Appointments for January 19, 2024
Appointed to the Public Utility Commission of Texas for a term to expire September 1, 2029, Thomas J. Gleeson of Pflugerville, Texas (replacing Peter M. Lake of Austin, whose term expired).
Designating Thomas J. Gleeson of Pflugerville as presiding officer of the Public Utility Commission of Texas for a term to expire at the pleasure of the Governor. Mr. Gleeson is replacing Kathleen T. Jackson of Beaumont, who was serving as interim presiding officer.
Appointed as State Historic Preservation Officer for a term to expire at the pleasure of the Governor, Edward G. "Ed" Lengel, Ph.D. of Grand Prairie, Texas (replacing Mark S. Wolfe of Austin).
Greg Abbott, Governor
TRD-202400234
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME:
WHEREAS, the Honorable John Whitmire, in taking the Oath of Office as Mayor of the City of Houston, has caused a vacancy to exist in Texas State Senate District No. 15, which is wholly contained within Harris County; and
WHEREAS, Article III, Section 13, of the Texas Constitution and Section 203.002 of the Texas Election Code require that a special election be ordered upon such a vacancy, and Section 3.003 of the Texas Election Code requires the special election to be ordered by proclamation of the governor; and
WHEREAS, Section 203.004(a) of the Texas Election Code provides that the special election generally must be held on the first uniform date occurring on or after the 36th day after the date the election is ordered; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 41.001 of the Texas Election Code, the first uniform election date occurring on or after the 36th day after the date the special election is ordered is Saturday, May 4, 2024;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GREG ABBOTT, Governor of Texas, under the authority vested in me by the Constitution and Statutes of the State of Texas, do hereby order a special election to be held in Texas State Senate District No. 15 on Saturday, May 4, 2024, for the purpose of electing a state senator to serve out the unexpired term of the Honorable John Whitmire.
Candidates who wish to have their names placed on the special election ballot must file their applications with the Secretary of State no later than 5:00 p.m. on Monday, March 4, 2024, in accordance with Section 201.054(a)(1) of the Texas Election Code.
Early voting by personal appearance shall begin on Monday, April 22, 2024, and end on Tuesday, April 30, 2024, in accordance with Sections 85.00l(a) and (e) of the Texas Election Code.
A copy of this order shall be mailed immediately to the Harris County Judge, which is the county within which Texas State Senate District No. 15 is wholly contained, and all appropriate writs shall be issued and all proper proceedings shall be followed to the end that said election may be held to fill the vacancy in Texas State Senate District No. 15 and its result proclaimed in accordance with law.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto signed my name and have officially caused the Seal of State to be affixed at my office in the City of Austin, Texas, this the 18th day of January, 2024.
Greg Abbott, Governor
TRD-202400209
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME:
WHEREAS, I, GREG ABBOTT, Governor of the State of Texas, issued a disaster proclamation on July 8, 2022, as amended and renewed in a number of subsequent proclamations, certifying that exceptional drought conditions posed a threat of imminent disaster in several counties; and
WHEREAS, the Texas Division of Emergency Management has confirmed that those same drought conditions continue to exist in these and other counties in Texas, with the exception of Caldwell, Chambers, Childress, Gonzales, Hardeman, Hardin, Irion, Jefferson, Karnes, Limestone, Parker, Shelby, Tom Green, Wichita, and Wilbarger Counties;
NOW, THEREFORE, in accordance with the authority vested in me by Section 418.014 of the Texas Government Code, I do hereby amend and renew the aforementioned proclamation and declare a disaster in Atascosa, Bandera, Bell, Bexar, Blanco, Burnet, Calhoun, Cameron, Comal, Comanche, Coryell, Culberson, Eastland, El Paso, Erath, Gillespie, Guadalupe, Hays, Hidalgo, Hudspeth, Jasper, Jeff Davis, Kendall, Kerr, Lampasas, Lavaca, Llano, Maverick, McLennan, Medina, Newton, Orange, Presidio, Sabine, San Augustine, Travis, Tyler, Uvalde, Wharton, Willacy, Williamson, and Wilson Counties.
Pursuant to Section 418.017 of the Texas Government Code, I authorize the use of all available resources of state government and of political subdivisions that are reasonably necessary to cope with this disaster.
Pursuant to Section 418.016 of the Texas Government Code, any regulatory statute prescribing the procedures for conduct of state business or any order or rule of a state agency that would in any way prevent, hinder, or delay necessary action in coping with this disaster shall be suspended upon written approval of the Office of the Governor. However, to the extent that the enforcement of any state statute or administrative rule regarding contracting or procurement would impede any state agency's emergency response that is necessary to protect life or property threatened by this declared disaster, I hereby authorize the suspension of such statutes and rules for the duration of this declared disaster.
In accordance with the statutory requirements, copies of this proclamation shall be filed with the applicable authorities.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto signed my name and have officially caused the Seal of State to be affixed at my office in the City of Austin, Texas, this the 18th day of January, 2024.
Greg Abbott, Governor
TRD-202400210
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME:
WHEREAS, I, Greg Abbott, Governor of Texas, issued a disaster proclamation on May 31, 2021, certifying under Section 418.014 of the Texas Government Code that the surge of individuals unlawfully crossing the Texas-Mexico border posed an ongoing and imminent threat of disaster for a number of Texas counties and for all state agencies affected by this disaster; and
WHEREAS, I amended the aforementioned proclamation in a number of subsequent proclamations, including to modify the list of affected counties and therefore declare a state of disaster for those counties and for all state agencies affected by this disaster; and
WHEREAS, the certified conditions continue to exist and pose an ongoing and imminent threat of disaster as set forth in the prior proclamations;
NOW, THEREFORE, in accordance with the authority vested in me by Section 418.014 of the Texas Government Code, I do hereby renew the aforementioned proclamation and declare a disaster for Bee, Brewster, Brooks, Caldwell, Cameron, Chambers, Colorado, Crane, Crockett, Culberson, DeWitt, Dimmit, Duval, Edwards, El Paso, Frio, Galveston, Goliad, Gonzales, Hidalgo, Hudspeth, Jackson, Jeff Davis, Jim Hogg, Jim Wells, Kenedy, Kerr, Kimble, Kinney, Kleberg, La Salle, Lavaca, Live Oak, Mason, Maverick, McCulloch, McMullen, Medina, Menard, Midland, Pecos, Presidio, Real, Refugio, San Patricio, Schleicher, Sutton, Terrell, Throckmorton, Uvalde, Val Verde, Victoria, Webb, Wharton, Wilbarger, Wilson, Zapata, and Zavala Counties and for all state agencies affected by this disaster. All orders, directions, suspensions, and authorizations provided in the Proclamation of May 31, 2021, as amended and renewed in subsequent proclamations, are in full force and effect.
In accordance with the statutory requirements, copies of this proclamation shall be filed with the applicable authorities.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto signed my name and have officially caused the Seal of State to be affixed at my office in the City of Austin, Texas, this the 18th day of January, 2024.
Greg Abbott, Governor
TRD-202400211