Texas Government Insider
2026 Archive
North Texas flood study identifies $160M in proposed projects
Flooding could cause nearly $2.3 billion in additional property damage and related losses across western North Texas over the next 50 years as continued development increases stormwater runoff, according to preliminary findings from a regional infrastructure study....
Texas Gov.-elect Hinojosa announces four transition leaders
Texas Gov.-elect Gina Hinojosa has announced the leadership of her bipartisan transition team, naming a former Republican state lawmaker, a construction labor leader and two government and policy professionals to help prepare her incoming administration. The...
TxDOT plans $103M interchange reconstruction near Texas A&M
The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) will spend $103 million to rebuild the FM 2347/George Bush Drive interchange. Currently in the design phase, construction is planned to begin in 2028. The interchange serves as a key intersection for Texas A&M...
Austin voters approve $295M in parks, library bonds
Austin voters approved $295 million for parks and libraries Nov, 3 while rejecting Proposition I, a proposed charter amendment requiring recurring outside efficiency reviews. The two bond propositions received roughly 60 percent support, while nearly 55 percent...
Democrats sweep Texas statewide offices, regain control of House
Texas voters elected James Talarico to the U.S. Senate, Gina Hinojosa as governor, and a slate of other Democrats to statewide office Nov. 3, ending a Democratic statewide election drought dating to 1994. In a video posted to her YouTube channel hours after she won,...
Texas announces $87M for rural hospitals, health care providers
The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) will award $87 million to enhance rural healthcare across the state. The funding will be distributed to a total of 129 rural healthcare providers. It represents the state's latest step to secure reliable...
Texas: See who won 2026 statewide races
Texans headed to the polls on Nov. 3 to vote in a variety of local, state and federal elections. At the end of the night, Democrats were ahead in all statewide races that were on the ballot, including U.S. Senate and the governor's seat. Here are the latest election...
Cameron County plans $46.3M international bridge to Mexico
The Rio Grande Valley is making strides toward becoming a booming nexus of culture and trade between Texas and Mexico as Cameron County plans a $46.3 million investment in the region's fifth international crossing. Despite tariffs and trade disputes, Texas and Mexico...
Houston mayor names two directors as city consolidates operations
Houston Mayor John Whitmire has named new directors for Human Resources and the Department of Neighborhoods, continuing a series of leadership changes accompanied by a broader restructuring of city operations. Herbert C. Sims Jr., who has led Neighborhoods since 2024,...
Trinity Metro advances $270M TEXRail expansion into Fort Worth Medical District
Trinity Metro is using unspent federal funds to help finance a $270 million extension of TEXRail’s commuter service into Fort Worth’s Medical District. The 2.1-mile project will extend the line south from downtown’s Texas & Pacific (T&P) Station, adding one...
Voters to decide in November on planned Dallas police training campus
Dallas voters will decide Nov. 3 whether to authorize a $443 million public safety bond package that includes $82 million to complete the financing plan for a new police training campus at the University of North Texas (UNT) at Dallas. The proposed allocation would...
San Antonio proposes $850M convention center expansion
San Antonio leaders have proposed an $850 million investment in the Henry B. González Convention Center, setting up an expansion to help the city compete with other rapidly growing urban centers both domestically and internationally. The two-phase project comes in as...
TxDOT to widen 28 miles of U.S. 281 in $249M project
The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) will spend $249 million to expand and upgrade roughly 28 miles of roadway between the cities of Lampasas and Evant. Construction is expected to begin in 2028. The project location takes place along the U.S. 281 corridor,...
Deep East Texas broadband initiative focuses on training, infrastructure coordination
A new Deep East Texas coalition will coordinate technology training, workforce development and infrastructure planning as communities prepare for expanded high-speed Internet service. Nearly one-quarter of broadband-serviceable locations across the Deep East Texas...
Chris Penson returns to HHSC as chief data officer
Chris Penson has returned to the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) as chief data officer to better deploy data across the system to guide policy and operational decisions. Penson began the role in October within HHSC’s new Office of Strategic...
Texas allocates $40M to strengthen teacher recruitment, retention
Texas leaders have reinvested in the state's education system after distributing $40 million across 411 school systems. The funding was delivered through the Preparing and Retaining Educators through Partnerships (PREP) Program Allotment. The program was signed into...
Texas weighs appeal of FEMA flood aid denial as reforms advance
Texas officials are reviewing an appeal of the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) denial of household assistance following July storms and flooding across Central and Southwest Texas. Gov. Greg Abbott’s office said it and the Texas Division of Emergency...
Georgetown authorizes $46 million for regional water initiative
The Georgetown City Council has authorized the use of $46 million in Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) bonds to build water transmission infrastructure. The funding will advance the Georgetown Regional Water Initiative - a collection of projects to receive and...
Texas suspends automated permits amid data center dispute
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has temporarily shut down its automated permitting system after environmental watchdog groups discovered that the agency had issued stormwater permits for data center construction projects despite a directive from...
