Board approves contracts, rule changes, multiple HVAC projects and land easements in single session

The Texas Board of Criminal Justice approved a package of purchases and contracts, adopted rule amendments, authorized dozens of HVAC construction projects and approved several land easements during its meeting.

Ron Steffa, the agency chief financial officer, told the board he brought “50 purchases for your consideration and approval today,” including renewals and increases to health‑care contracts with the Texas Tech University Health Science Center and the University of Texas Medical Branch and contract work for electronic monitoring, commissary purchases and a proposed inmate banking and point‑of‑sale system that, if awarded, would go to Advanced Technologies Group, LLC. “This funding was provided through the supplemental appropriations process to cover the projected health care expenditures for the rest of this biennium,” Steffa said.

On a single motion, the board approved the purchases and contracts over $1,000,000. General Bill Welch moved the motion and Dr. Rodney Burrow seconded it; the motion passed and the chairman asked that the record show he abstained from the vote.

The board also adopted proposed amendments to three board rules in Title 37 of the Texas Administrative Code — sections 152.71, 163.33 and 163.42 — on a motion from Judge Monte Francis, seconded by Vice Chair Johnson.

In a series of construction motions the board approved requests to install HVAC systems in inmate housing at a group of units. The motions included program costs provided in the board packet for most projects and passed by voice vote. Examples of approved projects and the program costs shown in the packet include:

- Boyd Unit (Freestone County, Teague) — packet total program cost: $26,275,100; motion by Miss Ziker. - Gurney Unit (Anderson County, Palestine) — packet total program cost: $10,301,600; motion by Pastor Nate Sprinkle. - Hightower Unit (Liberty County, Dayton) — packet total program cost: $23,148,000; motion by Mr. Fordyce. - Luther Unit (Grimes County, Navasota) — packet total program cost: $8,484,600; motion by Dr. Rodney Burrow. - Polunsky Unit (Polk County, Livingston) — packet total program cost: $8,291,500; motion by Judge Monte Francis. - Stephenson Unit (DeWitt County, Cuero) — packet total program cost: $28,070,400; motion by Miss Ziker. - Stiles Unit (Jefferson County, Beaumont) — packet total program cost: $7,957,200; motion by Pastor Nate Sprinkle. - Terrell Unit (Brazoria County, Rosharon) — packet total program cost: $12,154,000; motion by Mr. Fordyce.

Board materials and presenters said the suite of projects would increase the number of fully air‑conditioned units in housing areas from 35 to 45 once the projects and several already‑underway projects are complete.

The board also approved multiple land‑use and easement items presented by a facilities/real‑estate staff member. Notable approvals included a waterline easement renewal at the Briscoe Unit in Frio County to the city of Dilley for $5,472 for a 10‑year term; a pipeline easement at the Gurney Unit to Solution Midstream for $340,124.95 for a 10‑year term; and an access easement at the Halbert Unit to Atmos Energy Corporation for $210,895.80 for a 10‑year term.

On the Clemens Unit valve‑site easement to Phillips 66 Pipeline LLC the board approved the request but recorded two abstentions: board member Miss Zicher said she wished to abstain because Phillips 66 is a donor at her workplace and the chairman noted he abstained from voting on that item. The motion was moved by Dr. Rodney Burrow and seconded by General Bill Welch.

Ending: The board scheduled its next regular meeting for Aug. 19, 2025, and recessed into an executive session at the close of the public session.