Appointments
Appointments for September 17, 2025
Appointed to the Texas Real Estate Commission for a term to expire January 31, 2031, Samuel S. "Scott" Olguin of Horseshoe Bay, Texas (replacing Jason E. Hartgraves of Frisco whose term expired).
Appointed as the Commissioner of the Department of Family and Protective Services for a term to expire August 31, 2027, Audrey Allen O'Neill of Austin, Texas (replacing Stephanie B. Muth of Austin whose term expired).
Appointments for September 19, 2025
Appointed to the Child Fatality Review Team Committee for a term to expire at the pleasure of the Governor, Bryan K. Shufelt of Pflugerville, Texas (replacing Madelyn Fletcher of Austin).
Appointed as Presiding Judge of the Fourth Administrative Judicial Region for a term to expire four years from the date of qualification, Sidney L. "Sid" Harle of San Antonio, Texas (Judge Harle is being reappointed).
Appointments for September 22, 2025
Appointed to the Texas State Board of Social Worker Examiners for a term to expire February 1, 2029, Marco A. Trevino of Edinburg, Texas (replacing Ryan C. Dollinger of Plano who resigned).
Appointed as Judge of the 74th Judicial District Court, McLennan County, for a term until December 31, 2026, or until his successor shall be duly elected and qualified, Peter K. Rusek of Waco, Texas (replacing Judge Gary R. Coley, Jr. of McGregor who resigned).
Appointments for September 23, 2025
Appointed to the Coastal Water Authority Board of Directors for a term to expire April 1, 2027, Daniel C. "Danny" Campbell of Mont Belvieu, Texas (replacing Antonio L. Santana of Mont Belvieu who resigned).
Greg Abbott, Governor
TRD-202503414
Proclamation 41-4229
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME:
Pursuant to Article IV, Section 14, of the Texas Constitution, I, Greg Abbott, Governor of Texas, do hereby disapprove of and veto Senate Bill No. 18 as passed by the EightyNinth Texas Legislature, Second Called Special Session, because of the following objections:
On July 9, 2025, and August 15, 2025, I called special sessions in response to the tragic July 4th flooding. Both times, I designated legislation to "improve early warning systems," "strengthen emergency communications," and similar preparedness and response measures "in flood-prone areas." Senate Bill No. 18 does not concern emergency measures in areas like Kerrville. Instead, it exempts certain entities from the requirement to obtain a TCEQ permit to construct a dam or reservoir, duplicating a bill that failed to pass during the 89th Regular Session.
The Texas Constitution provides that the Governor, when calling a special session, "shall state specifically the purpose for which the Legislature is convened" in a proclamation. TEX. CONST. art. IV, § 8(a). It also provides that "there shall be no legislation upon subjects other than those designated in the proclamation of the Governor calling such session." Id. art. III, § 40. These provisions are "clearly mandatory, and are limitations upon the authority of the legislature in special session." Manor Casino v. State, 34 S.W. 769, 771 (Tex. Civ. App. 1896).
Because any legislation "not embraced in the proclamation" is "passed in violation of the constitution, and is, therefore, void," ibid., I hereby disapprove of this bill. A special session is not an open invitation to revive draft legislation that died during the regular. See Ex parte Wolters, 144 S.W. 531, 535-536 (Tex. Crim. App. 1911) (opinion of Davidson, P.J.); id. at 538 (opinion of Harper, J., concurring).
Since the Eighty-Ninth Texas Legislature, Second Called Special Session, by its adjournment has prevented the return of this bill, I am filing these objections in the office of the secretary of state and giving notice thereof by this public proclamation according to the aforementioned constitutional provision.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have signed my name officially and caused the Seal of the State to be affixed hereto at Austin, this 17th day of September, 2025.
Greg Abbott, Governor
TRD-202503298
Proclamation 41-4230
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, 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 amend and 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 19th day of September, 2025.
Greg Abbott, Governor
TRD-202503409
Proclamation 41-4231
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, 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 19th day of September, 2025.
Greg Abbott, Governor
TRD-202503411
Proclamation 41-4232
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;
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, Atascosa, Bandera, Bee, Bell, Bexar, Blanco, Brewster, Burnet, Cameron, Clay, Collingsworth, Comal, Comanche, Culberson, Donley, El Paso, Foard, Frio, Gillespie, Gonzales, Grayson, Guadalupe, Hall, Hardeman, Hays, Hidalgo, Hudspeth, Jeff Davis, Jim Wells, Karnes, Kendall, Kerr, Kinney, Kleberg, Lavaca, Live Oak, Llano, Lubbock, Matagorda, McMullen, Medina, Midland, Nueces, Pecos, Presidio, Real, San Patricio, Terrell, Travis, Uvalde, Val Verde, Victoria, Wharton, Willacy, Williamson, and Zapata 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 19th day of September, 2025.
Greg Abbott, Governor
TRD-202503412