Houston appoints Kevin Berry CIO amid technology modernization
Kevin Berry is moving from leading technology at Houston Public Works to overseeing IT services citywide, with goals of improving operational efficiency, making city services easier for residents to use and advancing government transparency and innovation. Berry...
San Angelo targets May 2027 start for coliseum renovations
San Angelo is revising plans for a $42 million arena expansion approved by voters last year as rising construction costs put pressure on the project’s budget. The San Angelo Rodeo, held each April, is one of the nation’s two largest rodeos and offers nearly $800,000...
TxDOT awards $226 million for EV charging stations
Texas continues to lead the charge in expanding its available electric vehicle (EV) charging network, culminating in awarding $226 million as part of Phase 2 of the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Program. The $226 million pumped into EV...
Fort Worth creates public-private parks and open space conservancy
Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker has announced the creation of a public-private partnership (P3) for an open space and parks conservancy nonprofit. The newly established Fort Worth Open Space and Parks Conservancy will pool both public and private resources to maintain...
UT San Antonio explores next phase of downtown campus expansion
As The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) continues expanding its downtown footprint, school officials are eying the next stages of development for facilities, sports fields and mixed-use complexes. The university has already made significant progress on...
Texas leads nation in annual job gains despite slower hiring
Texas once again led the nation in annual job gains in September, a familiar trend for one of the country's largest labor markets. However, this achievement coincides with slower employment growth, as economic forecasts and employer surveys paint a more nuanced...
Semiconductor giant TSMC explores Texas expansion opportunities
A semiconductor supergiant has tapped Texas as a potential candidate for expanding its domestic chip production capacity, floating investments that could reach up to $120 billion in development. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) has already heavily...
Prairie View A&M marks 150 years with ambitious expansion plans
Tomikia P. LeGrande is approaching Prairie View A&M University’s 150th anniversary with ambitious goals for the historically Black institution: a stronger national reputation, a larger research enterprise and more students completing degrees. Three years into her...
El Paso selects Rodriguez to lead public works department
Joaquin Rodriguez has been selected to serve as the next public works director for the City of El Paso, stepping into a vacant role where he will coordinate planning, funding and delivering capital infrastructure investments. Rodriguez previously served as the city's...
DART plans housing, retail development at Westmoreland Station
Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) is seeking a development partner to transform 18.3 acres of agency-owned property at Westmoreland Station in southern Dallas into a mixed-use development featuring housing, retail and office space. DART issued a request for...
Austin could gain ownership of Muny golf course under proposed UT land deal
Austin is close to an agreement with the University of Texas at Austin (UT) that would transfer ownership of the 141-acre Lions Municipal Golf Course, known as Muny, to the city and set development rules for about 190 acres of surrounding university land in West...
El Paso Electric selects Eli Viamontes to succeed retiring CEO
El Paso Electric has named Eliecer “Eli” Viamontes its next president and CEO, effective Nov. 9. He replaces Kelly Tomblin, who is retiring after more than six years leading the utility and will remain an adviser through year-end. Viamontes most recently served as...
Texas health budget proposal would eliminate autism program funding
Texas health officials have outlined a $335 million reduction plan inside one of the largest agency budgets in state government, proposing trims or eliminations across dozens of health and human services programs while leaving facility-based services untouched. The...
San Antonio’s VIA Metropolitan Transit adopts $767M budget for fiscal 2027
The VIA Metropolitan Transit board of trustees has officially adopted the authority's $767.2 million budget for Fiscal Year 2027. The document outlined a $383.8 million operating budget and allocated the remaining $383.4 million to the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP)....
Texas State plans up to $126M in hotel, research and health projects
Texas State University has allocated around $126 million in capital projects slated to expand its educational and hospitality footprint. Construction for the three initiatives is scheduled between 2027 and 2028. The university plans to spend $70 million to build an...
Blue Origin confirms $674M manufacturing campus in Hutto
Blue Origin confirmed this week that it will build a 1.3 million-square-foot manufacturing campus at Hutto Crossing Industrial Park along U.S. 79 in Hutto, finally putting a name to an aerospace project that had already moved through months of local and county...
TWDB funds $26.8M in water infrastructure projects
The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) has approved $26.8 million in financial assistance to support statewide water and wastewater system improvement initiatives. The City of Hutchins will receive $14.5 million to upgrade its wastewater system, starting with...
East Texas Water Institute launches to address regional water needs
East Texas leaders have launched a new water institute aimed at helping local utilities and rural communities tackle aging infrastructure, workforce shortages and gaps in water data as the state looks for long-term answers to its water supply problems. The East Texas...
Texas to investigate spending at Austin, El Paso, Prosper, Barbers Hill ISDs
The State of Texas will review spending by the Austin, Barbers Hill, El Paso and Prosper independent school districts (ISDs) under a public funds investigation requested by Gov. Greg Abbott, who directed Comptroller Don Huffines to examine whether school district...
