HTX-SKL: Impact 9/8/2025

This November, a special election will be held to fill the vacant Texas 18th Congressional District seat after incumbent Sylvester Turner, who also previously served as Houston mayor, died March 4.

More details: The upcoming election comes after Gov. Greg Abbott signed a new congressional map into law Aug. 29, which Texas lawmakers said will help them gain up to five more Republican congressional seats during the 2026 midterm elections.

The last day to register to vote is Oct. 6. Early voting begins Oct. 20, and Election Day is Nov. 4.

Hive Academy, a family-owned private preschool, celebrated its grand opening in Spring on Sept. 6. The academy offers care for infants, toddlers, pre-K students and school-age children, according to its website. Owner Julie Eilers said she and her husband wanted to create a program that alleviates the burden on parents struggling with work-life balance. 

Quote of note: "Our goal was to create a school where children can thrive [and] the families have convenient, all-inclusive care where all they have to worry about is just getting their student to school, and we will take care of the rest for them," Eilers said.

In her 2025 State of the County keynote address, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo emphasized the importance of funding early childhood education initiatives in the county, just shy of one month after her proposal to let voters decide on a 1-cent property tax increase failed to pass at an August commissioners court meeting.

Quote of note: “We have to be fearless in building what the community deserves,” Hidalgo said at the Sept. 5 event at the Marriott Marquis in Downtown Houston. “And I beg you that if we fight for early childhood education, I think the community would like that.”

The overview: The State of the County address is an annual event hosted by the Greater Houston Partnership. Keynote speakers discuss economic initiatives and opportunities for constituents and business leaders in the Greater Houston area.

GHP President Steve Kean asked Hidalgo directly about her reelection status. Hidalgo said that while she was not going to break news about her reelection at the event, she will be making an announcement “very, very soon.”

Two months after 25 campers and two counselors died in the historic July 4 flooding at Camp Mystic, Gov. Greg Abbott signed three new laws Sept. 5 that he said will “make youth camps safer” and ensure Texas communities are better prepared for future disasters. The flood victims' families attended the Sept. 5 bill signing ceremony in Austin.

The details: Under the two-pronged camp safety package, summer camps are required to remove existing cabins from floodplains by Jan. 1.

Camps must also develop and annually update comprehensive emergency plans, set up warning systems to notify campers if something is wrong and install ladders so campers can climb on cabin roofs during floods.

Looking ahead: Two other disaster preparedness bills, as well as legislation designed to regulate Texas’ multibillion-dollar THC industry, did not pass during the recent special legislative session, which ended around 1 a.m. Sept. 4.

When asked Sept. 5 if he planned to call a third legislative overtime to continue work on those policies, Abbott told reporters to "stay tuned."