Appointments
Appointments for October 15, 2026
Appointed to the Continuing Advisory Committee for Special Education for a term to expire February 1, 2027, Cynthia D. "Cindy" Lee, Ed.D. of McKinney, Texas (replacing Stephanie Y. Martinez of Laredo whose term expired).
Appointed to the Continuing Advisory Committee for Special Education for a term to expire February 1, 2029, Barbara L. Pazey, Ph.D. of Little Elm, Texas (replacing Susan M. Nichols, Ph.D. of Carrollton whose term expired).
Appointments for October 19, 2026
Appointed to the State Pension Review Board for a term to expire January 31, 2031, Keith W. Brainard of Georgetown, Texas (Mr. Brainard is being reappointed).
Appointed to the State Pension Review Board for a term to expire January 31, 2031, Karen N. Smith of Houston, Texas (replacing Marcia A. Dush of Austin whose term expired).
Greg Abbott, Governor
TRD-202604459
Proclamation 41-4318
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME:
WHEREAS, I, GREG ABBOTT, Governor of the State of Texas, issued a disaster proclamation on July 8, 2022, as amended and renewed in a number of subsequent proclamations, certifying that exceptional drought conditions posed a threat of imminent disaster in several counties; and
WHEREAS, the Texas Division of Emergency Management has confirmed that those same drought conditions persist in certain counties in Texas and that the presence of drought conditions in certain counties contributes to increased wildfire danger;
NOW, THEREFORE, in accordance with the authority vested in me by Section 418.014 of the Texas Government Code, I do hereby amend and renew the aforementioned proclamation and declare a disaster in Aransas, Archer, Armstrong, Bailey, Bandera, Bastrop, Baylor, Bee, Bell, Bexar, Blanco, Bowie, Brewster, Briscoe, Brooks, Burleson, Burnet, Callahan, Cameron, Camp, Carson, Cass, Castro, Cherokee, Childress, Clay, Collin, Collingsworth, Colorado, Comanche, Cooke, Coryell, Cottle, Crane, Crosby, Dallam, Dallas, Deaf Smith, Delta, Denton, DeWitt, Dickens, Donley, Duval, Eastland, Ector, Ellis, Erath, Falls, Fannin, Fayette, Floyd, Foard, Franklin, Garza, Gillespie, Goliad, Gonzales, Gray, Grayson, Gregg, Hale, Hall, Hansford, Hardeman, Harrison, Hartley, Haskell, Hays, Hemphill, Hidalgo, Hood, Hopkins, Hunt, Hutchinson, Jack, Jackson, Jim Hogg, Jim Wells, Johnson, Jones, Karnes, Kaufman, Kendall, Kenedy, Kent, Kerr, King, Kleberg, Knox, Lamar, Lamb, La Salle, Lavaca, Lee, Lipscomb, Live Oak, Llano, Lubbock, Marion, McLennan, McMullen, Milam, Montague, Moore, Morris, Motley, Navarro, Nueces, Ochiltree, Oldham, Panola, Parker, Parmer, Potter, Rains, Randall, Reagan, Red River, Refugio, Roberts, Robertson, Rockwall, Rusk, San Patricio, Shackelford, Shelby, Sherman, Somervell, Stephens, Stonewall, Swisher, Tarrant, Taylor, Titus, Travis, Upshur, Upton, Victoria, Ward, Webb, Wharton, Wheeler, Wichita, Wilbarger, Willacy, Williamson, Wilson, Winkler, Wise, Wood, and Young Counties.
Pursuant to Section 418.017 of the Texas Government Code, I authorize the use of all available resources of state government and of political subdivisions that are reasonably necessary to cope with this disaster.
Pursuant to Section 418.016 of the Texas Government Code, any regulatory statute prescribing the procedures for conduct of state business or any order or rule of a state agency that would in any way prevent, hinder, or delay necessary action in coping with this disaster shall be suspended upon written approval of the Office of the Governor. However, to the extent that the enforcement of any state statute or administrative rule regarding contracting or procurement would impede any state agency's emergency response that is necessary to protect life or property threatened by this declared disaster, I hereby authorize the suspension of such statutes and rules for the duration of this declared disaster.
In accordance with the statutory requirements, copies of this proclamation shall be filed with the applicable authorities.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto signed my name and have officially caused the Seal of State to be affixed at my office in the City of Austin, Texas, this the 14th day of October, 2026.
