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State representative urges Parker County to consider rare '391' commission to slow data‑center projects
Summary
State Rep. Michael Ocahn told a Parker County hearing that a 391 commission is a rarely used statutory tool that can provide counties leverage to delay or alter large projects, but he warned it is not guaranteed to stop development and urged careful legal counsel.
State Representative Michael Ocahn told the crowd his office has been inundated with constituent contacts and that a 391 commission — a tool in state code that has been used sparingly — can be effective to slow large projects when counties coordinate regionally.
“It’s rarely used in Texas, but it has been used,” Ocahn said, citing the Trans Texas Corridor as an example of a past use. He encouraged the county to explore a regional 391 agreement, coordinate with neighboring county judges, and seek careful legal advice before acting. He cautioned that statutory change at the state level could take years, so interim tools such as a 391 commission or groundwater permitting may be the most practical avenues.
