Texas Government Insider
2026 Archive
Missouri City advances Texas Parkway Redevelopment plan
Missouri City is moving forward with a revitalization plan for Texas Parkway after signing a design contract to improve infrastructure and potentially build a mixed-use development. The city has required the plan to be completed within 90 days since the agreement was...
Arlington reimagines downtown as multipurpose business, cultural hub
The Arlington City Council is looking toward the future with a downtown transformation initiative designed to overhaul opportunities for commercial and mixed-use businesses and forge new connections with the entertainment district. During the April 7 meeting,...
Sul Ross State University plans $35.5M campus building in Eagle Pass
This story was edited after publication to reflect the proper location of the multi-purpose building project. The correct location is reflected in the following article. Sul Ross State University (SRSU) will spend $35.5 million to build a new multi-purpose building in...
SMU explores athletics overhaul focused on Gerald J. Ford Stadium
Southern Methodist University (SMU) is entering the next phase of planning for Gerald J. Ford Stadium as officials enter the preliminary stages for future development. Gerald J. Ford Stadium serves as the university’s athletic backbone, hosting...
Secretary of State appoints new chief information officer
Layla Young has been officially appointed chief information officer (CIO) for the Office of the Texas Secretary of State. She brings 17 years of public sector leadership experience with her. The secretary of state oversees the state’s election process as chief...
More than $1B in water infrastructure funding available through TWDB
The Texas Legislature and Gov. Greg Abbott have approved $1.038 billion in one-time Water Supply and Infrastructure Grants to be administered by the Texas Water Development Board. The announcement creates a rare funding opportunity for water infrastructure projects...
New CIO to lead technology for Texas Office of Court Administration
Frank Barker officially stepped into his new capacity as chief information officer (CIO) of the Texas Office of Court Administration (OCA) earlier this year. Barker brings 30 years of experience to the position, most recently serving as assistant director of...
Dallas investigates two IT employees simultaneously employed at Austin City Hall
The Dallas Police Departments’ Public Integrity Unity (PIU) is investigating two Dallas IT officials after the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) received a tip they were moonlighting at Austin City Hall. In November 2025, a whistleblower directed the city’s...
TSU advances $200M School of Law building into design phase
Texas Southern University (TSU) will soon contract with a designer for its upcoming $185 million to $200 million project to build a new centralized building for the School of Law. Construction is expected to begin in September 2027. The Thurgood Marshall Law Center...
TWDB funds major water, wastewater and flood mitigation projects
The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) on March 31 approved more than $171.7 million in financial assistance for 13 water, wastewater and flood mitigation projects spanning multiple regions of the state, according to the agency. The money will fund construction of...
Controller announces record interest in TEFA program following inaugural application period
The Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts (CPA) recently closed the inaugural application window for the Texas Education Freedom Accounts (TEFA), shattering expectations with more than 274,000 applications for the program’s first year. The period closes following...
Texas universities play key role in NASA’s Artemis II mission
While four humans aboard Artemis II have now gone farther from Earth than ever, some of the ideas, technology and workforce leading up to this moment and preparing for what comes next are much closer to home. Two Texas universities can boast alumni who played key...
Cameron County vies for $3.2B contract to host next-generation shipyard at the Port of Brownsville
Cameron County is in hot competition with Solano County, California, to secure an ambitious $3.2 billion contract for a next-generation shipyard in Brownsville. The autonomous maritime manufacturer at the center of this tug-of-war has laid plans to develop a “Port...
State opens $350M fund for advanced nuclear development
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and the Texas Advanced Nuclear Energy Office (TANEO) opened applications on April 1 for the $350 million Texas Advanced Nuclear Development Fund (TANDF). This is a reimbursement grant program targeting companies and organizations positioned to...
Texas data center boom drives growth, tax incentive and policy debate
Texas stands at the forefront of the data center frontier after projections anticipate that the state will become the largest home for data centers in the country within the next two years. The state’s appeal to the booming industry is due to several conjoining...