Bryan ISD plans $84.8M in school construction projects
The Bryan Independent School District (BISD) board of trustees is moving forward with plans to build a new high school and field house. Estimated to cost a combined $84.8 million, bidding and construction for both projects is slated for 2027. The Bryan Collegiate...
Fort Worth advances $280M in flood mitigation projects
The City of Fort Worth has set wheels in motion to prepare for massive rainfall and flooding events with $280 million worth of flood mitigation projects on the horizon. The early October floods in North Texas are only the latest in decades of steadily worsening...
Houston advances $60M neighborhood parks initiative
Houston is moving ahead with a $60 million initiative to upgrade 25 neighborhood parks across all 11 City Council districts, as the Houston Parks Board (HPB) advances a broader five-year plan for neighborhood parks, regional destinations and trail connections. The...
West University Place advances new police station, City Hall renovations
Leaders in West University Place, a small suburban city west of Houston, have voted to build a new police station on Amherst Street and renovate the existing municipal buildings to house city hall and fire operations. Under the selected proposal, a new, two-story...
Texas secures $7.5B federal border security reimbursement
Texas has received $7.5 billion from the federal government to reimburse the state for border security expenses, recouping a significant portion of the billions spent on Operation Lone Star since 2021. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security approved the...
Dallas CFO Jack Ireland will retire in January
After a 26-year stint with Dallas, Chief Financial Officer Jack Ireland has announced his retirement on Jan. 5. Ireland’s career spans 36 years in total, with nine dedicated to serving as CFO. Prior to his appointment to the role, he served as director of budget and...
TxDOT’s 10-year plan outlines $95B in transportation investments
Texas’ newly adopted 10-year transportation plan keeps billions of dollars in highway work moving across the state, led by major freeway reconstruction projects in Houston and Dallas and a cluster of newly listed projects in high-growth Collin County. The Texas...
Denton’s $2.22B budget advances utility, infrastructure projects
The Denton City Council has adopted a $2.22 billion Fiscal Year 2027 budget, including a $1.43 billion Capital Improvement Program that allocates new funding to water, wastewater, electric utility, roadway, technology and public-facility projects. The city lowered...
CPS Energy board selects Frank Almaraz as CEO nominee
CPS Energy’s board of trustees has nominated interim chief executive officer Frank Almaraz to become the San Antonio-owned utility’s permanent president and CEO. The board voted unanimously to suspend a broader search for a new CEO and begin a 30-day negotiation...
Brownsville maps $157.8M in infrastructure investments
The City of Brownsville highlighted roughly $300 million in combined investments over the next five years dedicated to transforming the city's footprint in the near future. The Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) will serve as Brownsville’s blueprint to implement and...
Texas voter registration deadline is Oct. 5 for Nov. 3 election
With the Nov. 5 general election on the horizon, Texas residents have until Oct. 5 to ensure they are fully registered to participate in deciding the state’s next governor, senator and other statewide elected officials. The Oct. 5 deadline stands as residents’ last...
Former Bell County CIO Adam Ward joins Austin as technology chief
Adam Ward is Austin’s new chief technology officer. He comes to the role with more than 20 years of experience in IT and management, including enterprise architecture, infrastructure, cybersecurity and IT governance. Ward has spent the last 12 years as Bell County’s...
Pflugerville advances more than $548M in major infrastructure projects
Pflugerville is entering a new period of construction and development as several large public projects take steps toward completion. The city is planning to add a new city hall, recreation center, downtown development and expanded water infrastructure as its...
TCEQ ordered to halt data center permits until audit is complete
Gov. Greg Abbott has directed the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to halt all data center permits until the results of an Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) audit are available. The governor said in a statement that the Public Utility...
Dallas charter proposal would give mayor greater control over city government
A slew of high-profile business departures from downtown Dallas and the fight over the demolition of Dallas City Hall have reopened a long-running question: Who should run the nation's ninth-largest city, an appointed city manager or its elected mayor? Three former...
Judge orders TDCJ to complete prison air conditioning by 2029
A federal judge has ordered the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) to air condition every state prison by Dec. 31, 2029. That is two years earlier than the agency's own target. The agency has said the work could cost $1.5 billion. The order covers a large...
Texas counties process 178,000-plus delayed voter registration records
A state technology error left some new and updated voter registration applications in limbo for almost a year, never forwarded to county voter registrars. Counties are now working through the delayed records, some dating back to October 2025. The backlog arrives less...
Houston ISD enrollment decline puts pressure on campus staffing, budgets
Despite improving education ratings, enrollment at the Houston Independent School District (HISD) is in decline, leading district administrators to direct campuses to cut costs and staff as financial gains slow to a crawl. In the three years since the Texas Education...
Former educator, lawmaker Gary VanDeaver tapped to lead TASB
Former Texas state Rep. Gary VanDeaver has been selected as the next executive director of the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB), putting a longtime educator and former school superintendent at the helm of the statewide organization. VanDeaver will begin the...
