Texas DPS outlines stepped-up hemp enforcement, faith‑space protections and Harris County task force
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Summary
At its October meeting, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) told commissioners it will increase hemp product enforcement, launch initiatives to protect places of worship and begin concentrated operations in Harris County as part of a multiagency effort to reduce repeat offending.
The Texas Department of Public Safety on Tuesday told the Public Safety Commission it is stepping up enforcement of hemp-derived products, launching initiatives to protect religious spaces, and starting concentrated operations in Harris County to address repeat offenders.
The director’s report, delivered by Colonel Steve Martin, said DPS will “target 1 per district per month” of vape and smoke shops for undercover investigations, testing and, where federal crimes emerge, coordination with IRS, FBI and DEA. “We’re directed to do something about that,” Martin said of hemp-related enforcement, describing roughly 10,000 vape and smoke shops across Texas and local partners who can identify problematic locations.
The department also described a new effort focused on protecting religious spaces. Homeland Security and intelligence units will coordinate covert and overt measures, an expanded social‑media public‑awareness campaign and increased training for congregations and private security. “If you see something, you need to say something and report it,” Martin said, urging the public to report suspicious activity to local or federal agencies.
Martin defended an early focus on Harris County for a multiagency task force, citing the region’s size and existing intelligence networks: “If we can do it in Houston, we can do it anywhere.” He said DPS will partner with Houston Police Department, Harris County and municipal agencies to target repeat offenders, enforce warrants and increase patrols in high‑crime areas.
Commissioners asked for additional detail about operations and expressed support for interagency coordination. The commission did not adopt new policy during the report; the statements were given as updates and operational priorities.
Why it matters: the enforcement plans affect large numbers of shops and congregations across the state and signal new investigative priorities and resource deployments by DPS. The Harris County initiative, if sustained and replicated, could be rolled out to other large jurisdictions.
Looking ahead: Martin said DPS will coordinate with local partners on timing and public communications; commissioners did not set additional rules at the meeting.