The Texas Board of Criminal Justice on Oct. 17 approved a series of rules, policy revisions, construction projects, land‑use easements and procurement actions across the agency, in a session that covered regulatory updates, facility work and interagency agreements to support a new psychiatric hospital on TDCJ property.

Votes at a glance (selected actions):

- Purchases and contracts over $1,000,000: The board approved 12 contract increases and purchases. CFO Ron Steffel presented the items (substance‑abuse residential/outpatient increases, increases to contracts with local mental‑health authorities, and a multi‑year electricity contract for deregulated areas). The motion to approve the consolidated group was made by Vice Chair Faith Johnson and seconded by Pastor Nate Sprinkle; the motion passed on voice vote.

- Board policy BP 14.01 (Investment Policy): The board approved the annual review and adopted language (House Bill 34 changes) prohibiting acquisition of securities issued by countries of concern. Motion by Dr. Rodney Burrow; second by Judge Molly Francis. Motion passed.

- Publication for public comment: The board approved publication in the Texas Register of proposed amendments or repeals to several board rules including 37 TAC 152.3 (admissions), 159.19 (continuity of care for elderly/terminally ill/incapacitated inmates), and the proposed repeal of 152.5 (designation of state jail regions) pursuant to recent legislative changes.

- Rule adoptions: The board adopted amendments to 37 TAC 151.51 (custodial officer certification and hazardous‑duty pay eligibility guidelines) and to 37 TAC 152.25 (maximum rated capacity of individual units), including the addition of the recently purchased Dolby unit capacity.

- Personnel / board policy changes: The board approved revisions to PD‑94 (teleworking) and simultaneously authorized deletion of BP‑11.75 (Telework) because telework is now covered in the personnel directive. The board also revised BP‑01.01 (Responsibilities), BP‑01.04 (Standards of Conduct), and renamed BP‑13.69 from the State Council for Offenders to the Independent Office of Inmate Counsel (IOIC). Motions and seconders are recorded in the meeting minutes for each action and all motions passed.

- Facilities and construction approvals: The board approved replacement of multiple roofs at the Hughes Unit (Patuxent / CRAM Roofing; program cost $20,638,800) and renovation of the Ramsey Unit water tower (BRZ Coating Inc.; program cost $1,220,700). Each project passed on a recorded motion and voice vote.

- Land transactions and easements tied to Montford Unit hospital project: Per Sen. Bill / interagency cooperation, the board approved (a) a transfer of 14.99 acres at the Bird Unit to Walker County for a criminal justice center (reversion clause if unused within 10 years); and (b) multiple easements in Lubbock for the Montford Unit project (electrical transmission; 14‑inch gas pipeline; 10‑inch water line; wastewater drainage). Each easement and the transfer passed on separate motions.

Why it matters: The package moves forward a number of operational priorities. The investment‑policy change implements recent statutory direction; the construction approvals address long‑deferred physical plant needs (roofs, water infrastructure); and the Montford easements are necessary for a state‑funded psychiatric hospital project. The group of procurements over $1 million implements contract increases tied to treatment and medical continuity services and secures power for multiple units in deregulated markets.

Provenance and procedure: Staff presentations preceded each vote; motions were made by board members and seconded on the record. For many items the board approved publication of proposed rules to the Texas Register for public comment; for others the board adopted final rule revisions or project approvals.

What to watch: Upcoming rule‑making comment periods (those items approved for publication), the outcomes of the electricity procurement across deregulated units and the physical construction timelines for the roofing and water tower projects. Separately, the Montford easements will be executed under interagency terms and will be subject to the county/city and utility permitting processes.

Ending: Each motion noted in the meeting minutes passed on voice vote or recorded motion. The board adjourned with future meeting scheduled for Dec. 19, 2025 in Huntsville.