laws for Texans
On Sept. 1, a swathe of landmark bills that were passed during the Texas 89th Regular Legislative Session officially went into law. A total of 20 bills were implemented, covering topics ranging from K-12 education to water infrastructure to election integrity. The...
Lone Star: Sam Greif Plano’s Deputy City Manager
This week’s Lone Star profile is Sam Greif, deputy city manager for the city of Plano. My public career highlights and education: I spent 30 years with the Fort Worth Fire Department, then six years as Chief of Plano Fire-Rescue. I’m now in my fourth year as deputy...
Texas’ special session drags on as key battles over property tax caps, THC and maps stall
As the 89th Legislature’s Second Special Session winds down, several very controversial bills still face an uncertain future. While it appeared earlier that the session would end this week, that now appears not to be the case as the Speaker has announced that he will...
Harris County initiates planning process to shape large-scale flood mitigation efforts
The Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) is conducting a study to find large-scale alternative solutions designed to mitigate flood risk and enhance resiliency. These solutions may include building 100-foot tunnels to transport water during emergencies. Recent...
TWDB distributes $232M to enhance water and wastewater system infrastructure
The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) will allocate $231.8 million to support upcoming water and wastewater system improvement projects, building upon local contributions and matches for each project. This round of TWDB funding will support a variety of water...
PUCT announces $240M investment in power grid projects outside ERCOT
The Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) has selected the first four projects for its landmark program to sponsor electric generation projects outside the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) grid. The projects selected for the first round of the Texas...
Presidential permits clear path for international border bridge in Brownsville
Cameron County has received a presidential permit to build and operate a $10 million international pedestrian bridge between the city of Brownsville, Texas, and Mexico. With the permit granted, Cameron County, in partnership with Cameron County Regional Mobility...
BDO reveals $200M NOFO to expand middle-mile broadband infrastructure statewide
The Texas Comptroller’s Broadband Development Office (BDO) has announced a $200 million Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) to expand middle-mile broadband infrastructure across the state. Applications are due Nov. 20, 2025. The Texas Middle Mile (TMM) Program is...
Texas universities to lead historic molten salt nuclear reactor project
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has committed nuclear material to three research projects, including the nation's first molten salt research reactor in Texas. The material, high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU), is not currently available to the domestic market...
San Antonio signs term sheet for $1.3B downtown redevelopment project
San Antonio is moving ahead with plans for a new downtown arena that would anchor Project Marvel, a $1.3 billion redevelopment project centered around the Spurs professional basketball team. The proposed venue, seating between 17,000 to 18,500, is the centerpiece of a...
Lone Star: John Osborne President and CEO Lubbock Economic Development Alliance
My public career highlights and education: I’ve led economic development in three states, serving as chairman for multiple statewide organizations. A West Texas A&M MBA graduate and University of Oklahoma Economic Development Institute alumnus, I’ve guided 300+...
UT System reshapes leadership hierarchy with confirmations to lead universities
The University of Texas (UT) System has stamped a series of key leadership changes for its universities, establishing a new hierarchy to guide and achieve the system’s goals and policies for the foreseeable future. Several of the appointments were officially announced...
Updated strategic plan outlines Port of Galveston’s future expansions to meet growth
The port of Galveston has updated its Strategic Master Plan, outlining new measures and projects vital to accommodating the port’s rapid growth and ongoing demand. The updated plan includes planned investments and projects over the next two decades. The port forecasts...
Laredo approves historic city budget with plans for over $500M in capital improvements
The city of Laredo has officially approved its over $1 billion budget for fiscal year 2025-2026, the most expensive budget in city history. The city council also discussed the coming year’s $525.8 million Capital Improvements Plan (CIP), slated for approval at a later...
Sherman to welcome $400M nonprofit hospital to enhance regional healthcare services
The city of Sherman, Texas is in line for a new medical campus with services to expand healthcare access and accommodate emerging community and public needs. The Community Hospital Corporation (CHC) has announced that it will build a $400 million state-of-the-art...
Houston approves $314M disaster recovery plan
The Houston City Council approved a $314 million disaster recovery plan this month to address funding needs still lingering from Hurricane Beryl and the 2024 derecho. The plan uses federal funds from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), targeting...
Texas, USDA join forces in $750M worm-fighting effort
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will build a $750 million facility at Moore Air Base near Edinburg, Texas to prevent the spread of the New World Screwworm (NWS) into the United States. Texas state and federal officials made the announcement Aug. 15,...
TDCJ veteran promoted to lead state’s largest prison network
Bobby Lumpkin, current chief operating officer of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ), has been appointed as the agency’s new executive director effective Sept. 1, according to the Texas Board of Criminal Justice. He will succeed Bryan Collier, who is...
TxDOT unveils $146B plan to improve transportation statewide
The state of Texas has officially unveiled the next iteration of its 10-year Unified Transportation Plan (UTP), outlining a $146 billion investment in critical transportation projects statewide. The 2026 UTP will be the third consecutive year that the plan exceeds...