New legislative priorities unveiled in Senate announcement
The Texas Senate has released the second round of interim charges ahead of the next legislative session. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick released an initial batch of five interim charges earlier this year with the promise to follow up with a comprehensive list of legislative...
State officials outline funding, strategy for $350M advanced nuclear energy expansion
Texas is planning one of the largest nuclear energy pushes in the nation as a new state office is providing updates on the $350 million initiative. The passage of House Bill 14 in 2025 marked a major turning point in Texas’ efforts to catalyze and dominate the...
Texas House publishes priorities ahead of next legislative session
The Texas House of Representatives has released its list of interim charge recommendations, highlighting its legislative priorities when the next session reconvenes. The 53-page document will guide lawmakers up until and during the next legislative session,...
Port of Galveston outlines updated $2.4B expansion plan
The Port of Galveston has released the 2026 update to its port-wide Master Plan, charting a course to build infrastructure and guide growth. The $2.4 billion plan entails several ambitious goals to meet rising demand, including docking seven ships by 2045. A total of...
Houston plans drainage project linking Turkey Gully to bayou
The city of Houston will spend $17 million to build a storm trunk system designed to divert stormwater flow from Turkey Gully to White Oak Bayou. Construction is expected to begin in fall 2026. The project will make significant infrastructure improvements along five...
Hereford advances $59M wastewater treatment plant project
The Hereford City Council has authorized the pursuit of a $59 million mechanical wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) to replace the existing facility. City officials note the project as a priority for the city and local communities. The current facility suffers from...
GLO distributes $52M in coastal protection grants
The Texas General Land Office (GLO) has awarded more than $52 million in coastal improvement funding through two rounds of grants announced in March, targeting erosion control, shoreline stabilization and habitat restoration along the state's Upper Gulf Coast. ...
Dallas secures $51.6M in federal funding for World Cup security preparations
In anticipation of the FIFA World Cup 2026, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded Dallas $51.6 million to enhance public safety. The funding was part of a larger nationwide investment totaling $625 million to cover public safety costs across all...
Amarillo approves $30M to fund street maintenance projects
The Amarillo City Council unanimously approved $30.3 million in Certificates of Obligation (CO) to fund street construction and infrastructure improvement projects within the city. The measure aligns with a street maintenance strategic plan established by...
Round Rock, Williamson County ink funding agreement for major road projects
The Round Rock City Council unanimously approved a cost-sharing agreement with Williamson County March 12 to advance two major roadway projects totaling roughly $51 million: the Deep Wood Drive extension connecting RM 620 to Sam Bass Road, and segments 5 and 6 of...
State, local lawmakers weigh data center growth as energy demand surges
Texas has positioned itself as a hotbed for the digital frontier, propping up abundant land, low taxes and a business-friendly environment to attract private investment. The rise of AI has further spurred demand, spreading data center infrastructure to scale with...
Texas A&M plans $30M HEEP Laboratory Building renovation
The Texas A&M University (TAMU) System will invest $30 million into a renovation project for the HEEP Laboratory Building at its College Station Campus. Construction is expected to begin in March 2027. Major project components will include renovating 26,624 gross...
Houston plans $131M downtown flood mitigation project
The city of Houston will allocate $131 million to enhance the conveyance capabilities of existing channels and develop a diversion channel in the downtown area. As flood risks escalate with worsening climate change and flash flooding seasons, project...
Corpus Christi partners with CPS Energy for large-scale desalination project
The Corpus Christi City Council approved a collaborative agreement earlier this week with the city of San Antonio to explore a seawater desalination project at the Barney Davis Power Plant. Pending additional approvals, the agreement marks an early step for a...
LCRA shuffles leadership following retirement of Phil Wilson
The Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) Board of Directors appointed Jim Travis to serve as the acting general manager and chief financial officer for the LCRA. The announcement comes following the departure of General Manager Phil Wilson, who served in the role...
DIR finalizes new executive director
Tony Sauerhoff has been confirmed permanent executive director for the Department of Information Resources (DIR). The decision was finalized during a special meeting today. Sauerhoff was initially placed as the department’s interim executive director in...
