Corinthian columns accent the Live Oak County Courthouse, designed by Alfred Giles in a Renaissance style. The county capitol is built of brick and concrete and was completed in 1920. A modern annex designed by Wyatt Hedrick was constructed in 1956. The county’s original temple of justice was fashioned of wood in 1857, complete with four windows and four doors, and occupied … [Read more...] about Live Oak County Courthouse
Interim Legislative Hearings
*** Click here for the audio version.*** With the completion of the primary elections, the legislature begins its interim studies. Senate and House committees will conduct hearings on subjects assigned by the lieutenant governor and speaker. These committees will file reports in November and recommend draft legislation on their assigned topics. Many of the 8,000 bills … [Read more...] about Interim Legislative Hearings
Artificial Intelligence
*** Click here for the audio version.*** Are county employees and elected and appointed officials required by law to complete artificial intelligence (AI) training? House Bill 3512 passed by the 89th Texas Legislature and effective Sept. 1, 2025, amended the Government Code to require local government employees and elected and appointed officials to complete annual AI … [Read more...] about Artificial Intelligence
Wise County AI Exploratory Program
Pilot Project Leads to Active Use
*** Click here for the audio version.*** Last year, the Wise County Commissioners Court launched a nine-month pilot program to help officials determine how Artificial Intelligence (AI) could support county government. During the first phase of the project, most work was on the back end with a small project team experimenting with use cases and then rolling them out to … [Read more...] about Wise County AI Exploratory Program
Resolution Spotlight: Municipal Utility Districts
*** Click here for the audio version.*** A municipal utility district (MUD) is a state governmental entity that provides utility services to designated areas. A MUD may be created by the Texas Legislature or by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) following a petition and consent process described in the Texas Water Code. MUDs are usually created … [Read more...] about Resolution Spotlight: Municipal Utility Districts