“As Texas makes historic investments in public education, it is our collective responsibility to ensure that taxpayer dollars directly reach students, classrooms, and teachers, rather than central-office growth, administrative bloat, consultants, and the web of noninstructional bureaucracy,” said Governor Abbott. “Texans expect that their hard-earned dollars will be spent in compliance with the law. It is essential that the $104.9 billion of taxpayer funds spent on  K-12 education is used for its intended purpose: supporting students and teachers to make Texas the top-performing state in education, rather than accelerating administrative bloat.”

Governor Abbott requested that the Comptroller investigate the spending of up to four independent school districts of varying size and geographic location to determine whether public funds are used for their lawful, intended purposes.

The letter requests the final report of these investigations by December 31, 2026, so that appropriate action can be taken and additional reforms may be considered by the 90th Legislature.

Read the Governor’s letter here.

Dot Cunningham of Houston is retired after a 35 year career in the legal, political, governmental, and corporate sectors. She is the widow of late astronaut Walt Cunningham. She is a lifetime member of the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo and the Houston Rotary, a board member of the Uptown Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone #16 (TIRZ)/Uptown Development Authority (UDA), and a member of Houston First Baptist Church. Additionally, she is a member of the Be An Angel Board of Directors and a former fundraiser for the John F. Kennedy Presidential Center. Cunningham received a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice from the University of Houston.

Governor Abbott's guidelines and guardrails are working. They are being universally implemented by data centers across the state. One data center that could not comply chose to end operations before even beginning construction.

“I established clear guardrails to ensure data centers protect our electric grid, conserve our water, respect our neighborhoods, and pay their own way,” said Governor Abbott. "They must not pass costs on to Texas families or interfere with their quality of life.”

Earlier this summer, Governor Abbott established clear, commonsense statewide standards to ensure data center development does not come at the expense of Texas families or communities. The Governor directed the Public Utilities Commission of Texas (PUCT) and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) to ensure data centers:  

• Pay for their electric infrastructure instead of shifting costs onto Texas families and small businesses.
• Reuse their own water.
• Reduce the cost of electricity for Texans.
• Do not disrupt residential neighborhoods to preserve Texas’ quality of life.
• Pay their own way and eliminate reliance on outdated taxpayer-funded incentives.

In addition, the PUCT and ERCOT will examine each data center project and how they will: 

• Pay their own way by disclosing all taxpayer-funded incentives, grants, abatements, and other public financial assistance tied to the project. 
• Provide their own power by detailing projected electricity demand and plans for on-site generation or other measures to reduce reliance on the ERCOT grid. 
• Protect Texas water resources by identifying water sources, projected water use, water reuse procedures, and water-efficient cooling technologies. 
• Outline measures to reduce impacts on neighboring property owners and communities, including noise mitigation, light controls, setbacks, traffic improvements, emergency response coordination, and other community protect measures. 
• Provide full transparency by disclosing project ownership and controlling interests. 

The PUCT and ERCOT must receive and audit this information before data center projects can move forward.

"The PUCT and ERCOT cannot make decisions to guarantee grid stability and reliability based on substantially incomplete information," Governor Abbott continued. 

Any data center company that fails to comply with ERCOT’s audit process will be subject to having its approval denied.

Since Governor Abbott issued these commonsense directives, data centers across the state have either announced their full compliance or announced they are ending their data center project. Those standards provide guardrails that protect our communities.

Candidates who wish to have their names placed on the special election ballot must file their applications with the Secretary of State no later than 6:00 PM on Thursday, August 20, 2026. Early voting will begin on Monday, October 19, 2026.

Read the Governor's full special election proclamation here.

Governor Abbott's guidelines and guardrails are working. They are being universally implemented by data centers across the state. One data center that could not comply chose to end operations before even beginning construction.

“I established clear guardrails to ensure data centers protect our electric grid, conserve our water, respect our neighborhoods, and pay their own way,” said Governor Abbott. "They must not pass costs on to Texas families or interfere with their quality of life.”

Earlier this summer, Governor Abbott established clear, commonsense statewide standards to ensure data center development does not come at the expense of Texas families or communities. The Governor directed the Public Utilities Commission of Texas (PUCT) and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) to ensure data centers:  

• Pay for their electric infrastructure instead of shifting costs onto Texas families and small businesses.
• Reuse their own water.
• Reduce the cost of electricity for Texans.
• Do not disrupt residential neighborhoods to preserve Texas’ quality of life.
• Pay their own way and eliminate reliance on outdated taxpayer-funded incentives.

