Action:<\/b> Legislators passed and Gov. Greg Abbott<\/a> signed an $8.5 billion school funding plan for teacher and support staff pay raises, operations, special ed and more.<\/p>\n Outcome: <\/b>Public school districts get new dollars to stabilize budgets and staff classrooms. Much of the money is tied to targeted allotments, not flexible formula funding, leaving concerns that rising costs still outpace per-student dollars.<\/p>\n Private school vouchers <\/p>\n Action:<\/b> Lawmakers authorized a statewide education savings account program with up to $1 billion in initial funding and a potential multiyear expansion. <\/p>\n Outcome:<\/b> The program marks one of the largest school-choice expansions in the U.S. Eligible families can use public funds for private tuition or alternative schooling. Critics warn the program could siphon students and dollars from public schools, particularly in rural areas where private options are limited.<\/p>\n State lottery overhaul <\/p>\n Action:<\/b> The Legislature passed a measure abolishing the Texas Lottery<\/a> Commission and transferring lottery oversight to the Department of Licensing and Regulation, while banning online ticket sales and courier services. <\/p>\n Outcome:<\/b> The lottery\u2019s governance model shifts dramatically, tightening controls and signaling the state\u2019s intent to curb abuses \u2014 with ripple effects for revenue, school funding and how Texans buy tickets. <\/p>\n Flood preparedness <\/p>\n Action:<\/b> After the Camp Mystic <\/a>floods along the Guadalupe River<\/a>, lawmakers approved additional funding and directives to strengthen flood warning systems, expand river and rainfall gauges and accelerate updates to flood-risk mapping in high-hazard corridors such as the Hill Country.<\/p>\n Outcome<\/b>: The response improves alerts and mapping, though officials involved in flood preparedness say key questions remain about land-use rules, camp safety and how prevention efforts will be funded.<\/p>\n What\u2019s ahead in 2026<\/p>\n A high-stakes election year looms, with all 181 legislative seats on the ballot and control of key committees at stake. Voters will also choose new statewide leaders, including a U.S. Senate race that\u2019s drawing national attention. Meanwhile, the fight over Texas\u2019 redrawn congressional maps alter state politics for the rest of the decade.<\/p>\n -Aar\u00f3n Torres<\/p>\n DALLAS CITY HALL<\/b>Consolidating elections <\/p>\n Trash cans are seen on the alley between Bowman Boulevard and Chireno Street, Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024, in Dallas. <\/p>\n Chitose Suzuki \/ Staff Photographer<\/p>\n Trash pickup <\/p>\n More for street repair <\/p>\n Short-term rental clash<\/p>\n Modernizing parking rules<\/p>\n What\u2019s ahead in 2026 <\/p>\n The debate over City Hall\u2019s future will intensify as council members consider relocating government operations to a commercial space downtown or repairing the I.M. Pei\u2019s landmark building. <\/p>\n Expect fights over cost, symbolism and preservation on whether the move represents progress or abandonment. The final stay-or-go decision will reverberate across the southern half of downtown. <\/p>\n -Devyani Chhetri<\/p>\n DALLAS COUNTY<\/b>Child care <\/p>\n Action: <\/b>The Dallas County Commissioners Court allocated $1 million to help offset child care costs for working families.<\/p>\n Outcome: <\/b>Employers who provide up to $1,500 per employee can receive a dollar-for-dollar county match, creating as much as $3,000 per worker to cover a portion of day care costs.<\/p>\n The Lew Sterrett Justice Center pictured, Friday, Oct. 17, 2025, in Dallas.<\/p>\n El\u00edas Valverde II \/ Staff Photographer<\/p>\n Treatment over jail <\/p>\n Action: <\/b>To reduce the jail population, Dallas County Administrator Darryl Martin convened a task force to study a Miami-Dade County model that diverts people with serious mental illness into treatment instead of jail.<\/p>\n Outcome<\/b>: While still in the planning phase, officials are considering four deflection centers where law enforcement could take people accused of low-level offenses for stabilization. A pilot program launched in October at the Austin Street Center shelter with backing from the district attorney\u2019s office.