Railroad Commission records show more drilling permits issued in September 2026, even as the number of oil and gas completion reports processed by state regulators remained substantially below September 2025 levels.
TxDOT says competitive awards will make better use of federal transportation money. Earlier application instructions show projects were already scored and ranked. The significant change is removal of a formula that helped determine how funding was distributed across Texas.
Austin, Barbers Hill, El Paso and Prosper ISDs were selected for state spending reviews. A final report is expected December 31; selection is not a finding of wrongdoing.
Texas reports more than $10 billion in border-security spending. The federal government has approved approximately $7.5 billion in reimbursement, but the Comptroller said the money had not reached the state treasury as of September 21. The governor’s race raises questions about enforcement priorities, public spending and the boundaries of state authority.