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[MustReadTexas.com]([link removed]) – [@MustReadTexas]([link removed])
BY: [@MattMackowiak]([link removed])
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**TUESDAY **| 9/16/2025 & **WEDNESDAY **| 9/17/2025
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**Good Wednesday evening.**
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**AUSTIN NEWSLETTER LAUNCHED**
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* **TOP NEWS **
**“Abbott signs bill allowing Harris County law enforcement to contract with HOAs without commissioners’ OK,” **Texas Tribune's **Alex Nguyen **-- "Gov. **Greg Abbott **on Wednesday signed two bills that focus solely on Harris County law enforcement agencies’ contracting and funding, which were added to the second special session’s agenda late last month. The laws will take effect on Dec. 4, 2025.
Currently, sheriffs and constables in Harris County can contract with homeowner associations, school districts and municipal utility districts to provide additional policing for them. Both the county and contracting groups have to sign off on the contract, and they split portions of the cost depending on the amount of time the deputies spend in the area.
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The more prominent of the two proposals, [House Bill 26]([link removed]), would allow these law enforcement agencies to enter into such contracts without the need for approval from the county’s commissioners court. Meanwhile, [House Bill 192]([link removed]) would require the county to seek voter approval if it adopts a budget that reallocates unspent funding that was appropriated for law enforcement agencies or moves funding previously appropriated for a specific law enforcement position to another agency.
State Rep.** Tom Oliverson**, the Cypress Republican who carried both bills, and his backers said they are about protecting law enforcement including this popular deputy contract program.
Their critics, however, said the legislation would upend the county government’s checks and balances, as well as harm taxpayers.
“You already pay your taxes for a constable to patrol your neighborhoods. But now they want to go and bid a contract with your HOAs, to pay them, to contract with them, to patrol your neighborhood more often,” state Rep.** Charlene Ward Johnson**, D-Houston, said during a Texas House hearing about HB 26 on Wednesday. “That’s double taxation.”
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The House then cleared HB 26 with a 88-49 vote and HB 192 with a 89-48 vote on Aug. 27 Hours later that day, the Texas Senate voted 21-5 to approve both bills.
The votes came two days after Abbott added the items to the second special session’s agenda, saying that the legislation would improve public safety. Oliverson quickly thanked the governor in [a post on X]([link removed]) for “protecting neighborhood law enforcement contracts for the vast majority of unincorporated Harris County and ISD’s that depend on them.”
Oliverson said the legislation is needed because the deputy contract program is under attack, despite its popularity and importance to unincorporated areas. The county also [discussed earlier this month]([link removed]) raising the contract’s costs for some groups in order to help cover constable pay raises, the Houston Chronicle reported.
“Unfortunately, there’s a lot of friction going on between the law enforcement departments and Commissioners Court with regards to the terms and conditions of those contracts,” Oliverson said during a House committee hearing for HB 26 on Aug. 22." [Texas Tribune]([link removed])
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* **TOP NEWS**
**“Zilker Park shooting suspect faces murder charge after girlfriend's death” **[AAS]([link removed]) ($)
**“DFW, Love Field airports ranked among best in U.S.” **[DMN]([link removed]) ($)
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* **STATE GOVERNMENT **