<\/p>\n Emergency food aid <\/p>\n Action:<\/b> After the federal government shutdown disrupted the food-benefits program for low-income families, the Commissioners Court allocated $1 million to help fill the gap.<\/p>\n Outcome:<\/b> About 416,000 Dallas County residents rely on the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. The county funds supported the North Texas Food Bank\u2019s distribution of produce and pantry staples for households affected by the payment cuts and delays.<\/p>\n Fire marshal rebrand<\/p>\n Action:<\/b> After the Texas Legislature clarified that fire marshals\u2019 roles are limited to fire and building inspections and barred counties from creating non-statutory law enforcement agencies, Dallas County reassessed its county marshal service.<\/p>\n Outcome: <\/b>The county stopped calling these employees \u201ccounty marshals\u201d but didn\u2019t change the way the agency operates. These employees are still used for building security because the new law doesn\u2019t explicitly prohibit it, county officials said.<\/p>\n Steady rate, rising bills <\/p>\n Action: <\/b>The $828 million budget for fiscal year 2026 kept the county tax rate flat.<\/p>\n Outcome:<\/b> Even without a rate increase, higher property assessments mean many residents will pay more. The steady rate also allowed the county to absorb the end of pandemic-era relief funds while continuing programs, such as $2 million for homeless services.<\/p>\n What\u2019s ahead in 2026 <\/p>\n Countywide politics and elections move to the forefront. The March primary will include county races and more scrutiny of election administration after the Dallas County Republican Party voted to hand-count ballots cast on Election Day, but not during early voting. <\/p>\n DALLAS POLICE<\/b>Recruiting push<\/p>\n Action: <\/b>Voter-approved charter amendments<\/a> require the department to reach 4,000 officers, sharpening the department\u2019s focus on recruiting<\/a> and training. As of November, the force remained more than 600 officers short of that target, according to department records reviewed by The Dallas Morning News. <\/p>\n Outcome: <\/b>Recent academy classes have been larger<\/a> than in recent years, and the department hit the City Council\u2019s goal of hiring more than 300 recruits last fiscal year.<\/p>\n Bet on technology<\/p>\n Action:<\/b> Police already use a growing suite of technology, from facial recognition<\/a> to a citywide network of license plate-reading cameras<\/a>. How the department uses the tools has drawn questions from the Community Police Oversight Board and residents.<\/p>\n Outcome:<\/b> The department has signaled an interest in expanding its use of technology, seeking a free pilot for gunshot-detection technology<\/a> that has so far underperformed and exploring a drone program<\/a> that could send aircraft to some calls ahead of officers. It\u2019s touted as a way to help shorten 911 response times.<\/p>\n Domestic violence <\/p>\n Action:<\/b> Police launched<\/a> \u201cOperation Safe Families\u201d inn October, aiming to arrest people wanted on outstanding domestic violence warrants or those accused of actively committing domestic violence offenses. The department planned to keep the focus year-round.<\/p>\n Outcome:<\/b> Police reported 539 arrests during the month but withheld case details to protect victims\u2019 privacy. It also cited partnerships with Genesis Women\u2019s Shelter and The Family Place to connect victims with services and support.<\/p>\n Dallas police Chief Daniel Comeaux speaks during a news conference on Nov. 4, 2025, at the Jack Evans Police Headquarters in Dallas, to share the results of Operation Safe Families. Dallas police Lt. Ashley Lee, from left, Jan Langbein, CEO at Genesis Women’s Shelter and Support, and Tiffany Tate, CEO at The Family Place, listen.<\/p>\n Chitose Suzuki \/ Staff Photographer<\/p>\n Immigration debate<\/p>\n Action: <\/b>Dallas drew national attention after Chief Daniel Comeaux said he had declined a $25 million offer tied to a Department of Homeland Security program that would have authorized officers to carry out limited immigration enforcement.<\/p>\n Outcome: <\/b>Mayor Eric Johnson soon convened a joint meeting of City Council committees. The proposal was roundly rejected<\/a> at that meeting, drawing praise from some council members and immigrant advocates.<\/a><\/p>\n Eyes on downtown<\/p>\n\n
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