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- UT Austin’s Texas Quantum Institute received $4.8 million from the Texas Semiconductor Innovation Fund to establish QLab, a quantum-enhanced semiconductor metrology facility.
- QLab will support semiconductor and quantum industries by advancing measurement tools critical to chip manufacturing at the atomic scale.
- The grant is part of Texas’ broader strategy under the Texas CHIPS Act to strengthen research, manufacturing and workforce development in the semiconductor sector.
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- A new federal executive order aims to curb state laws that create compliance burdens or compel changes to AI model outputs.
- Trump’s executive order directs federal agencies to challenge conflicting state AI laws, with legal, regulatory and funding actions set to begin within 90 days.
- Texas laws such as TRAIGA and HB 4 could face pre-emption or funding penalties if deemed inconsistent with the national AI policy framework.
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- Kerr County officials are moving forward with a new flood warning system in partnership with the Upper Guadalupe River Authority.
- San Marcos is seeking $4.78 million in state funding, and the Upper Guadalupe River Authority has earmarked $1.5 million to support local deployment.
- The Texas Department of Information Resources has launched a statewide procurement for flood early warning systems under its Cooperative Contracts Program.
Ellis succeeds Isauro Gutierrez, who held the role for 12 years.
Industry Insider — Texas is pleased to welcome Rubrik to the Industry Insider family.
What to Know:
- Starlink will serve 470,000+ locations under a federal rural broadband shift, including 27 percent of Texas sites.
- The satellite shift cuts costs by $20 billion, but raises concerns about speed and reliability.
- Texas funding was cut from $3.3B to $1.2B, prompting debate over the plan’s impact on rural access.
What to Know:
- Texas has replaced its HUB program with VetHUB, focusing solely on businesses owned by veterans.
- Emergency rules eliminate race- and sex-based eligibility, aligning with Gov. Abbott’s Executive Order GA-55.
- Previous HUB certifications will be revoked unless businesses meet the new veteran criteria.
What to Know:
- Temple College received $9.8 million from the Texas Semiconductor Innovation Fund (TSIF) to create the Central Texas Chips Hub in Taylor.
- The program will offer stackable credentials, certifications and degrees, including an applied bachelor’s in semiconductor technology.
- This is the second TSIF grant to a Texas college, following a $3.6 million award to Austin Community College for a semiconductor lab in Round Rock.
What to Know:
- The city of Midland has launched an updated version of its virtual assistant designed to streamline access to city services and reduce website navigation time for residents.
- New features include voice interaction via phone and web, with support in English and Spanish.
- The program is continuously improved based on user feedback, with the goal of enhancing customer service and reducing call and email volume.
What to Know:
- Texas is the first U.S. state to allocate public funds to bitcoin, following the creation of a digital asset reserve.
- A $5 million bitcoin purchase was reported in November.
- Vendors may see future opportunities as the state moves toward direct custody and supporting infrastructure.
What to Know:
- Texas leaders made clear that AI is now an expected part of funding and oversight conversations, and vendors should prepare to quantify efficiency gains.
- A new “Procurement-as-a-Service” model aims to help smaller agencies modernize faster with DIR support.
- Contracts move faster when vendors come prepared with an understanding of state-mandated terms.
What to Know:
- Midland will deploy AI-enabled surveillance technology at city parks to enhance public safety.
- The $412,956 investment is part of a pilot program using artificial intelligence to detect weapons and fights.
- Installations will begin at parks like Beal and Reyes-Mashburn-Nelms, with completion expected by spring 2026.
What to Know:
- Stephanie Muth will become executive commissioner of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) on Jan. 3, succeeding Cecile Erwin Young.
- Muth previously led the Department of Family and Protective Services and held multiple senior positions at HHSC.
What to Know:
- The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) has launched a new, fully digitized licensing system to make it easier to apply for, renew and update licenses.
- The agency says the system adds online applications, dashboard renewals, real-time updates and status tracking with notifications.
- The new system was built internally, allowing TDA to tailor the platform to agency needs while saving taxpayer dollars.
Jeffrey Stovall, who served as CIO for Charlotte, N.C., for more than 10 years, will head up Dallas IT operations starting in January. The longtime technologist has said he places a high value on cyber infrastructure.
What to Know:
- A bipartisan group of 16 Texas senators is urging Congress to reject a federal moratorium on state AI laws.
- The Trump administration is seeking to block state-level AI regulations through the NDAA or executive action.
- Lawmakers warn the move would undermine Texas' new AI law, TRAIGA, and violate states’ rights.
What to Know:
- Frisco’s CodeRED alert system has been taken offline following a cyber attack that exposed user data.
- City officials are advising residents to change reused passwords immediately, as the compromised data may impact other personal or business accounts.
- The breach is part of a wider cybersecurity event impacting jurisdictions nationwide.
What to Know:
- DIR has opened a competitive solicitation to refresh or expand its vendor pool for end-user IT outsourcing services.
- Vendors may offer services including desktop support, asset management, hosted virtual desktops and emerging tech like AI and cloud solutions.
- Selected vendors will enter Master Cooperative Contracts and serve a wide range of public-sector customers across Texas.
What to Know:
- Grand Prairie was recognized in the 2025 Digital Cities Survey for expanding its use of cloud services, artificial intelligence and open data to support transparency and public safety.
- The city now runs 70 percent of IT systems in the cloud and uses generative AI for internal tasks such as document creation and research.
- Recent public safety and engagement upgrades include AI-enabled drone response, GIS dashboards for first responders and a new open data portal for residents.
What to Know:
- TPWD’s new internal AI policy outlines rules for the responsible use of generative AI tools by agency staff.
- All AI tools must be approved by the IT Division, with strict limits on high-risk use cases.
- The policy emphasizes training, data privacy and human oversight in AI-assisted decision-making.
What to Know:
- Texas received federal approval for its $1.27 billion BEAD plan, selecting 22 providers to deliver broadband service to more than 240,000 unserved and underserved locations statewide.
- A state-funded match program awarded $177 million to help smaller providers meet federal cost-sharing requirements without reducing project scope.
- Projects were selected through a competitive process emphasizing speed, scalability and cost-efficiency.
What to Know:
- Frisco earned seventh place in its population category in the 2025 Digital Cities Survey for its expanding use of artificial intelligence and resident-centered digital services.
- The city piloted generative AI tools, including ChatGPT, to summarize meetings and generate internal briefings, informing a broader AI strategy.
- Transparency and accessibility initiatives included launching a Capital Improvement Projects Dashboard, revamping the open data portal and modernizing digital platforms for public engagement.
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