Bexar County faces leadership transition as manager retires
Bexar County Manager David Smith plans to retire at the end of 2026 after 15 years in the position, creating a transition for the county as it also prepares for a new county judge. Smith’s contract is slated to expire Dec. 31, and the Bexar County Commissioners Court...
Fort Worth aquatics plan outlines citywide facility expansion
Fort Worth could significantly expand its public swimming facilities under a new aquatics master plan expected to receive final approval this fall. The 2026 master plan includes proposals expanding the city’s aquatics system to include 10 outdoor swimming pools, 46...
Austin promotes Andrea Bates to lead planning department
Andrea Bates has been promoted to director of Austin’s planning department, stepping into a role left vacant after Lauren Middleton-Pratt departed in April for a position as an associate principal at an infrastructure consulting firm. Bates previously served as...
TWDB approves $123.4M for water, wastewater projects
The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) has announced its latest disbursement of funding, delivering $123.4 million for essential water and wastewater system improvements. The City of Denton will receive the largest singular amount, totaling $60 million for a...
NSA plans $500M purchase of longtime San Antonio campus
The National Security Agency (NSA) is buying the facility that it has leased for more than 20 years near Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland. The reportedly $500 million deal to buy the 100-acre campus located off Potranco Road in San Antonio from COPT Defense Properties...
Texas A&M System plan prioritizes technology, infrastructure
The Texas A&M University (TAMU) System Board of Regents approved its 2026 through 2031 Strategic Plan during its September meeting. The plan's passage comes at a time when more than $400 million in construction projects are planned at the main Texas A&M...
Dallas budget includes $1.3B for capital projects
The City of Dallas has officially adopted its Fiscal Year 2026-2027 budget, covering $5.7 billion in capital and operational expenses over the course of the next year. From that amount, the city has carved out roughly $1.3 billion for the capital budget, split between...
Texas forms team to pursue proposed U.S. Space Academy
Gov. Greg Abbott has appointed a seven-member team drawn from the Legislature, the Texas Space Commission, universities and the commercial space industry to prepare Texas’ proposal for the planned United States Space Academy. House Appropriations Committee Chairman...
New law clears way for federal courthouse in College Station
In a bill sponsored by Sen. Ted Cruz, Congress has designated the City of College Station as the next site for a federal courthouse. The Local Access to Courts Act (LACA) now heads to the president’s desk for final approval. The act amends Section 124(b)(2) of Title...
Waco hires new CIO as Brownsville technology chief departs
One Texas city is welcoming a new Chief Information Officer, while another is preparing to say farewell to its CIO. Gustavo Alba, pictured above left, has been hired by the City of Waco. He has more than 20 years of IT experience in both the public and private...
Texas Comptroller reorganizes senior leadership structure
Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts Don Huffines has announced a new senior leadership team as part of what he described as an effort to streamline the agency, eliminate redundant work and flatten its management structure. The announcement assigns broad portfolios to...
Texas developers tap MUD reimbursements to finance infrastructure
As the state's population booms and the demand for quality infrastructure skyrockets, developments in Houston and other Texas cities have turned to alternative means of financing to deliver roads, utilities, homes and more without burdening taxpayers. The overall...
Texas nominates 605 census tracts for Opportunity Zone program
Gov. Greg Abbott has nominated 605 census tracts across Texas to benefit from capital gains tax abatement incentives designed to encourage development through the federal Opportunity Zone (OZ) program. The Office of the Governor recently published a map outlining all...
Texas voucher funding could reach $4.4B as lawmakers await audits
Texas’ new private-school voucher program could more than double in cost during the next state budget cycle, and the price could climb higher as another round of families applies. Travis Pillow, assistant program director for the Texas Education Freedom Accounts...
TDCJ seeks $298M for prison air-conditioning projects
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) has submitted a request to the state Legislature for $298 million over a two-year period to address dangerous heat conditions in unair-conditioned prisons. The funding would contribute to adding more than 15,700...
Dallas City Hall decision delayed as relocation review continues
Dallas officials have missed their own deadline for presenting options to move city operations out of the I.M. Pei-designed City Hall, leaving the future of one of the city’s signature buildings in limbo. The Dallas City Council voted in June to let City Manager...
Texas Association of Business names Kelly Keel president, CEO
The Texas Association of Business (TAB) has selected Texas Commission on Environmental Quality Executive Director Kelly Keel as its next president and CEO, turning to a longtime state administrator after a period of leadership upheaval at TAB. Keel will begin Oct. 2,...
Texas awards $69.5M for Rio Grande Valley canal projects
The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) has approved $69.5 million in state grants for 17 canal modernization projects in the Rio Grande Valley, part of a $163.6 million package intended to reduce water losses in irrigation networks serving Hidalgo and Cameron...