Lonestar: John Austin Stokes Executive Director Concho Valley Council of Governments
My public career highlights and education: I currently serve as the Executive Director of the Concho Valley Council of Governments, where I work to advance regional collaboration across 13 counties in West Texas. I hold degrees in Political Science and Public...
Brownsville secures $28M for intelligent transportation projects
The city of Brownsville, Texas secured $27.8 million in funding for Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) capital improvement projects. The funding comes from the Rio Grande Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization and will be allocated toward projects seeking to...
Cedar Park joins Williamson County to launch spaceport development corporation
Cedar Park and Williamson County are partnering to launch the Central Texas Spaceport Development Corporation, a non-profit public entity dedicated to building infrastructure for spacecraft, rockets and satellites. Under Texas law, Spaceport Development Corporations...
Central Texas lakes near capacity as LCRA projections boost water outlook
Record rainfall in early July has filled up both Lake Travis and Lake Buchanan, drastically altering lake level projections while taking into account each lake’s conditions and storage capacity. While full lakes are good for the region, local homes and businesses may...
Georgetown plans $343M water reclamation facility project
The city of Georgetown is planning a $343 million water reclamation facility (WRF) to bolster local water treatment capacity. The Three Forks WRF project is currently in the design phase, with construction for the bulk of work slated to begin in 2027. The Three Forks...
Fort Worth adopts $182M Eastside Transportation Plan for major roadway upgrades
The Fort Worth City Council has officially adopted the Eastside Transportation Plan (ETP) for incorporation into the city’s Master Transportation Plan and Comprehensive Plan update. The ETP outlines the city’s efforts to invest $182 million into enhancing Route 89 and...
San Antonio launches $500M financing program for airport expansions
The city of San Antonio has established a $500 million program to help fund airport capital projects. The city’s new Texas Airport System Interim Financing Program seeks to deliver on the city’s six-year capital improvement plan (CIP), enabling San Antonio to advance...
FEMA provides updated disaster recovery timelines for Central Texas communities
Storms ravaged the Texas landscape in early July, resulting in severe winds and unprecedented flooding that left immense property and infrastructure damage in its wake. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has notified Central Texas homeowners, renters and...
As the redistricting saga continues, condensed timelines for 2026 elections concern county officials
As the ongoing redistricting stalemate plays out from Austin to Chicago and beyond, county leaders around Texas – both Republicans and Democrats – are now concerned about their ability to comply with Texas law under a potentially compressed timeline ahead of primary...
Texas Republican leaders close ranks to pressure Democratic lawmakers
U.S. Sen. John Cornyn announced this week that the FBI has granted his request to investigate and locate the Texas Democratic lawmakers who left the state in an attempt to stop the passage of new GOP-favored congressional maps. The Democratic walkout is meant to deny...
Lone Star: Cesar Garcia, Kemah’s City Administrator
Saluting Texas Lone Star – Cesar Garcia City Administrator, city of Kemah My public career highlights and education: I have a bachelor's in management from Johnson and Wales. My master's is in sports management or sport administration from the University of Miami, and...
TXDOT awards $96M to improve transit access, safety statewide
The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has awarded $96 million to transit agencies to support transit programs in rural and urban communities statewide. The funding will enable transit agencies to further expand transit services and improve accessibility...
CPS Energy approves $175M transmission line project outside San Antonio
The CPS Energy Board of Trustees has approved a $175 million project to strengthen Texas’ energy grid, expanding capacity to alleviate stress on the San Antonio area. Construction is estimated to begin in 2026. As temperatures rise year after year, Texans rely on air...
Texas Energy Fund approves $216M loan for new natural gas plant in Houston
Governor Greg Abbott has announced a $216 million low-interest loan from the Texas Energy Fund (TEF) to support the construction of a 456-megawatt natural gas facility at NRG Energy’s existing TH Wharton Generating Station in Northwest Houston. The loan, issued...
Texas A&M System pioneers pilot disaster recovery technologies, programs
The Texas A&M University System is taking the next steps to develop next generation technologies that assist disaster recovery and response following recent tragedies in the state. Spurred by climate change, natural disasters have sharply escalated in recent...
Bosque County’s future $1.2B data campus signals Texas digital growth push
As artificial intelligence (AI) and digital demand surge nationwide, Texas has become a major destination for data center development. Echoing the state’s efforts, Bosque County is soon to be home to a $1.2 billion state-of-the-art data center campus positioned...
UT Austin secures renewed federal funding for AI research and innovation
The University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin) will receive continued funding to research and further innovate artificial intelligence (AI) following a recent federal commitment to the university. The funding comes as part of a recent $100 million public-private...
Texas ballot measure targets $850M fund for technical college capital projects
An amendment slated for the Nov. 4 state constitutional ballot has the chance to bolster Waco’s economy by establishing an $850 million endowment for Texas State Technical College (TSTC). The endowment would be a permanent source of funds for the college’s capital...