Greg Abbott, Governor
TRD-202604387
Proclamation 41-4319
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME:
WHEREAS, I, Greg Abbott, Governor of Texas, issued a disaster proclamation on May 31, 2021, certifying under Section 418.014 of the Texas Government Code that the surge of individuals unlawfully crossing the Texas-Mexico border posed an ongoing and imminent threat of disaster for a number of Texas counties and for all state agencies affected by this disaster; and
WHEREAS, I amended the aforementioned proclamation in a number of subsequent proclamations, including to modify the list of affected counties and therefore declare a state of disaster for those counties and for all state agencies affected by this disaster; and
WHEREAS, the certified conditions continue to exist and pose an ongoing and imminent threat of disaster as set forth in the prior proclamations;
NOW, THEREFORE, in accordance with the authority vested in me by Section 418.014 of the Texas Government Code, I do hereby renew the aforementioned proclamation and declare a disaster for Aransas, Atascosa, Bee, Brewster, Brooks, Caldwell, Calhoun, Cameron, Chambers, Coleman, Colorado, Crane, Crockett, Culberson, DeWitt, Dimmit, Duval, Edwards, El Paso, Frio, Galveston, Goliad, Gonzales, Hidalgo, Hudspeth, Jackson, Jeff Davis, Jim Hogg, Jim Wells, Karnes, Kenedy, Kerr, Kimble, Kinney, Kleberg, La Salle, Lavaca, Live Oak, Mason, Matagorda, Maverick, McCulloch, McLennan, McMullen, Medina, Menard, Midland, Pecos, Presidio, Real, Refugio, San Jacinto, San Patricio, Schleicher, Shackelford, Starr, Sutton, Terrell, Throckmorton, Upton, Uvalde, Val Verde, Victoria, Webb, Wharton, Wilbarger, Willacy, Wilson, Zapata, and Zavala Counties and for all state agencies affected by this disaster. All orders, directions, suspensions, and authorizations provided in the Proclamation of May 31, 2021, as amended and renewed in subsequent proclamations, are in full force and effect.
In accordance with the statutory requirements, copies of this proclamation shall be filed with the applicable authorities.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto signed my name and have officially caused the Seal of State to be affixed at my office in the City of Austin, Texas, this the 14th day of October, 2026.
Greg Abbott, Governor
TRD-202604388
Proclamation 41-4320
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME:
WHEREAS, I, GREG ABBOTT, Governor of the State of Texas, issued a disaster proclamation on July 4, 2025, as amended and renewed in subsequent proclamations, certifying that the heavy rainfall and flooding event that began on July 2, 2025, and that included heavy rainfall and flash flooding, caused widespread and severe property damage, injury, or loss of life in several counties;
NOW, THEREFORE, in accordance with the authority vested in me by Section 418.014 of the Texas Government Code, I do hereby renew the aforementioned proclamation and declare a disaster in Bandera, Bexar, Burnet, Caldwell, Coke, Comal, Concho, Edwards, Gillespie, Guadalupe, Hamilton, Kendall, Kerr, Kimble, Kinney, Lampasas, Llano, Mason, Maverick, McCulloch, Menard, Real, Reeves, San Saba, Schleicher, Sutton, Tom Green, Travis, Uvalde, and Williamson Counties.
Pursuant to Section 418.017 of the Texas Government Code, I authorize the use of all available resources of state government and of political subdivisions that are reasonably necessary to cope with this disaster.
Pursuant to Section 418.016 of the Texas Government Code, any regulatory statute prescribing the procedures for conduct of state business or any order or rule of a state agency that would in any way prevent, hinder, or delay necessary action in coping with this disaster shall be suspended upon written approval of the Office of the Governor. Any statutes that might prevent the transfer of bodies to families as soon as possible are hereby suspended, including Sections 264.514 and 264.515 of the Texas Family Code and Articles 49.04, 49.05, 49.10, and 49.25 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure. Further, to the extent that the enforcement of any state statute or administrative rule regarding contracting or procurement would impede any state agency's emergency response that is necessary to protect life or property threatened by this declared disaster, I hereby authorize the suspension of such statutes and rules for the duration of this declared disaster.
In accordance with the statutory requirements, copies of this proclamation shall be filed with the applicable authorities.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto signed my name and have officially caused the Seal of State to be affixed at my office in the City of Austin, Texas, this the 14th day of October, 2026.