**“San Antonio native to head Texas’ DOGE-inspired efficiency office” **[SAEN]([link removed]) ($)
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* **2026 **
**“Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo says she will not seek reelection to her position in 2026” **[Hou Chron ]([link removed])($)
**“Hearst Joins Media Organizations in Asking Judge to Unseal Ken Paxton Divorce Case” **[Hou Chron]([link removed]) ($)
**“Andrew White, son of former governor, takes step to challenge Greg Abbott” **[Hou Chron]([link removed]) ($)
**“Texas GOP may be banking on low Hispanic turnout in new map” **[Texas Tribune]([link removed])
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* **LOCAL GOVERNMENT **
**“Travis County commissioners approve 9% property tax hike, citing costly summer floods” **[AAS]([link removed]) ($)
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* **TEXANS IN DC **
**“U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales staffer's death under investigation; her body was on fire, official said” **[SAEN]([link removed]) ($)
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* **BUSINESS NEWS **
**“Judge dismisses environmental lawsuit against FAA over failed SpaceX launch” **[Texas Tribune]([link removed])
**“Dallas’ Crux Capital raises $342 million in 9 months, defying tough private equity market” **[DMN]([link removed]) ($)
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* **NEWS FROM AROUND THE STATE**
> DMN: "**McKinney drops plan for $45M deck park after losing federal funds to Trump spending cuts**" _[DMN]([link removed])_
> DMN: "**Colin Allred touts support from Black elected leaders as Democratic Senate race heats up**" _[DMN]([link removed])_
> DMN: "**Texas State student no longer enrolled after video mocking Charlie Kirk death**" _[DMN]([link removed])_
> SAEN: "**Texas State expels student who mocked Charlie Kirk's murder**" _[SAEN]([link removed])_
> DMN: "**Dallas County Republicans vote to hand-count March primary election day ballots**" _[DMN]([link removed])_
> HOU CHRON: "**Houston Black pastors challenge martyr narrative after Charlie Kirk's killing**" _[HOU CHRON]([link removed])_
> EP TIMES: "**“Operation Lone Star 2.0”: Texas DPS arresting thousands to aid Trump’s mass deportation**" _[EP TIMES]([link removed])_
> HOU CHRON: "**Beto O'Rourke wins another round against Ken Paxton — but at a great cost**" _[HOU CHRON]([link removed])_
> THE TEXAN: "**Here's a Look at the State Constitutional Amendments on the November 2025 Ballot**" _[THE TEXAN]([link removed])_
> EP TIMES: "**Texas lawmakers form committees to study campus free speech after Charlie Kirk killing**" _[EP TIMES]([link removed])_
> FWST: "**Tarrant’s Democratic commissioners break quorum over ‘destructive’ tax rate**" _[FWST]([link removed])_
> SAEN: "**Abbott taps retired Navy admiral to lead San Antonio-based Texas Cyber Command**" _[SAEN]([link removed])_
> KXAN: "**Travis County approves higher tax rate Tuesday to address flooding, lawsuit likely**" _[KXAN]([link removed])_
> KXAN: "**Austin to cut ties with homelessness nonprofit after ‘misrepresented’ records claims**" _[KXAN]([link removed])_
> THE TEXAN: "**Tarrant County Redistricting Plan Survives Motion for Injunction**" _[THE TEXAN]([link removed])_
> HOU CHRON: "**Texas DPS trooper killed in San Jacinto County crash overnight, officials say**" _[HOU CHRON]([link removed])_
> SA REPORT: "**Listen: Brandon Seale rediscovers lost Battle of Medina in new documentary**" _[SA REPORT]([link removed])_
> FWST: "**These programs help Fort Worth students get to college. They may be in jeopardy**" _[FWST]([link removed])_
> SAEN: "**120 land and environmental defenders killed or disappeared in Latin America last year, report finds**" _[SAEN]([link removed])_
> HOU CHRON: "**Memorial Hermann employees sue hospital over hidden restroom cameras**" _[HOU CHRON]([link removed])_
