Legislative Services

Kent R. Hance, a former U.S. congressman and longtime public servant, will deliver the keynote address at the Texas Association of Counties’ 2025 Legislative Conference, scheduled for Aug. 27-29 in Austin.

Hance, a veteran of state and federal politics, is expected to bring both humor and insight to the conference’s opening session. Often referred to as “The Best Storyteller in Texas,” Hance hosts a podcast of the same name and is known for his engaging accounts from a public career that spans more than four decades.

His experience includes service as a Texas state senator, chairman of the Texas Railroad Commission, lead sponsor of President Ronald Reagan’s historic tax cut legislation and chancellor of the Texas Tech University System.

TAC’s Legislative Conference will bring together county officials from across Texas to discuss the decisions of the 89th Texas Legislature and their impact on county government. Attendees will take part in panel discussions, policy briefings and networking events designed to prepare counties for the legislative and operational challenges ahead.

The conference opens Wednesday, Aug. 27, with a general session that will include a look at the top takeaways from the 2025 legislative session. On Thursday, Aug. 28, TAC’s Legislative Services team members will moderate a series of policy-focused panels. Scheduled topics include:

• Building for Tomorrow: Aligning Texas Demographic Trends With Affordable Housing Strategies
• New Texas Cyber Command Center and County Technology Needs
• Get Out! What Happened With Evictions and Squatters
• Land: Our Most Valuable Resource and How to Responsibly Use It
• Evolving Transparency: Legislative Updates and Compliance With the Texas Public Information Act
• Safeguarding Our Elections
• Truth-in-Taxation: What’s New and Frequently Asked Questions
• Grant Updates: From Indigent Defense to Infrastructure
• Emergency Management Resources and Disaster Preparation
• Indigent Defense: 62 Years of Public Defender Services in Texas

The conference closes Friday, Aug. 29, with a session focused on county leadership efforts along the Texas-Mexico border.

Early bird registration is open through Aug. 6 and includes discounted hotel rates. County officials and staff may attend in person or participate virtually.

Learn more and register at www.county.org/legeconference.