Texas is closing out the year with a mix of political shifts, economic momentum, community investment and unusual weather that listeners will want to watch closely.
According to KSAT in San Antonio, more than 30 new Texas laws take effect January 1, including a measure limiting school boards from raising property tax rates above voter-approved levels without another election and an artificial intelligence regulation bill aimed at accountability for AI systems in the state’s public sector and businesses. KSAT also reports that new laws will speed up evictions for squatters and narrow state leaders’ ability to pause evictions during disasters, a move praised by landlords but criticized by housing advocates who say it weakens emergency protections.
At the local level, KSAT and WFAA note that cities are adjusting election calendars and IT leadership. San Antonio has voted to move its municipal elections from May to November to boost turnout and save an estimated one million dollars. Government Technology reports a wave of technology leadership changes across major Texas cities, including new chief information officers in Dallas and El Paso and a new deputy CIO in Austin, meant to strengthen cybersecurity and support AI initiatives in government operations.
On the economic front, the Governor’s Office says Texas once again led the nation for business expansions and job growth in 2025, pointing to continued strength in energy, technology and manufacturing. The Perryman Group projects Texas will remain one of the fastest-growing state economies over the long term, even as some industries manage layoffs and tighter labor markets. Houston.org highlights a new Union Pacific–backed Mainline Texas Industrial Park near Houston that will create a major rail-served logistics hub in Fort Bend County, promising millions of square feet of industrial space and new jobs.
Community investments are also accelerating. Community Impact reports that Clear Creek ISD near Houston has approved more than 16 million dollars in infrastructure upgrades at six elementary schools, including new roofs and critical repairs. In Cypress, Community Impact notes that Harmony Science Academy is moving ahead with a 34 million dollar expansion to add a middle and high school campus, reflecting strong demand for charter school options statewide. The Texas Comptroller’s Office says roughly 600 private schools have already enrolled in the new Texas Education Freedom Accounts program, which will channel up to one billion dollars in public funds to help families pay private tuition starting in the 2026–27 school year.
Weather has been anything but typical. WeatherBug and Texas A&M Forest Service report an unusually warm December and holiday heat wave across much of Texas, followed by a strong polar front expected to swing temperatures down by as much as 30 degrees in East Texas, while ongoing drought has prompted Governor Abbott to renew a statewide drought disaster proclamation and fire officials to warn of elevated wildfire risk.
Looking ahead, listeners should watch how the new January 1 laws reshape schools, evictions and AI regulation, track negotiations over a potential South Texas land swap with SpaceX reported by The Texas Tribune, and follow whether winter rains will ease drought and wildfire concerns or deepen strain on communities, agriculture and the power grid across the Lone Star State.
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