Greg Abbott, Governor
TRD-202604389
Proclamation 41-4321
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME:
WHEREAS, the global refining output of diesel fuel has been reduced by approximately ten percent since the Russian Federation banned the export of diesel fuel in early July 2026; and
WHEREAS, ongoing shipping and refining disruptions in other foreign conflicts, including attacks against oil tankers passing through critical maritime shipping routes, have further reduced supply; and
WHEREAS, the United States Energy Information Administration (EIA) has noted that such foreign conflicts have "dramatically reduced the availability of oil supplies to global markets" and "had cascading effects across oil supply chains"; and
WHEREAS, the EIA predicts that "constraints to exporting oil from the Middle East will persist through the end of the year, which keeps crude oil production in the region below pre-conflict averages until the second quarter of 2027"; and
WHEREAS, diesel and distillate reserve levels in the United States have now dropped to their lowest seasonal levels since the EIA first began recording and tracking such data in 1982; and
WHEREAS, the EIA forecasts in its September 2026 Short-Term Energy Outlook that United States distillate fuel oil inventories "will remain below the five-year (2021-2025) low through much of 2027"; and
WHEREAS, On January 20, 2025, President Trump declared a national emergency in Executive Order 14156, finding "[a]n affordable and reliable domestic supply of energy is a fundamental requirement for the national and economic security of any nation," and President Trump has extended this emergency declaration through at least January 20, 2027; and
WHEREAS, as of last week, the average retail price per gallon of diesel fuel exceeds $5.90 in Texas and has climbed above $6.50 across the United States; and
WHEREAS, a shortage of diesel fuel will impose harmful effects upon the agriculture and ranching industries by increasing the price per acre to achieve similar yields, reducing investment in farm and ranch machinery, and driving up supply chain expenses; and
WHEREAS, small and independent truckers are seeing dramatic increases in costs due to rising fuel expenses, affecting their abilities to remain in business; and
WHEREAS, the rising price of diesel fuel has resulted in reduced construction spending and increased the overall costs of construction, thereby causing higher prices for consumers; and
WHEREAS, the price of food and other goods and services for all Texans is rising sharply due, in large part, to increased costs of shipping attributable to higher diesel fuel prices; and
WHEREAS, Section 418.011 of the Texas Government Code empowers the Governor to meet and address disasters affecting the State and people of Texas; and
WHEREAS, Section 418.004(3) of the Texas Government Code defines "disaster" to include a statewide shortage in petroleum, natural gas, or liquid fuel energy supplies that makes emergency measures necessary to reduce demand or allocate supply; and
WHEREAS, Section 418.016 of the Texas Government Code authorizes the Governor to suspend the provisions of certain statutes, including "any regulatory statute prescribing the procedures for conduct of state business or the orders or rules of a state agency if strict compliance with the provisions, orders, or rules would in any way prevent, hinder, or delay necessary action in coping with a disaster"; and
WHEREAS, Section 418.012 of the Texas Government Code authorizes the Governor to issue proclamations that have the force and effect of law; and
WHEREAS, Article IV, Section 10 of the Texas Constitution makes the Governor the sole organ of Texas' diplomatic affairs, authorized by law to conduct all business between this State and the United States; and
WHEREAS, in previous disasters declared under Chapter 418 of the Texas Government Code, I have, in partnership with the federal government and like other Governors before me, taken steps to suspend regulatory measures, like restrictions on dyed diesel fuel use, weight limits on commercial shipping, and standards for diesel emissions;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GREG ABBOTT, Governor of the State of Texas, do hereby certify that the shortage of diesel fuel poses an imminent threat or occurrence of harm to the public health and safety in the State of Texas and, pursuant to Section 418.014 of the Texas Government Code, do hereby declare a state of disaster for all Texas counties.
Pursuant to Section 418.012 and 418.016(a) of the Texas Government Code, any regulatory statute prescribing the procedures for conduct of state business or any order or rule of a state agency that would in any way prevent, hinder, or delay necessary action in coping with this disaster shall be suspended or superseded upon written approval of the Office of the Governor.
To that end, I also hereby:
1. Suspend or supersede state restrictions concerning the use of dyed diesel fuel, namely the notice requirements, sales restrictions, prohibitions of use on public highways, and associated penalties described in Sections 162.231, 162.232, 162.233, 162.235, 162.402(a)(6), and 162.403(6)-(7) of the Texas Tax Code, to the extent needed to allow the expanded use of dyed diesel fuel; and
2. Suspend or supersede state permitting requirements related to oversize and overweight vehicles loaded with fuel, agricultural, or timber products, namely those in Chapters 621, 622, and 623 of the Texas Transportation Code and Chapter 219 of Title 43 of the Texas Administrative Code, to the extent necessary to allow such vehicles to carry loads with a gross weight not to exceed 95,000 pounds, subject to restrictions placed by the Office of the Governor and all other restrictions associated with transporting such products, including the prohibition on operating a vehicle on a bridge with a load exceeding the bridge's weight limitation; and
3. Suspend or supersede all regulations regarding the use of low-emission diesel set forth in Section 114.312 of Title 43 of Texas Administrative Code, to the extent necessary to allow the use of diesel fuels other than low-emission diesel in the counties listed in Section 114.319 of Title 43 of the Texas Administrative Code, and to the extent authorized by the Environmental Protection Agency.
In accordance with the statutory requirements, copies of this proclamation shall be filed with the applicable authorities.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto signed my name and have officially caused the Seal of State to be affixed at my office in the City of Austin, Texas, this the 28th day of September, 2026.
Greg Abbott, Governor
TRD-202604466