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Hunt County approves resolutions asking Texas Legislature to give counties new tools to manage large data centers
Summary
The Hunt County Commissioners Court voted July 28 to back a package of local bills asking the 90th Texas Legislature to allow counties to form a local groundwater district, enter development agreements and require road‑use/maintenance agreements for data centers and other projects that add 75 megawatts or more of new power load.
The Hunt County Commissioners Court on July 28 voted unanimously to adopt a package of resolutions asking the 90th Texas Legislature to give counties new legal authority to address large, high‑impact developments such as data centers.
County counsel Daniel (addressing the court) said the measures target projects that "are going to use 75 megawatts or more of power" and would not impose new county taxes or ban projects outright. The package includes a local bill to create a Hunt County Groundwater Conservation District (subject to voter confirmation), a proposal to permit counties to enter development agreements similar to cities, and a bill requiring road‑use and maintenance agreements secured by insurance or bonds.
Supporters said the changes would provide enforceable tools to require developers to address roads, drainage, fire protection, noise, water‑use reporting and financial assurances for decommissioning before construction begins. "This would give the county some teeth to require it then," Daniel said, arguing it is preferable to suing after damage occurs. Commissioners acknowledged the bills will face scrutiny by legislative budget and counsel review and that lobbyists may push to remove provisions, but they approved transmitting certified copies of the adopted resolutions to state leaders and their legislative delegation.
The court also directed the county clerk to prepare and send formal copies of the resolutions to the governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the house, the Hunt County legislative delegation and the legislative committees with jurisdiction, and to the Texas Association of Counties. The resolutions will be offered to state sponsors with the expectation that draft language will be revised during committee and floor consideration.
The court's action was procedural: the resolutions ask the legislature to consider the proposed statutory changes. If enacted, the development and road‑use proposals would still require subsequent implementation steps and would not take effect without legislative approval and, for the groundwater district, any required elections.