Public Utilities Commission of Texas selects new leader to join ranks
Patrick Rhode has been appointed to the Public Utility Commission (PUC) of Texas. His term will officially begin April 1, 2026, and expire on Sept. 1, 2027. Rhode brings 27 years of public and private leadership experience to the role, most recently serving as senior...
Texas opens $88M disaster housing grant program
The Texas General Land Office (GLO) has opened applications for the $88.1 million 2024 Disasters Affordable Rental Program (24D-ARP). Applications are due by May 12. The program covers costs associated with rehabilitating, reconstructing and building affordable...
Texas to test eVTOL air taxi network across major cities
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has accepted Texas as one of eight proposals to partake in an innovative pilot program advancing the deployment of cutting-edge air taxi transportation technologies. The Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL)...
San Marcos kick starts airport expansion plan with 170-acre purchase
The San Marcos Regional Airport is planning an expansion after purchasing 170 acres of federal land to facilitate new development. The San Marcos City Council spent $1.68 million to acquire the property – located to the east of the airport – from the U.S. General...
UT hospital system gears up for $300 million expansion near Houston
The University of Texas Medical Branch League City Hospital Campus is set to undergo a $300 million expansion, continuing billions of dollars of recent investments into the UTMB health system. The multiphase expansion is scheduled for completion by 2030, with...
Bistone water district advances $29.4M pipeline project
The Bistone Municipal Water Supply District (MWSD) will spend $29.4 million to upgrade its water transmission infrastructure. Construction is expected to begin in 2027. The district will start with a series of improvements to the local water transmission system,...
Texas backs $617M NRG generation project under JETI program
NRG Energy, Inc. (NRG) has announced that it will build an electric power generation plant in Harris County, representing a qualified $617 million investment under the Texas Jobs, Energy, Technology and Innovation (JETI) program. Located at the existing NRG Greens...
Texas awards $160M for rail crossing separation projects
The Texas Transportation Commission has awarded $160.4 million complete rail crossing separation projects through the newly created Texas Off-System Rail Grade Separation State (OSRGSS) Fund Program. The commission allocated the funding across five grants, targeting...
Texas advances SB 3 flood siren mapping effort
The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) has announced that it will begin identifying regions that are historically at-risk of flooding and lack the needed infrastructure to protect residents. The initiative will prioritize the 30 counties affected by Senate Bill...
City council members in El Paso approve policy guidelines for large-scale data center developments
El Paso city leaders recently made moves toward setting guidelines for future data center projects amid growing concerns about impacts on local resources. The El Paso City Council voted at a recent meeting to direct the city manager to create a best practice guide...
TxDOT advances $850M I-10, US 69 interchange overhaul
The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is investing nearly $850 million to reconstruct and expand the Interstate 10 (I-10) and U.S. Highway 69 (US 69) interchange in Beaumont and Jefferson County. According to officials, work is expected to be completed by...
DIR welcomes new leader to head digital transformation
The Texas Department of Information Resources (DIR) has announced Michael Myers as its next digital transformation director. Myers brings 16 years of experience working in the IT sector. He most recently served as senior director of technology for the Texas...
Revised DART agreement expands board, reshapes funding
The Plano City Council unanimously canceled a planned May withdrawal election and approved a revised funding and governance agreement with the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) system. The move kicked off a series of votes across the Dallas-Fort Worth region, keeping...
Comptroller finalizes overhaul of Historically Underutilized Business program
The Texas Comptroller’s Office has completed the final step in its overhaul of the state’s Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) program, formally ending all regional certification agreements as the newly created Veteran Heroes United in Business (VetHUB) takes...
TWDB announces nearly $140M investment in water, wastewater system improvements
The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) will distribute $139.6 million to advance water and wastewater system improvements across the state, following its February meeting. The city of Austin will receive the largest allocation of $59 million to upgrade the Walnut...