San Antonio advances $60M land deal for Spurs arena
San Antonio is inching closer to a new home for the city’s NBA team, the Spurs. On Thursday, a divided City Council approved funds to buy land for a new downtown arena. San Antonio will use up to $60 million in Midtown Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ) funds to...
Abbott halts Texas state funding for Flock cameras
Gov. Greg Abbott has directed all state agencies to halt funding for Flock cameras, responding to nationwide concerns over privacy, mismanagement and lack of transparency issues in the roadside camera network's usage. Flock cameras have been at the center of a...
Two passenger rail options emerge for Austin-San Antonio corridor
Officials in the Austin and San Antonio areas say they've identified two viable routes for a proposed passenger rail service connecting the two cities. A Texas Department of Transportation study suggests improving the existing Union Pacific rail line, while a study...
FERC approves new approach to managing SPP grid congestion
Data centers, manufacturing projects and other large electricity users are driving a projected 224-gigawatt increase in North American summer peak demand over the next decade. In addition to building more transmission lines, utilities and regional grid operators are...
Texas plans $138B in transportation investments over decade
The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has released the latest update of its 10-year Unified Transportation Plan (UTP) for 2027. The document outlines a $138 billion investment in critical transportation projects across the state. The 2027 UTP marks the fourth...
Texas Engine initiative focuses on five economic sectors
The Texas General Land Office (GLO) has announced a new initiative that will highlight and propel Texas' efforts to use resources, production and manufacturing to strengthen the state's standing on the local, state and national levels. The vision - called "The Texas...
Cybersecurity pilot targets Texas water infrastructure
Texas water and wastewater utilities will receive free cybersecurity assistance under a new six-month pilot designed to identify vulnerabilities in critical water infrastructure and test a model that could be expanded nationwide. Under Project Watershed 250, federal...
Todd Little exits NCTCOG executive director role
The North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) has removed former Ellis County Judge Todd Little from his role as executive director. Board members voted during the Aug. 26 meeting, narrowly passing the decision with an 8-6 count. Board Director Jim Ross...
$576.4M College Station budget funds capital improvements
The College Station City Council has approved a $576.4 million Fiscal Year 2027 city budget, accompanied by a 1.84-cent increase in the property tax rate to 53.0254 cents per $100 of property valuation. The average homeowner will see an increase of $68 per year. The...
Dallas transportation plan targets streets, signals, traffic technology
Dallas has proposed a $177 million Transportation and Public Works budget for Fiscal 2026-27, with potential contracting opportunities ranging from street repairs and traffic signals to bridge maintenance and a major traffic-management system upgrade. The departmental...
SpaceX discusses investment in Brownsville regional water project
SpaceX is negotiating a ‘significant financial investment’ toward the advancement of a long-term regional water solution in the Rio Grande Valley, according to reports. The investment — which was reported this week by Brownsville officials — is anticipated to...
Texas A&M plans $70.6M hypersonic testing range expansion
Texas A&M has begun its search for an architect/engineering firm to oversee and manage the design of a $70.6 million project to expand the Ballistic Aero-Optics and Materials (BAM) Range at its RELLIS Campus in Bryan. The BAM Range is the largest and most...
Bryan adopts $569M budget with major utility investments
The city of Bryan officially adopted its $569 million Fiscal Year 2027 budget during its Aug. 25 City Council meeting. The budget concentrates expenditures across three funding categories: Enterprise - $381.1 million for electrical, water, wastewater, solid waste,...
$5M gift backs new University of Houston housing, homelessness research institute
The University of Houston (UH) has launched a research institute focused on improving the Houston region’s response to homelessness, backed by a $5 million anonymous donation. The Institute for Housing, Homelessness and Health, known as IH3, will bring together...
Study: Houston port activity supports $987B U.S. economic impact
A recent economic impact study illustrated marine cargo activity through the Port of Houston supported roughly $987 billion in U.S. annual economic value in 2025. The Port of Houston operates as one of the largest, most impactful economic corridors in America, acting...
Texas DIR names Amy Kelley internal chief information officer
The Texas Department of Information Resources has added to its executive leadership team, naming Amy Kelley as the agency’s internal chief information officer (CIO). Kelley’s responsibilities will include overseeing the department’s IT and AI offices. Kelley steps...
FRA directs $5.3B to rail projects across 23 states, including Texas
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) announced this month that the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is putting $5.3 billion into rail projects across the country, covering safety upgrades, infrastructure repairs and new Amtrak equipment - and Texas is set...
Texas audit flags management, oversight issues at TEA
State Rep. Ana-María Rodríguez Ramos says a state audit of the Texas Education Agency (TEA), released this month, validated concerns she raised during last year's budget debate, with findings she described as more extreme than she expected. The audit, ordered through...
Austin’s $6.6B budget directs billions to infrastructure
Austin is among the first cities in Texas to pass its annual budget, adopting a $6.6 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2026 through 2027. Of that amount, $4.3 billion will go toward the city's Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), while the General Fund budget amounts to $1.5...