In addition, the PUCT and ERCOT will examine each data center project and how they will: 

• Pay their own way by disclosing all taxpayer-funded incentives, grants, abatements, and other public financial assistance tied to the project. 
• Provide their own power by detailing projected electricity demand and plans for on-site generation or other measures to reduce reliance on the ERCOT grid. 
• Protect Texas water resources by identifying water sources, projected water use, water reuse procedures, and water-efficient cooling technologies. 
• Outline measures to reduce impacts on neighboring property owners and communities, including noise mitigation, light controls, setbacks, traffic improvements, emergency response coordination, and other community protect measures. 
• Provide full transparency by disclosing project ownership and controlling interests. 

The PUCT and ERCOT must receive and audit this information before data center projects can move forward.

"The PUCT and ERCOT cannot make decisions to guarantee grid stability and reliability based on substantially incomplete information," Governor Abbott continued. 

Any data center company that fails to comply with ERCOT’s audit process will be subject to having its approval denied.

Since Governor Abbott issued these commonsense directives, data centers across the state have either announced their full compliance or announced they are ending their data center project. Those standards provide guardrails that protect our communities.

Governor Abbott's guidelines and guardrails are working. They are being universally implemented by data centers across the state. One data center that could not comply chose to end operations before even beginning construction.

“I established clear guardrails to ensure data centers protect our electric grid, conserve our water, respect our neighborhoods, and pay their own way,” said Governor Abbott. "They must not pass costs on to Texas families or interfere with their quality of life.”

Earlier this summer, Governor Abbott established clear, commonsense statewide standards to ensure data center development does not come at the expense of Texas families or communities. The Governor directed the Public Utilities Commission of Texas (PUCT) and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) to ensure data centers:  

• Pay for their electric infrastructure instead of shifting costs onto Texas families and small businesses.
• Reuse their own water.
• Reduce the cost of electricity for Texans.
• Do not disrupt residential neighborhoods to preserve Texas’ quality of life.
• Pay their own way and eliminate reliance on outdated taxpayer-funded incentives.

In addition, the PUCT and ERCOT will examine each data center project and how they will: 

• Pay their own way by disclosing all taxpayer-funded incentives, grants, abatements, and other public financial assistance tied to the project. 
• Provide their own power by detailing projected electricity demand and plans for on-site generation or other measures to reduce reliance on the ERCOT grid. 
• Protect Texas water resources by identifying water sources, projected water use, water reuse procedures, and water-efficient cooling technologies. 
• Outline measures to reduce impacts on neighboring property owners and communities, including noise mitigation, light controls, setbacks, traffic improvements, emergency response coordination, and other community protect measures. 
• Provide full transparency by disclosing project ownership and controlling interests. 

The PUCT and ERCOT must receive and audit this information before data center projects can move forward.

"The PUCT and ERCOT cannot make decisions to guarantee grid stability and reliability based on substantially incomplete information," Governor Abbott continued. 

Any data center company that fails to comply with ERCOT’s audit process will be subject to having its approval denied.

Since Governor Abbott issued these commonsense directives, data centers across the state have either announced their full compliance or announced they are ending their data center project. Those standards provide guardrails that protect our communities.

“The Texas Energy Fund strengthens the electric systems that families, businesses, and communities depend on,” said Governor Abbott. “This critical grant will reduce equipment failure rates, lower repair times, and prevent or shorten outages for Texans.”

“As power demand grows throughout Texas, grid modernization remains a top priority,” said Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) Chairman Thomas Gleeson. “Investments in reliability projects strengthen our infrastructure and reinforce Texans’ confidence that dependable power will be there whenever they need it.”

This reliability and resiliency project includes the replacement of 30 aging breakers across eight electrical substations. This project will benefit members in Deaf Smith Electric Cooperative’s service territory, including portions of Castro, Oldham, Parmer, and Deaf Smith Counties.

The PUCT administers the TxEF Outside ERCOT Grant Program, which provides funding for projects that improve electric reliability and resiliency for Texans served by electric utilities outside the ERCOT region. More information on this and other TxEF programs is available on the PUCT’s website.

Governor Abbott's guidelines and guardrails are working. They are being universally implemented by data centers across the state. One data center that could not comply chose to end operations before even beginning construction.

“I established clear guardrails to ensure data centers protect our electric grid, conserve our water, respect our neighborhoods, and pay their own way,” said Governor Abbott. "They must not pass costs on to Texas families or interfere with their quality of life.”

Earlier this summer, Governor Abbott established clear, commonsense statewide standards to ensure data center development does not come at the expense of Texas families or communities. The Governor directed the Public Utilities Commission of Texas (PUCT) and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) to ensure data centers:  

• Pay for their electric infrastructure instead of shifting costs onto Texas families and small businesses.
• Reuse their own water.
• Reduce the cost of electricity for Texans.
• Do not disrupt residential neighborhoods to preserve Texas’ quality of life.
• Pay their own way and eliminate reliance on outdated taxpayer-funded incentives.