TEFA posts record interest in first enrollment period
In the inaugural sign-up period, Texas Education Freedom Accounts (TEFA) are posting record-breaking numbers, according to Texas Comptroller Kelly Hancock. For the 2026-27 school year, more than 8,000 students applied in the first hour, and more than 42,000...
Starbase pushes plan to annex 7,000 acres of national parks and public, private land
Officials in Starbase, a city incorporated in May 2025, have approved an initial measure to significantly expand its borders by annexing roughly 7,133 acres. The city advanced the motion during its Feb. 18 meeting; the annexed property would consist of 7,003 acres of...
NCTCOG opens call for public-sector mobility tech concepts
North Texas transportation planners have launched a regional call for public-sector technology project proposals that address mobility and safety challenges while supporting innovation across the area’s transportation network. The effort invites eligible agencies in...
SFA outlines future development, growth in new strategic plans
The University of Texas (UT) Board of Regents has approved Stephen F. Austin (SFA) State University’s strategic plan, campus master plan and a new residence hall, laying the foundations for a decade of physical development and growth. The campus master plan is a...
Supreme Court rules against legality of White House’s widespread tariffs
The U.S. Supreme Court delivered a significant blow to the White House’s imposition of tariffs on imported goods and services. The court ruled in a 6-3 vote Friday that the president does not have the authority under a 1977 law to unilaterally impose tariffs without...
Texas Tech tapped for $149M cybersecurity investment
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s Public Safety Office (PSO) has awarded $149 million to Texas Tech University (TTU) to fund the construction of an Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) testing facility, along with a series of cybersecurity enhancements at the Lubbock-based campus....
Texas university students selected for DOE research incubator
A total of 163 undergraduates will join the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Science incubator course promoting hands-on research and technical training at National Laboratories and a fusion facility this spring. Texas will be represented by seven students,...
$151M elementary school construction plan advances in Lubbock
The Lubbock Independent School District (LISD) has selected the sites for three new elementary schools, costing approximately $151 million combined. The projects, funded by a previously voter-approved efficiency bond, are in the design phase, with construction...
Bastrop County plans jail expansion, facility upgrades in $219M plan
Officials in Bastrop County, Texas, have adopted a $219 million Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), investing in critical infrastructure, IT upgrades, county road and bridge improvements and building projects. The plan breaks the county’s prospects down into immediate,...
More than $39M in federal housing funds available across Texas
The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) announced $39.4 million in federal Home Investment Partnerships Program funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development are available for single-family housing across the state. Local...
Houston plans $61.6M Greens Road reconstruction
The city of Houston will spend $61.6 million to reconstruct a heavily worn corridor and strengthen community connections and transportation. Construction is expected to begin in fall 2026. Located on Greens Road, the project will widen the roadway between JFK...
State approval boosts $35M water well rehabilitation project in Beeville
The city of Beeville is moving forward with a $35 million water well project, rehabilitating infrastructure that will provide critical relief for local water supplies. While the project is in the design phase, the construction date has not yet been released. The...
Texas appoints new legal expert to state transportation commission
Pat Gordon has been appointed as the latest member of the Texas Transportation Commission (TTC). His term is set to expire on Feb. 1, 2027. The TTC oversees the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and is responsible for its regular activities and strategic...
TAMU-College Station enters design stage for $21M GI Lab renovation
The Texas A&M University (TAMU) System will spend $20.5 million to renovate a building for the GI Lab on its College Station campus. Construction is anticipated to begin in 2027. The renovation will cover roughly 41,200 square feet of the building’s total 55,169...
Houston plans $86M regional detention basin near I-10 corridor
The city of Houston will spend $86 million to build a detention basin in the Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ) 17 Memorial City Area. Construction is slated to being in winter 2027. Between 2009 and 2019, Houston has at least five historical flooding events...
New appointment to lead Governor’s Criminal Justice Division
Andrew Friedrichs has been appointed as the director for the Office of the Governor’s Criminal Justice Division. Friedrichs will assume the role on March 1, 2026. He will hold the position with no term limit, set to expire only at the governor’s discretion. As...
