To view the newsletter, please visit: 89th Legislative Session Newsletter

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

I hope this newsletter finds you and your family in good health and spirits. As your elected representative for House District 40, it is both an honor and a privilege to serve you in the Texas State Legislature. I want to take this opportunity to provide you with an update on the work we have accomplished on your behalf during the 89th legislative session.

Over the past several months, we have worked diligently alongside my colleagues to address the pressing needs and concerns of our district and advocated for policies that protect and strengthen our communities. We are proud to report that we have achieved significant milestones and enacted several crucial pieces of legislation that will make a real difference, not just impacting you here at home but across the great State of Texas.

In February, I was appointed by the Speaker of the House, Dustin Burrows, to serve as Chairman of the House Permanent Standing Subcommittee on Transportation Funding, which has jurisdiction over how Texas invests in transportation, including the State Highway Fund, the financing of major road projects, and more. This leadership position ensures that the Rio Grande Valley has a strong voice at the table in shaping the future of transportation, which is instrumental as our population continues to boom and our transportation needs grow. In addition to being appointed to this appointment, I also served as a member of the powerful Calendars Committee, Transportation and Homeland Security, Public Safety, and Veterans’ Affairs. 

Undoubtedly, these appointments and accomplishments would not have been possible without your continued support and engagement. Your feedback, concerns, and ideas have been invaluable in helping guide the work we did throughout this legislative session, shaping the decisions we have made on your behalf. Our office is committed to remaining accessible and responsive to your needs and the needs of our district, so please do not hesitate to reach out to our office if you require assistance or have any questions or concerns.

As we move forward, I will continue to work tirelessly to represent your interests, champion our community's values, and advocate for positive change for the Rio Grande Valley and our state. I am proud to serve as your voice in the Texas State Legislature and will remain steadfast in our commitment to you and our shared vision for a prosperous future.

Thank you once again for your trust and confidence. Together, we can build a stronger Texas and leave a lasting impact for generations to come.

Very truly yours,

State Representative Terry Canales

Major Legislation 

House Bill 2 – Historic Investment in Public Schools

In a historic win for Texas public education, the 89th Legislature passed a record $8.5 billion funding increase for schools statewide, following years of persistent advocacy. The legislation includes $4.2 billion for permanent pay raises for teachers and non-administrative staff, ranging from $2,500 to $8,000 depending on district size, as well as $830 million to strengthen special education services. House District 40 alone will receive $170 million in funding. 

The Texas Legislature increased the basic allotment by $1.2 billion to help schools manage rising operational costs, including insurance, TRS contributions tied to raises, and utilities. Additionally, $448 million has been dedicated to early learning programs and $200 million to high-quality instructional materials. As your Representative and the son of a former public school teacher, I remain committed to championing equitable funding and policies that uplift our schools, support our educators, and improve outcomes for all Texas students.

Senate Bill 7 and HJR 7 – Water Infrastructure

During the legislative session, we passed landmark legislation addressing our region's water challenges amid rapid population growth and increasing drought conditions. The bill expands the New Water Supply for Texas Fund to include reservoirs, desalination, reuse, and purchases from out-of-state sources. It also enhances legislative oversight through a restructured advisory committee and progress reporting, ensuring long-term, strategic investment in the state’s water future.

House Joint Resolution 7 proposes an amendment to the Texas Constitution to dedicate $1 billion to the Texas Water Fund over the next decade. This funding aims to assist cities and local water entities in preparing for our future water needs and repairing aging infrastructure. The proposed amendment will be presented to voters in the upcoming November 2025 election.

Senate Bill 4 – Cutting Property Taxes

One of my top priorities this Legislative Session was to provide property tax relief to my constituents. Senate Bill 4 increases the homestead exemption for school district property taxes from $100,000 to $140,000, with an additional exemption of $200,000 for seniors and homeowners with disabilities. To offset potential revenue losses for school districts, the bill includes provisions for additional state aid, ensuring that public education funding remains stable. 