Apple ramps up U.S. production with $600 billion investment plan
The tech giant Apple has announced an additional $100 million investment to bring technology manufacturing back to America, bringing the total amount to $600 billion in private investments over the next four years. The decision follows as recent federal goals seek to...
Texas joins nationwide competition for a nuclear-powered future
A nationwide competition is brewing as lawmakers, developers and the public consider nuclear-powered energy facilities as the next step in energy production. With the rise of data centers supporting artificial intelligence (AI) and natural disasters that threaten...
Lonestar: Don Warren, Mayor of Tyler
My public career highlights and education: I was born and raised in Tyler, graduated from Tyler ISD and Texas Tech, and have served three terms on City Council and three terms as Mayor. I’ve helped lead major infrastructure, public safety, and quality-of-life projects...
Texas Legislature considers restricting local government’s use of bond funding
In his proclamation calling the Texas Legislature back into the First Special Session, Governor Greg Abbott included “legislation reducing the property tax burden on Texans and legislation imposing spending limits on entities authorized to impose property taxes.” By...
New Texas law broadens multifamily development into commercial areas
A new bill has been signed into law designed to address Texas’ housing shortage, accelerating developer efforts to convert office buildings and land into mixed-use or multifamily housing developments. Senate Bill 840 will go into effect in September, establishing...
Austin eyes FAA, ACC partnership to tackle air traffic controller shortage
The Austin City Council approved a resolution at its July 24 meeting, seeking to establish Texas’ first air traffic controller academy as the city works to combat an ongoing staffing shortage at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (ABIA). In the resolution, the...
Texas issues $99M in tax credits to combat affordable housing shortage
The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs recently awarded $99 million in tax credits that will help create and restore affordable housing across the state. Gov. Greg Abbott last week announced that the proceeds from the Housing Tax Credit Program will...
Texas leaders author legislation to facilitate mass production of drone technologies
Interest in drone technologies surges again as the Federal Legislature has introduced a bill to facilitate drone development at a military base. The bill, titled the SkyFoundry Act of 2025, will authorize a drone production and innovation facility at the Red River...
Kyle City Council greenlights $162M sportsplex master plan
The city of Kyle recently approved the $161.9 million master plan for an upcoming sportsplex campus. The project’s next step will be to procure an architect, followed by construction beginning at an unannounced date. The city has divided the project up into a series...
Massive $16.5B chips manufacturing deal poised to transform Taylor
The city of Taylor, Texas, will soon benefit from a $16.5 billion deal to expand the chip manufacturing sector into the city as a partnership between two tech powerhouses stands to bolster local economic growth. In an agreement between Tesla and Samsung, Tesla will...
UT System reveals sole finalists for system chancellor, UT Austin president
The University of Texas (UT) System Board of Regents has narrowed down its finalists for its next system chancellor and UT Austin president to two leaders. The sole finalists are Dr. John Zerwas for the system’s chancellor and James Davis as president of UT Austin....
Liberty Hill approves design contract for planned North Fork Wastewater Treatment Plant
The Liberty Hill City Council in Texas has agreed to a contract with a design firm for 30% design of the North Fork Wastewater Treatment Plant. The approved contract includes project administration, design confirmation, 30% design and a site survey, according to...
San Angelo advances $41.6M bond for Coliseum, Fairgrounds upgrades
The city of San Angelo passed an ordinance July 15 authorizing the issuance and sale of $41.6 million in taxable general obligation bonds to fund improvements to the city’s coliseum and fairgrounds. The bond issue was approved by voters in May. The city is projecting...
Texas assumes environmental permitting under new USDOT agreement
The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has committed to taking greater ownership over the environmental permitting requirements process after signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT). By removing common...
TWDB approves monumental $2.7B investment in state water, wastewater projects
The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) will distribute nearly $2.7 billion in financial assistance to support water and wastewater infrastructure projects across the state. Each award will supplement local funds and expedite project delivery. A selection of the...
Hays County advances $440M road plan despite court setback
Hays County commissioners are moving forward with their $440 million plan to improve roadways and traffic flow despite funding uncertainty. Public officials said the county plans to borrow money—with no voter approval needed—to start work on a series of projects...
Fort Worth welcomes $687M semiconductor plant
The city of Fort Worth is expanding its technology manufacturing sector, welcoming an oversees company building its first plant within the city’s limits. Both Denton County and Fort Worth approved tax abatements to enable development on the plant. In total, the...
Texas Senate revisits ban on taxpayer-funded lobbying during Special Session
Legislation to ban taxpayer-funded lobbying is again gaining momentum in the Texas Senate as the Special Session in Austin gets underway. Senate Bill 12 by state Sen. Mayes Middleton, R-River Oaks, was approved unanimously by the Senate State Affairs Committee and is...
Texas Hill Country sees NASA’s assistance with real-time flood mapping, aerial imagery
Following disastrous flooding across Central Texas, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) stepped in to provide innovative, real-time guidance and maps to local and state officials to aid in recovery efforts. NASA’s Disasters Response Coordination...