Sugar Land to seek partners for Imperial District redevelopment
Sugar Land has approved a comprehensive redevelopment vision for the 40-acre Imperial Historic District, seeking to create a new economic hub for the city. With the guiding plan adopted, Sugar Land will move forward with the next step in the procurement process by...
Austin inks deal with Round Rock ISD seeking to fast-track construction projects
The city of Austin has signed an interlocal agreement with the Round Rock Independent School District (ISD) that will enable the district to accelerate and streamline permitting timelines for construction projects. The 25-year agreement allows the district to develop...
TxDOT to spend $125.5M improving I-20 in Abilene
The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is planning to spend $125.5 million reshaping a major stretch of Interstate 20 that runs through Abilene. The high-traffic stretch of I-20 between FM 600 and State Highway 351 north of Abilene Christian...
State launches modernization hub to help agencies meet requirements
The Texas Department of Information Resources (DIR) has launched a webpage to help state agencies and institutions of higher education modernize their public-facing websites and digital services to comply with recent legislation aimed at standardizing the user...
TEEX hosts 2026 Cyber Readiness Summit amid nationwide push for secure digital systems
The Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX) hosted the 2026 Cyber Readiness Summit Feb. 3–5 at the Hilton College Station & Conference Center, convening leaders from government, technology and higher education to address the growing risks facing digital...
State unveils first round of priorities for upcoming legislative session
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has issued the first round of interim charges ahead of the next legislative session, charting legislative priorities to pursue when the Senate reconvenes. While only five have been released, Lt. Gov. Patrick anticipates issuing the full list in...
Flower Mound advances $50M arts center project in River Walk District
The city of Flower Mound plans to dedicate $50 million to build an arts center within the River Walk District, a price that is anticipated to cover a portion of the project’s total cost. The town will nail down the final estimate during the design phase. The project...
Houston plans $142M rail grade separation project in West Belt
The city of Houston will spend $142 million to build a series of grade separations along a railroad in the West Belt Subdivision. Currently in the design phase, construction is expected to begin in 2029. The West Belt Railroad Grade Separation project will build a...
Texas announces historic start for Texas Education Freedom Accounts program
After opening the inaugural application window for the Texas Education Freedom Accounts (TEFA) program, the state has announced that it has shattered records for first day enrollments through the new school choice program. On Feb. 4, more than 42,000 students have...
Del Rio receives $17M loan to rehabilitate containment wall, water treatment plant
The Texas Military Preparedness Commission (TMPC) will loan the city of Del Rio $17 million to build two critical water infrastructure projects. The commission will provide the funds through the Texas Military Value Revolving Loan Fund (TMVRLF). The program...
Greenville joins El Paso in integrating drones as first responders
Greenville has become the latest Texas city to expand its emergency services with a drone-as-first-responder (DFR) program, increasing the police department’s capability and speed in emergency response scenarios. The city recently approved a landmark six-year...
Pflugerville sells $80M in bonds to fund water system upgrades
The city of Pflugerville will sell two bond packages totaling $80.1 million to the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) to facilitate major water infrastructure improvement projects. Selling the bonds to the TWDB will ensure the city can secure significantly lower...
Texas submits injunction on H-1B work visa petitions
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has announced that the state is implementing an immediate injunction to freeze new H-1B visa petitions, targeting all state agencies and public universities. The state will launch a comprehensive review of current H-1B visa program use, citing...
Port Houston initiates early planning for ship channel improvement project
Port Houston is moving forward with Project 12 after approving a cost-share agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to initiate the $20 million navigation feasibility study. With funding already allocated for studies, port officials have said that...
Texas opens $44M rural hospital stabilization grant program
Rural health providers in Texas have until Feb. 5, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. to apply for Rural Health Financial Stabilization Grant funds, a $44 million initiative available through the Texas Health and Human Services Commission to support struggling hospitals in rural...
