HTX-CYP: Impact 10/29/2025

The Harris County Emergency Services District No. 9 board will discuss real estate deals, ongoing construction projects and other Cy-Fair Fire Department updates at its Oct. 30 regular meeting.

Items of note: The board will consider expediting the search process to pick a new law firm to represent the district, with attorney interviews planned for mid-November. The district’s previous legal counsel Mills Shirley resigned Oct. 19, board President Naressa MacKinnon said during an Oct. 20 special-called meeting.

Also on the agenda: Other agenda items include,

• Review a potential new HR platform for the fire department
• Discuss and take action on land acquisitions for new fire stations
• Approve an agreement with the Houston Community College System to support clinical education for students in the EMT program

Rooted Dove Integrated Wellness owner Rachel Plympton said the counseling and wellness center opened on Sept. 1.

The details: Rooted Dove Integrated Wellness offers individual counseling for teens and adults and wellness testing for children, teens and adults. According to the website, wellness testing provides deeper insight into the root causes of emotional and physical symptoms that traditional approaches may overlook.

Quote of note: “As a long term resident of Cypress and a proud private practice owner, I am dedicated to supporting the mental, emotional and physical well being of our community,” Plympton said.“My practice bridges traditional talk therapy with functional wellness testing to help individuals understand the deeper connections between mind and body.”

TDECU—Houston’s largest credit union—and Smart Financial Credit Union—one of the city’s oldest—announced plans to merge, according to an Oct. 22 news release, combining their legacies under a shared mission to strengthen communities and expand member opportunities.

Marking a milestone: Pending regulatory approval and a member vote by Smart Financial, the merger is expected to be finalized in early 2026. The combined credit union will hold nearly $6 billion in assets and serve more than 460,000 members across Texas through a network of 48 branches, per the release.

TDECU President and CEO Isaac Johnson will lead the merged organization, while Smart Financial CEO LeAnn Kaczynski will serve as chief integration officer for one year to oversee the transition.

Also of note: TDECU’s ties with the University of Houston, Houston Texans and Buc-ee’s will join Smart Financial’s work with Smart Financial Centre and local charities through the Smart Financial Foundation.

Members of both institutions will see no immediate changes to accounts or services during the transition, according to the release.

Harris County commissioners will meet Oct. 30 with more than 300 agenda items on the docket, including potential discussions on panhandling and roadside vendor regulations, a public hearing on the Ben Taub Hospital expansion and results from the county’s pay equity study.

What you need to know: New laws restricting or banning panhandling and vendors along roadways may be coming to unincorporated Harris County in light of a state bill that went into effect Sept. 1. During Harris County Commissioner Court's Oct. 16 meeting, Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey brought the motion to create new guidelines on roadside vendors. 

Also on the agenda: Harris Health officials look to authorize notice of a public hearing Dec. 11 about the acquisition of nearly 9 acres of Hermann Park for the redevelopment and expansion of Ben Taub Hospital in the Texas Medical Center.

What else: County human resources officials look to discuss results from the Gallagher Consulting pay equity study, with the possible action to implement recommendations.

Texas homeowners could see larger property tax breaks on this year’s bills if voters approve two state propositions on the Nov. 4 ballot.

The details: Proposition 13 would raise the property tax exemption on a Texas homeowner’s main residence, known as a homestead exemption, from $100,000 to $140,000. Proposition 11 would give homeowners who are over 65 years old or have a disability a $200,000 exemption.

The exemptions would apply only to taxes charged by public schools.

The impact: Sen. Paul Bettencourt, the Houston Republican who authored the legislation, estimated in June that the average Texas homeowner would see about $484 in annual savings if the tax cuts are approved by voters, with roughly $950 in savings for seniors and people with disabilities. These estimates do not account for potential tax rate increases by local governments.

If voters approve the two ballot measures, the cuts will take effect for the current tax year and appear on homeowners’ upcoming tax bills, according to the Texas House Research Organization.