El Paso adopts $1.4B budget, lowers property tax rate
The El Paso City Council has officially adopted its Fiscal Year 2026 through 2027 budget, outlining roughly $1.4 billion in investments for the next year. Notably, the approved budget includes a reduced property tax rate, resulting in an increase in savings for the...
Pflugerville plans $10.6M Lake Pflugerville Park improvements
The city of Pflugerville will spend $10.6 million to complete the second phase of its Lake Pflugerville Park improvement project. Construction is slated to begin in September 2027. Based on the 2019 preliminary design report, Phase 2 will prioritize a series of...
Texas Space Commission explores upgrades for large spacecraft testing
The Texas Space Commission (TSC) has issued two Requests for Information (RFI) probing the market for insight into testing facilities capable of handling space cargo as the state broadens its spacefaring aspirations for larger payloads in orbit. Both RFIs have...
San Antonio considers TIRZ extension that could support Spurs arena
San Antonio officials may soon opt to extend the Midtown Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ) by an additional 25 years, paving the way for $580 million in earnings for critical capital projects. Chief among these, the extended zone could enable the city's efforts...
Texas Comptroller launches review of Texas school district spending
Texas Comptroller Don Huffines will investigate spending at up to four school districts to ensure they are using public funds according to state standards. The comptroller issued a statement that he was initiating the investigation after a formal request by Gov. Greg...
DSHS plans $200M public health laboratory expansion
The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) is searching for an architect to design an upcoming $200 million expansion of its Austin-based public laboratory (DPHL2). While the design phase is moving forward, DSHS has not yet released the construction date. ...
Amazon robotics facility anchors Austin’s 2,600-acre Dog’s Head development
A 2,600-acre site annexed by Austin earlier this year will include an Amazon robotics manufacturing facility. Known as “Dog’s Head” because of the shape of the land, the development is located along the Colorado River, not far from Austin-Bergstrom International...
Denton considers $385M expansion of capital improvement budget
Denton city leaders will hold a vote in September that could add $385 million to the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) budget for Fiscal Year 2026 through 2027. The obligations discussed during the City Council’s Aug. 4 meeting would significantly expand the city’s...
Riot lands $9.1B Anthropic data center deal in Texas
Riot Platforms has signed a $9.1 billion, 20-year agreement to provide 191 megawatts of data center capacity at its Rockdale campus in Milam County, about 60 miles northeast of Austin, to Anthropic, maker of the Claude AI chatbot. The agreement, which runs through...
Texas pauses broadband funding as lawmakers seek review of BEAD awards
The Texas Broadband Development Office (BDO) this week announced a temporary pause on billions of dollars in disbursements of federal Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) funding. The pause, which went into effect Monday and will remain in place until...
Frisco moving forward with $87.8M in voter-approved construction
The City of Frisco is moving forward with voter-approved bond construction work. At their August meeting, City Council members unanimously authorized the issuance of $87.8 million in general obligation bonds to fund a variety of public safety, transportation and parks...
20-plus companies agree to comply with Texas data center guidelines
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued a moratorium on data center development this month that will remain in place until the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) audit and review their operations. Since the...
UT advances $1B initial phase of North Austin medical center
The University of Texas (UT) System Board of Regents on Aug. 12 approved a $1 billion first phase for the UT Dell Medical Center in North Austin. Phase 1 of the project focuses on clearing and preparing the site. It also covers ordering certain materials early,...
Dallas voters to consider $443M public safety bond
During their Aug. 12 meeting, Dallas City Council opted to put a $443 million public safety bond ballot up for a vote this November. City Council members met to consider a $960 million proposed bond package to be featured on the November ballot. The meeting concluded...
Austin voters to consider $295M parks, library bond package
Austin City Council has approved placing $295 million in bond propositions before voters this November, capping a planning process that began in 2024 to address the city's capital improvement needs. The council's vote sets up two ballot measures. Proposition A asks...
North Texas offers $55.4M in zero-emission truck rebates
Fleet operators across North Texas are being offered incentives to trade diesel trucks for electric models. The North Texas Council of Governments is offering rebates to help public and private entities swap out diesel, gasoline, natural gas, or propane-powered...
College Station taps certificates of obligation for new water wells
College Station City Council has approved $37.25 million in certificates of obligation to support water infrastructure. The certificates will allow the city to improve and expand its waterworks system. Projects will primarily revolve around building water wells,...
TxDOT awards $154M for transit improvements across Texas
The Texas Department of Transportation is investing $154 million in public transportation projects statewide, using a mix of state and federal funding. The funds, which were approved by the Texas Transportation Commission this summer, will contribute to broad...
New Texas comptroller Huffines pledges focus on taxes and spending
Don Huffines has officially been sworn in as the next Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. He will serve as the permanent comptroller, assuming the mantle held by Acting Comptroller Kelly Hancock following Glenn Hegar’s departure from the role in July 2025. Before...