> FWST: "**Off-duty police officer killed by store clerk ‘having a bad day,’ FL cops say**" _[FWST]([link removed])_
> TX TRIB: "**“Our girls are still dead”: Camp Mystic parents pushed for laws to protect kids at camp. But their pain remains.**" _[TX TRIB]([link removed])_
> FWST: "**ICYMI: Six opinion articles explore the impact of Charlie Kirk's life, death**" _[FWST]([link removed])_
> KXAN: "**Barton Springs aquifer declares historic ‘exceptional drought’ as state prepares to vote on water future**" _[KXAN]([link removed])_
> HOU CHRON: "**TEA reviewing 180 complaints against Texas teachers for Charlie Kirk comments**" _[HOU CHRON]([link removed])_
> COMMUNITY IMPACT: "**Voter Registration begins Sept. 16: Hays County election guide**" _[COMMUNITY IMPACT]([link removed])_
> EP TIMES: "**“Operation Lone Star 2.0”: Texas DPS arresting thousands to aid Trump’s mass deportation**" _[EP TIMES]([link removed])_
> EP TIMES: "**Texas lawmakers form committees to study campus free speech after Charlie Kirk killing**" _[EP TIMES]([link removed])_
> WACO TRIB: "**Texas Republicans want to close the state’s primaries. Is it a good idea?**" _[WACO TRIB]([link removed])_
> THE TEXAN: "**89th-session**" _[THE TEXAN]([link removed])_
> TX TRIB: "**James Talarico’s progressive take on Christianity made him an online sensation. Will it translate to his Texas Senate bid?**" _[TX TRIB]([link removed])_
> THE TEXAN: "**TEA Commissioner Mike Morath Seeks Certification Suspension for Educators Celebrating Kirk Assassination**" _[THE TEXAN]([link removed])_
> FWST: "**Trump promises tough prosecution of immigrant accused of beheading man in Dallas**" _[FWST]([link removed])_
> KXAN: "**Austin dog handler detained by ICE during routine check-in**" _[KXAN]([link removed])_
> THE TEXAN: "**The Docket: The Totality of the Circumstances**" _[THE TEXAN]([link removed])_
> THE TEXAN: "**Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson Pushes for More Spending Cuts in City Budget**" _[THE TEXAN]([link removed])_
> EP TIMES: "**500 Texas National Guard troops arrive in El Paso to help US Border Patrol**" _[EP TIMES]([link removed])_
> HOU CHRON: "**Texans have moment of silence for all victims of violence and natural disasters**" _[HOU CHRON]([link removed])_
> HOU CHRON: "**Texas native wins an Emmy. Who else was nominated from the Lone Star State?**" _[HOU CHRON]([link removed])_
> FWST: "**New owner has big plans for Bedford’s Stonegate Shopping Center**" _[FWST]([link removed])_
> MY RGV: "**TxDOT prioritizes safety of Queen Isabella, 24 years after collapse**" _[MY RGV]([link removed])_
> MY RGV: "**Trial begins for Alamo man charged with killing Donna teen**" _[MY RGV]([link removed])_
> COMMUNITY IMPACT: "**HTX-TOM: Impact 9/15/2025**" _[COMMUNITY IMPACT]([link removed])_
> SAEN: "**Fired Texas State professor threatens lawsuit against university**" _[SAEN]([link removed])_
> COMMUNITY IMPACT: "**HTX-SLM: Impact 9/15/2025**" _[COMMUNITY IMPACT]([link removed])_
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* **EXTRA POINTS**
Recent Texas sports scores:
Mon
> NFL: Tampa Bay 20, **Houston **19
> MLB: Houston 6, **Texas** 3
Tues
> MLB: Houston 6, **Texas** 5
Tonight's Texas sports schedule:
> 7:10pm: MLB: **Texas** at Houston
Tomorrow's Texas sports schedule:
> 6:30pm: NCAAF: **Rice** at Charlotte (ESPN)
**HOUSTON TEXANS**: "Baker Mayfield and Rachaad White rally Bucs to 20-19 win over Texans" [AP]([link removed])
**TEXAS RANGERS**: "With season winding down, Rangers ‘hopeful’ Corey Seager can return for playoff push" [DMN]([link removed]) ($)
**HOUSTON ASTROS / TEXAS RANGERS**: "Astros hold off Rangers 6-5 to keep pace in AL West and improve wild-card position" [AP]([link removed])
**DALLAS WINGS**: "What’s next for Wings star Paige Bueckers after whirlwind year in basketball?" [DMN]([link removed]) ($)
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