In addition, the PUCT and ERCOT will examine each data center project and how they will: 

• Pay their own way by disclosing all taxpayer-funded incentives, grants, abatements, and other public financial assistance tied to the project. 
• Provide their own power by detailing projected electricity demand and plans for on-site generation or other measures to reduce reliance on the ERCOT grid. 
• Protect Texas water resources by identifying water sources, projected water use, water reuse procedures, and water-efficient cooling technologies. 
• Outline measures to reduce impacts on neighboring property owners and communities, including noise mitigation, light controls, setbacks, traffic improvements, emergency response coordination, and other community protect measures. 
• Provide full transparency by disclosing project ownership and controlling interests. 

The PUCT and ERCOT must receive and audit this information before data center projects can move forward.

"The PUCT and ERCOT cannot make decisions to guarantee grid stability and reliability based on substantially incomplete information," Governor Abbott continued. 

Any data center company that fails to comply with ERCOT’s audit process will be subject to having its approval denied.

Since Governor Abbott issued these commonsense directives, data centers across the state have either announced their full compliance or announced they are ending their data center project. Those standards provide guardrails that protect our communities.

“Texas schools offer a competitive education for a variety of high-demand careers,” said Governor Abbott. “As we strengthen our workforce in nursing, cybersecurity, electrical technology, and business, it is critical that students have access to the resources they need to succeed in their chosen field. These grants will expand access to free learning materials to make education more affordable for Texans.”

“As every college student knows, the cost of textbooks and supplies can put a dent in their bank account,” said Texas Higher Education Commissioner Wynn Rosser. “The OER grant program has reduced those costs for thousands of Texas students through the continual expansion of the OERTX online library of free textbooks and course materials.”

Since Governor Abbott and the 85th Texas Legislature established the OER grant program in 2018, it has assisted more than 33,000 Texas students, saving an estimated $3.5 million in textbook costs.

Institutions receiving the 2026-28 awards:

• Alamo Community College District:
  • $285,000
• Collin County Community College District:
  • $285,000
• El Paso County Community College District:
  • $285,000
• Lamar Institute of Technology:
  • $285,000
• Lee College:
  • $285,000
• North Central Texas College:
  • $285,000
• Texas A&M University - Kingsville:
  • $15,000
• Texas State University:
  • $285,000
• Texas A&M University - Kingsville:
  • $15,000

Governor Abbott's guidelines and guardrails are working. They are being universally implemented by data centers across the state. One data center that could not comply chose to end operations before even beginning construction.

“I established clear guardrails to ensure data centers protect our electric grid, conserve our water, respect our neighborhoods, and pay their own way,” said Governor Abbott. "They must not pass costs on to Texas families or interfere with their quality of life.”

Earlier this summer, Governor Abbott established clear, commonsense statewide standards to ensure data center development does not come at the expense of Texas families or communities. The Governor directed the Public Utilities Commission of Texas (PUCT) and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) to ensure data centers:  

• Pay for their electric infrastructure instead of shifting costs onto Texas families and small businesses.
• Reuse their own water.
• Reduce the cost of electricity for Texans.
• Do not disrupt residential neighborhoods to preserve Texas’ quality of life.
• Pay their own way and eliminate reliance on outdated taxpayer-funded incentives.

In addition, the PUCT and ERCOT will examine each data center project and how they will: 

• Pay their own way by disclosing all taxpayer-funded incentives, grants, abatements, and other public financial assistance tied to the project. 
• Provide their own power by detailing projected electricity demand and plans for on-site generation or other measures to reduce reliance on the ERCOT grid. 
• Protect Texas water resources by identifying water sources, projected water use, water reuse procedures, and water-efficient cooling technologies. 
• Outline measures to reduce impacts on neighboring property owners and communities, including noise mitigation, light controls, setbacks, traffic improvements, emergency response coordination, and other community protect measures. 
• Provide full transparency by disclosing project ownership and controlling interests. 

The PUCT and ERCOT must receive and audit this information before data center projects can move forward.

"The PUCT and ERCOT cannot make decisions to guarantee grid stability and reliability based on substantially incomplete information," Governor Abbott continued. 

Any data center company that fails to comply with ERCOT’s audit process will be subject to having its approval denied.

Since Governor Abbott issued these commonsense directives, data centers across the state have either announced their full compliance or announced they are ending their data center project. Those standards provide guardrails that protect our communities.