Corpus Christi inks agreement with water district, enabling future water system upgrades
The Corpus Christ City Council has approved a three-year water supply and rights agreement with Nueces County Water Control and Improvement District No. 3 (NCWCID#3) to strengthen regional water security during emergency. The Treated Water Supply Contract and Water...
Galveston plans $24M downtown renovation to enhance mobility, resilience
The city of Galveston will spend $24 million to fund a downtown infrastructure improvement project targeting mobility, utility and connectivity upgrades. The Galveston City Council recently took the steps needed to begin environmental and cultural resource...
TAMU plans $130M learning commons facility
Texas A&M University at College Station (TAMU-College Station) will spend $130 million to build a new classroom on the west campus. Construction is slated to begin in June 2027. The West Campus Learning Commons project will feature a three-floor...
TxDOT is adapting to rapid changes in its updated AI Strategic Plan
The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has published a January update for its Artificial Intelligence Strategic Plan (AISP), adapting to rapid changes in the artificial intelligence (AI) sector over the past year and delivering a strategic approach...
TTU to build $24M semiconductor cleanroom to drive research, innovation
Texas Tech University (TTU) will spend $24 million to build a multipurpose nanotechnology cleanroom facility at the Semiconductor Nanofabrication Center in Lubbock. The university recently matched a $12 million Texas Semiconductor Innovation Fund (TSIF) award for the...
TWDB approves $34M to support water, wastewater system projects
The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) will distribute $33.7 million to help two cities implement water and wastewater system improvements. The board approved the financing at its January meeting. San Marcos will receive the larger of the two shares, coming in at...
LCRA secures $29M broadband grant to expand internet access, flood monitoring systems
The Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) has received $29 million to pursue resilient, accessible broadband access and flood-monitoring systems across the region. The funding will be used to expand high-speed internet access across the rural Central Texas region,...
Padre Island adds $11M for seawall restoration, disaster mitigation project
Padre Island city officials announced a local funding boost for a nearly $15 million seawall restoration and disaster mitigation project on North Padre Island. The city will invest an additional $11 million in Padre Island Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone No. 2...
Plano plans roadway, public safety and park overhaul under historic $657M bond
Plano voters approved the largest bond referendum in the city’s history last year, clocking in at $647.9 million in planned upgrades, improvements and capital projects. A total of seven propositions were included in and approved by residents. These include: ...
Texas A&M system elevates nuclear security, business leadership
The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents has appointed Dr. L. Diane Hurtado and John A. Barton to senior executive leadership roles over enterprise operations across the state. Both appointments take effect immediately. Hurtado has been promoted as the...
State grant propels Fort Worth’s $90M Lebow Channel flood project
The city of Fort Worth has received $90 million from the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) to make flood mitigation improvements to the Upper Lebow Channel. Construction is slated to begin in 2028. The Lebow Channel corridor has posed a significant flood risk to...
Harris Health pursues $410M expansion for Ben Taub Hospital
Harris Health in Houston is planning a $410 million expansion at Ben Taub Hospital using land acquired from Hermann Park. Harris Health has highlighted the next stage in the project: acquiring 8.9 acres by eminent domain from Hermann Park for construction. Hospital...
UTSW receives $25M to advance 3D liver printing technology research
The University of Texas Southwestern Medical (UTSW) Center has secured a $25 million grant to push the boundaries of biomedical innovation by developing advanced 3D printing technology for functional artificial livers. The Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health...
New leader to helm Texas Workforce Commission
The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) has appointed Steve Pier as its next executive director. Pier’s first day will be Feb. 2, 2026. He brings almost 30 years of policy and government experience to the position. Pier most recently served as deputy executive director...
Austin finalizes plans for $69M highway connectivity deck
In the latest development of Austin’s billion-dollar plan to enhance Interstate 35, the city has proposed a final outline costing $69 million to build two stitch structures along the highway. The I-35 Cap-and-Stitch project has been a source of significant investment...
Port of Galveston receives state grant for mobility, pedestrian, traffic safety initiatives
The Port of Galveston has received $8.2 million in grants to make a series of mobility, pedestrian and traffic safety improvements in and around the port. The first round of projects targeted by the port will primarily target accessibility and traffic safety...
