*** 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
Feature Story
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
2026 West Texas Conference Highlights
Some 270 County Judges and Commissioners convened in Wichita County April 21-24 to study the latest issues affecting grassroots government. The West Texas Conference Early Bird Session on Tax Abatements drew a standing-room-only crowd as a panel of speakers addressed negotiating abatement agreements, with one session centered on data centers. Commissioners Courts cannot … [Read more...] about 2026 West Texas Conference Highlights
A Note From Your Legislative Chairman
Election season is here again with signs of the upcoming runoff elections popping up everywhere from roadsides to Facebook to our mailboxes. I urge you to engage because your participation is critical, as this year’s races will directly impact our shared county priorities and the next Texas legislative session. Like most Texas County Judges, I wear many different hats on any … [Read more...] about A Note From Your Legislative Chairman