Texas A&M professors challenge course restrictions in federal lawsuit
The Texas A&M University System is the latest Texas institution to wind up in court over newly imposed restrictions on courses dealing with race, gender and sexual orientation. Four professors, along with a faculty group, filed suit Aug. 3 in U.S. District Court...
Montgomery County advances proposed $1B replacement jail
Montgomery County commissioners have made progress on a proposed $1 billion replacement jail after selecting a site and authorizing the procurement of an engineering firm to design the project. As part of the county’s Aug. 6 meeting proceedings, commissioners...
Texas increases scrutiny of data centers amid surging power requests
Data center development in Texas has been put on hold until the Public Utility Commission and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas complete an audit of these projects. Gov. Greg Abbott has directed both agencies to conduct a comprehensive verification and audit...
The world of government contracting is evolving…don’t fail to miss the signs!
Big changes continue to surface at every level of government. The public marketplace has morphed into a new environment. Public officials are facing problems, mandates, issues, and changes that are beyond anything they have delt with in the past. Most companies...
TxDOT plans $180M highway reconstruction, widening project along US 90
The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) will spend $180 million to widen a section of US 90 in Liberty County. Construction is expected to begin in 2027. The project stretches between FM 563 and State Highway (SH) 61, covering 11.4 miles in total. As part of...
Austin approves Dog’s Head TIRZ, paving way for $5.6B in infrastructure investments
The Austin City Council is advancing plans to facilitate major infrastructure development in Dog’s Head after establishing a new tax increment reinvestment zone (TIRZ). The zone will finance construction within Dog’s Head over the next 35 years, contributing...
Waco plans $213M first phase for downtown district
Waco city leaders are planning a multiphase project to transform a 30-acre section of the city’s downtown area into a walkable, community-focused district. The project’s first phase is estimated to cost $213 million, with construction slated to begin later this year. ...
Texas quantum committee appointment advances state technology plans
Texas is moving to the head of the quantum technology race after appointing Katie Pizzolato to the Texas Quantum Initiative Advisory Committee. The state’s quantum pursuits directly align with the federal administration’s concerted efforts to advance and innovate the...
Houston plans $273M investment in Lake Houston Dam Spillway Improvement Project
The city of Houston plans to spend $273.3 million on a groundbreaking expansion for the Lake Houston Dam. The project is in the design phase, with construction slated to begin in summer 2028. The Lake Houston Spillway Improvement Project will play an essential role...
Texas adopts 2027 State Water Plan with $174B in needs
The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) has adopted the 2027 State Water Plan, a long-range blueprint that identifies the projects and strategies needed to secure the state's water supply through 2080 as population growth, aging infrastructure and increasing demand...
Texas lawmakers receive new priorities for 90th legislative session
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has published the latest update on recommended interim legislative charges for the Texas House of Representatives. The five-page document contains new additions to the House’s priorities for the upcoming legislative session, covering directives...
World Trade Bridge expansion clears binational review, secures $25M grant
The expansion of Laredo's World Trade Bridge has cleared another major milestone after completing the International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC) review and securing a $25 million federal Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) grant,...
State, school district support advances $119B semiconductor campus proposal in Grimes County
Grimes County may be set to host one of the largest industrial development projects in Texas history after Gov. Greg Abbott and two local school districts submitted positive determinations on eight proposed tax incentive agreements for SpaceX’s TeraFab semiconductor...
AI infrastructure manufacturer expands into McKinney with $919M campus investment
A Taiwan-based power management and artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure company has selected McKinney for its U.S. campus, investing $919 million and creating at least 600 jobs. The campus will occupy more than 650,000 square feet in McKinney's Core 5...
UT Austin lands five federal Genesis Mission AI awards
The University of Texas at Austin (UT) has won federal support for five research teams via the Genesis Mission, a federal artificial intelligence (AI)-based initiative, with awards administered by the Department of Energy (DOE). The DOE announced the...
Water system demand drives $1.2B statewide investment in infrastructure
The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) will distribute $1.2 billion to support water and wastewater system, supply and quality protection projects across the state. The North Texas Municipal Water District will receive $370.8 million to improve the region’s water...
DART names Jacksonville transit leader as next CEO
The Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) Board of Directors has chosen Nathaniel P. Ford, Sr. to take on responsibilities as the agency’s next president and CEO. He will officially begin his role on Oct. 26 later this year. Ford will fill the shoes of Nadine Lee...
TxDOT outlines Downtown and University work for $4.5 billion I-35 project
The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is moving forward with two segments of the historic $4.5 billion Interstate 35 Capital Express Central (I-35 CapEx) Project. State officials are estimating construction for the Downtown and University stretches to begin...
Central Texas Alliance forms to bolster Austin-San Antonio Corridor development
A new coalition has formed to strengthen Central Texas’ powerbase as industry leaders form the Central Texas Alliance (Alliance) to plan, negotiate and advocate for the Austin-San Antonio Corridor. Henry Cisneros, former secretary of Housing and Urban Development...