DFW leads nation as America’s top tech hub, report finds
The Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington (DFW) Metropolitan area has been lauded as the top tech hub in North America, surpassing Washington, D.C. according to the 2026 North American Tech Hub Index. Last year, the DFW area occupied the No. 2 slot on the list, beating out...
Comptroller to distribute $1.2B in January sales tax revenue to local municipalities
On Jan. 7, Acting Comptroller Kelly Hancock announced that the Comptroller’s Office will distribute $1.2 billion in local sales tax allocations to cities, counties, transit systems and special purpose districts for January. The allocation represents a 4.9% increase...
Garland plans $360M in bond projects under new mayor
Garland residents have set the stage for future growth, closing out 2025 with fresh city leadership and capital priorities, approving a $360 million bond funding street, park, cultural and economic development projects and electing Dylan Hedrick as its first new mayor...
Tarleton State University plans new $57M on-campus parking garage
Tarleton State University, through the Texas A&M University System, will spend $57 million to build a new multifaceted parking garage. Construction is slated to begin in December 2026. The project will replace an existing surface parking long with a five-level,...
Dallas County advances plan for $5B jail replacement
A new jail is in the cards in Dallas County as officials move to build a $5 billion replacement for the county's current 50-year-old facility. A judge recently announced that the county will advance the project later this year, making progress on a...
Sugar Land reinvigorates public safety under $63M police facility overhaul
The city of Sugar Land will spend roughly $63.2 million to build a new police department building and renovate the existing police facility. Construction is expected to begin in October 2026. The current police department building no longer possesses the needed space...
New state leader helms Texas’ Commission of Insurance
The Governor’s Office announced Jan. 8 the appointment of Amanda Crawford as the state’s next Commissioner of Insurance for a term set to expire in Feb. 1 2027. Crawford, a Round Rock native, is the state’s current Chief Information Officer and executive director for...
Federal award kick starts Texas’ $1.4B rural healthcare plan
Texas will distribute more than $1.4 billion over five years to improve rural healthcare services following the state’s funding approval through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The funding, awarded through CMS’s Rural Health Transformation...
DIR, Texas Tech target cybersecurity in energy infrastructure under new program
The Department of Information Resources (DIR) - in collaboration with Texas Tech University’s Global Laboratory for Energy Asset Management and Manufacturing (GLEAMM) has launched a new training course to better protect and harden cybersecurity for...
State awards $25M to expand recovery housing through UTHealth Houston
UTHealth Houston will receive $25 million in state funding to expand and enhance recovery housing resources, assisting individuals recovering from an opioid use disorder. Delivered by the Texas Opioid Abatement Fund Council (OAFC), the funding will enable recipients...
Christianne Simmons: Fort Worth’s Chief Transformation Officer
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 in Power is Christianne Simmons, Fort Worth’s Chief Transformation...
Mineral Wells secures nearly $60M for systemwide water upgrade
The city of Mineral Wells, Texas, is entering the design phase for a water system improvement project following the approval of $58.8 million in state funding from the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB). Construction is slated for early 2027. The TWDB will deliver...
TFC appoints new leader as major state facility projects continue
In late December, the Texas Facilities Commission (TFC) appointed Will McKerall as interim executive director, filling the role of former executive director Mike Novak. McKerall officially assumed his responsibilities on Jan. 2, 2026. McKerall has been with the TFC...
Austin Energy outlines $735M plan to strengthen grid resilience
Austin Energy has announced its Electric System Resiliency Plan (ESRP) - a $735 million strategy designed to bolster the city’s energy resilience and reliability under extreme conditions. The ESRP outlines a series of measures to help ensure Austin residents,...
State unveils leadership for budget, policy team
Gov. Greg Abbott has appointed five staff leadership roles in the Budget and Policy Division within the Office of the Governor. The Budget and Policy Division advises the governor on matters of creating and implementing state policy and fiscal information and...