Fort Bend County residents will see several key positions on the ballot during the March 3 primary election, including the county judge seat.

During the primary, voters will select the Democratic and Republican party nominees who will then appear on the November 2026 general election ballot alongside any independent or other party candidates.

On the ballot: The candidate filing period for the March 3 primary election opened Nov. 8 and ran through Dec. 8, according to the Texas Secretary of State’s website.

Here are the major contested races in Fort Bend County on the primary ballots:

• County judge
• District clerk
• County clerk
• County treasurer 
• County commissioner, Precinct 2
• County commissioner, Precinct 4

A new bridge is coming to Nelson Way in 2026 with the goal of providing an additional route through the Katy area.

The details: At a Dec. 8 meeting, Katy City Council unanimously approved a $4.46 million contract with C.E. Barker LTD. for the construction of a new bridge on Nelson Way between FM 1463 and Pin Oak Road. 

The 1,000-foot extension will include a four-lane bridge over the Cane Island Branch of Buffalo Bayou as well as concrete sidewalks along both sides and storm sewers, according to agenda documents.

Why it matters: With the Texas Department of Transportation’s upcoming I-10 reconstruction from Voss Road to I-45, this extension project will provide residents with an alternative route through the city, according to agenda documents.

What’s next: Construction is expected to start in February with completion anticipated in January 2027, City Engineer David Kasper said in an email.

Memorial Endoscopy Center is now open as the Katy Endoscopy Center.

What they offer: The center specializes in diagnostic and therapeutic procedures using an endoscope, according to its website. The scope allows doctors to view internal organs, perform biopsies, stop bleeding and remove polyps or small tumors, or use cameras to capture images.

Since 2002, the team has performed more than 100,000 endoscopic procedures, per the website.

• 21814 Katy Freeway, Ste. 100, Katy

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick unveiled a plan Dec. 9 to further raise property tax exemptions for Texas homeowners and lower the age at which Texans qualify for additional tax relief during the 2027 state legislative session.

The details: Deemed “Operation Double Nickel,” Patrick’s three-part plan asks state lawmakers to:

• Raise the property tax exemption on a Texas homeowner’s main residence, known as a homestead exemption, by $40,000
• Allow homeowners who are at least 55 years old to qualify for a larger exemption reserved for seniors and people with disabilities
• Pass legislation to drive down property taxes charged by local governments