Gov. Abbott selects longtime Capitol adviser as next Secretary of State
Gov. Greg Abbott appointed Robert S. Howden, a veteran Capitol adviser and former business-group leader, as Texas’ 116th Secretary of State Friday, effective July 18. Howden will serve on an interim basis and will need Senate confirmation when the Legislature returns...
Southwestern University advances first phase of 560-acre Georgetown development
As the population of Central Texas booms, Southwestern University is keeping pace by implementing a new model for higher education through a 560-acre mixed-use development neighboring its Georgetown campus. The university expects to break ground on Phase 1 in...
Profiles in Power: Jennifer Cowley, Ph.D.
Strategic Partnerships, Inc. salutes you, public sector officials: The Profiles in Power section spotlights and recognizes powerful figures across America’s public sector landscape. This week's profile is of Jennifer Cowley, Ph.D., President of the University of Texas...
New technologies could revolutionize infrastructure planning in Texas
As Sponsored Content, this article provides perspectives from contributing experts to help readers stay informed about current trends and opportunities. This article was written in conjunction with Sanborn, a national firm pioneering comprehensive approaches to...
TXCC unveils strategic plan mapping cybersecurity services, strategies statewide
Texas Cyber Command has shared its plans to build statewide cybersecurity operations and services, expand incident response and develop a broader cybersecurity workforce. As of May, TXCC had 48 full-time employees and said it was scaling toward an anticipated...
Galveston port expansion plan includes fifth terminal, cargo and waterfront projects
The Port of Galveston is advancing early study work on a potential fifth cruise terminal at Pier 14, the next major move in an ongoing expansion guided by its 20-Year Strategic Master Plan. Under the master plan, the proposed new terminal would sit between Royal...
Houston ISD advances $100M CTE center enhance education outcomes
The Houston Independent School District (HISD) will spend $100 million to build a new Career and Technical Education (CTE) center. The district plans to break ground on the center – called Southside Launchpad – in March 2027. The district recently moved into the...
Port of Brownsville lands $3.2B next-generation shipyard development
The Port of Brownsville has partnered with a private company to develop a $3.2 billion next-generation shipyard. Called Port Alpha, the yard will be the largest in the country once completed. The shipyard will drive the port’s efforts to manufacture medium- and...
Texas honors four women for leadership in state government
Gov. Greg Abbott and the state of Texas have recognized the strength, impact and leadership of four women as the recipients of the 2026 Outstanding Women in Texas Government Awards. The award highlights women in state service who have stood out as leaders in their...
HHSC leadership changes will shape Medicaid and legal oversight
The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) announced a pair of leadership changes July 9 that will affect the agency’s legal operations, Medicaid oversight and policy direction ahead of the next legislative session. The appointments place two experienced...
Garland unveils new strategies to upgrade infrastructure, preserve assets and strengthen services
The Garland City Council has adopted a new 10-year strategic plan that prioritizes strengthening existing structures and programs rather than pursuing expansion. Redevelopment takes the stage as Garland’s centerpiece for the next decade. The city is already largely...
TFC to build $53M facility replacement for headquarters
The Texas Finance Commission (TFC) will spend $53 million to build a replacement structure for its Austin-based headquarters. The construction date has not yet been released. The project calls for demolishing the TFC Building - otherwise known as Building 10 - and...
Texas backs new 860-megawatt natural gas project in Ward County
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced June 24 that the eighth loan had been finalized under the Texas Energy Fund, the state’s pool of money for building new power generation, backing 860 megawatts (MW) of new natural gas generation in Ward County. The power is expected to...
Fort Worth sets stage for new downtown library development
The Fort Worth City Council on June 23 approved spending $5.95 million to buy 1.38 acres off Summit Avenue. The site will be used to house a new downtown public library after the city abandoned previous plans to convert a historic building it already owned. The land...
Houston charts $18B roadmap to improve vital infrastructure
The Houston City Council has adopted the next iteration of its five-year Capital Improvement Program (CIP), budgeting $18 billion for infrastructure projects from Fiscal Year 2027 through 2031. The CIP is composed of four main components: Enterprise Fund Program...
Texas A&M-RELLIS’ Bryan campus becomes test bed for nuclear energy projects
Nuclear innovation is taking off as The Texas A&M University System has secured a new contract to progress development of an upcoming small modular reactor. The latest announcement established ground lease and research agreements with a nuclear energy innovation...
Texas NHL expansion plan targets Austin or Houston for new team
A new professional sports team and arena may be coming to the Austin or Houston metropolitan areas following the announcement by the National Hockey League (NHL) earlier this week. Building on the success of the Dallas Stars, the NHL is seriously considering adding...
State announces new business leader to join Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
Brian Haley has been appointed to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, according to Governor Abbott’s office. His term will expire on Aug. 31, 2027. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board oversees the Texas higher education system. Its...