Rural Texas Must Have a Voice in Austin
As we move closer to the 2027 legislative session, there are several key issues already taking shape. Next week, I will have the opportunity to sit down with the House District 17 judges, along with our State Representative, Stan Gerdes. In preparation for that meeting, I’ve been working through a number of priorities and even drafting potential legislation for the upcoming session.
One of the primary topics we need to address is the authority of Commissioners Courts when it comes to new industries entering our counties. Right now, counties often have to rely on tax abatements simply to gain some level of regulatory control. That approach is backwards. We should not have to offer financial incentives just to obtain the tools necessary to responsibly manage growth and protect our communities.
The reality is that county governments have very limited authority to regulate industrial and commercial activity. Cities can use zoning – designating areas as industrial, residential, or commercial – but counties have no comparable power. In fact, state law largely prohibits counties from exercising regulatory authority unless it is tied to a contractual mechanism, such as an abatement agreement.
Beyond that, there are several other priorities on our list:
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Property tax reform
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Stronger controls on county road use to prevent damage from heavy commercial traffic
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Adjustments to the school voucher program, which currently provides more benefit in urban and suburban areas than in rural Texas
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Expanding access to mental health services
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Meaningful water conservation legislation to protect rural supplies from overuse driven by urban expansion and unregulated industrial growth
It is time for rural communities to clearly communicate to Austin what we need, rather than being told what should matter to us. For too long, we have sent representatives to Austin without consistently ensuring they hear directly from the people they serve.
During the next legislative session, I and several of our county commissioners plan to spend significant time in Austin advocating for what is best for Milam County. But this effort cannot rest solely on elected officials. It requires participation from the public.
In the last legislative cycle, I made several trips to Austin to testify on water conservation and other issues affecting our county. One thing became clear: legislators expect to hear from local officials, but they listen even more closely when everyday citizens take the time to show up and speak. Your voice carries weight in a way that cannot be replicated.
Unfortunately, there are times when local elected officials are viewed in Austin as more of a nuisance than a resource. That is not universally true, but it happens often enough to matter. When citizen voters step forward and testify, it changes the dynamic. It reminds decision-makers who they ultimately serve.
In the weeks ahead, I will be writing a series of articles outlining the issues we face, as well as providing updates from our meetings with legislators and other county officials. You will likely hear state leaders criticize local government along the way. Too often, the solution from Austin is a broad, heavy-handed approach to problems that require a more precise touch. And too often, the realities of rural Texas are not fully understood.
That is why your involvement matters.
As we approach the 2027 legislative session, I intend to be even more active than I have been in past cycles. Some have told me I am too vocal in standing up for rural Texas. If that is the case, I am comfortable with it because I believe it is one of the core responsibilities of serving as your County Judge.
I hope many of you will join me in this effort. While some may choose to travel to Austin and testify in person, others can submit written testimony, which is just as valuable. However you choose to participate, your voice matters.
I will continue using this space to share information and keep you informed so that, together, we can be prepared when the legislative session begins. Our goal is simple: to ensure that Milam County—and rural Texas as a whole—remains the place we are proud to call home.
