HTX-COM: Impact 10/30/2025

Montgomery County commissioners on Oct. 28 approved a plan to reassign courtroom and office space in the main courthouse and the James H. Keeshan Building to prepare for the addition of a new criminal district court set to begin operations Sept. 1, 2026.

The impact: The proposal—presented by Judges Vince Santini and Kristin Bays—creates space for the incoming 523rd District Court while freeing up two additional courtrooms in the existing courthouse. The project will be funded through unspent money from the courts’ fiscal year 2025 operations budget, roughly $500,000, and, if needed, supplemented by the court facilities fund—both earmarked for judicial purposes, Bays said. County officials emphasized that the plan will have no impact on the county’s general budget.

More details: Commissioners in August approved the creation of the new 523rd District Court after judges warned earlier this year that existing facilities were running out of space to handle growing caseloads.

What's next: Commissioners directed staff to return within weeks with final bids and cost estimates.

The Signorelli Company announced the grand opening for Wildflower Park, an outdoor destination inside the Magnolia Springs master-planned community, according to an Oct. 28 news release.

What you need to know: The park is meant to be a place for families to connect with nature and bring the community’s nature-inspired theme to life, according to the release. Wildflower Park features a pickleball court, playground, walking trails and a community pavilion.

Magnolia Springs is a master-planned community that spans around 665 acres, Community Impact previously reported. According to the release, home prices start in the $190,000s and there are 24 different floor plans.

Quote of note: “Wildflower Park was designed as more than a park, it’s the heart of the Magnolia Springs community,” said Jeff Dewese, senior vice president of land for The Signorelli Company. “Whether it’s families gathering for a weekend picnic, kids exploring the playground or friends enjoying a game of pickleball, this is a place where connections blossom and lifelong memories are made.”

• 12507 S. FM 1486, Montgomery

Guests are welcome to attend The Woodlands Photography Club’s 2025 Annual Contest Awards ceremony featuring an exhibition at the Mink Street Community Center.

About the program: The Woodlands Photography Club is made up of professional and amateur photographers and offers meetings, workshops, competitions and exhibitions to educate and inspire its members, per the website.
Memberships start at $20 a year and offer:

• Access the club’s private Facebook page
• Monthly mini-contest
• Annual photography contest
• Monthly Facebook Challenges

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.

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.