Senate Bill 835 – Protecting Child Sexual Abuse Survivors

Survivors of child sexual abuse will face legal hurdles preventing them from sharing their stories and reporting abuse to law enforcement. Also known as “Trey’s Law,” I helped to pass Senate Bill 835, so survivors will no longer have to face nondisclosure or confidentiality agreements that prevent them from freely reporting abuse without fear of legal repercussions. All provisions within such agreements that prohibit or limit a party from reporting acts of sexual abuse committed against a child to law enforcement or regulatory agencies, or from disclosing related facts during legal proceedings, will be rendered void and unenforceable. 

Flood Disaster Response Legislation

Following the tragic flooding disaster in Central Texas on July 4th, the Texas Legislature took action to fortify state and local governments' disaster response, improve emergency services coordination, and hold bad actors accountable. I was proud to co-author all flooding response legislation during the Special Session. I was proud to work with the bill authors on these overwhelmingly bipartisan bills and provide input on how these bills can support the Rio Grande Valley, especially following the tragic flooding the Valley experienced this past March and April. 

Fighting for Local Funds

• The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is slated to receive $350,965,717 in funding through the General Appropriations Act. The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine saw its appropriations increase by 9% to $97,065,865 for the biennium. The top highlights at UTRGV was $12 million for the School of Podiatric Medicine and $10 million for the new School of Optometry over the next biennium. 
• $15,000,000 to improve drainage systems and transform drainage water into safe drinking water, which will significantly advance the Delta Region Water Management Project.
• $5,300,000 for the construction and relocation of a new Lift Station in the City of Alamo.
• $8,000,000 to fund water and drainage improvement projects for the City of Weslaco.
• $10,000,000 for the purpose of funding infrastructure improvements and upgrades to the South Texas International Airport.
• $10,000,000 to help extend the runway at the Weslaco Mid-Valley Airport. 
• $1,000,000 for funding the All-Abilities Park in the City of Pharr.
• $5,000,000 to support the continued construction of the Quinta Mazatlan in McAllen.

Chairman of the House Permanent Standing  Subcommittee on Transportation Funding

I am honored that the Speaker of the House, Dustin Burrows, appointed me to serve as the Chair of the House Permanent Standing Subcommittee on Transportation Funding under the Standing House Committee on Transportation. The Subcommittee on Transportation Funding consists of 5 members and has jurisdiction over the state's current transportation funding sources, including the State Highway Fund, debt financing in state transportation funding, such as the Texas Mobility Fund, and alternative transportation funding options. By the end of the Legislative Session, we vetted all 54 bills referred to the Subcommittee, had hearings on 34 of the bills, and passed 6 of them into law.

Additionally, I have been focused on advocating for increased transportation infrastructure funding for the Rio Grande Valley (RGV), which has resulted in our region anticipating the allocation of over $2.24 billion in transportation infrastructure funds over the next decade. This is another significant victory for the Rio Grande Valley, which will benefit all residents of the RGV. In August, the Texas Transportation Commission, the governing body of TxDOT, approved the 2026 Unified Transportation Program (UTP). This program is a statewide infrastructure planning document that will be used to develop Texas's infrastructure for the next decade. 

In the subcommittee, I passed several bills that will have a meaningful impact in the RGV. One of my bills that passed out of the House was HB 4473, which authorizes a county road administration study to analyze what the most efficient and tax-saving road administration system is for county governments to implement. This is especially relevant for the RGV as the transportation network and alternative transport options must meet the rapid population growth the region is seeing. Another bill that was passed out of the House, HB 3849, would provide additional funding mechanisms to support international bridges as they meet the increasing demands for border security and international trade. These pieces of legislation are only a snapshot of the work of the House Permanent Standing Subcommittee on Transportation Funding this session. I welcome everyone to visit www.capitol.texas.gov to learn more about the measures we passed into law.

Legislation by Rep. Canales

During the recent legislative session, my staff and I had 4 pieces of legislation sent to the Governor, where I served as the primary Author or Sponsor. Below, we have attempted to summarize these important bills that we worked on for the constituents of District 40 during the 89th Legislative Session.  

Reforming the Criminal Justice System

SB 2405 will help improve the safety, fairness, and effectiveness of Texas’s criminal justice system. The bill focuses on the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) and related agencies, ensuring they have the necessary resources and plans to manage prison facilities, staff, and programs for individuals convicted of crimes. It also emphasizes better planning and evaluation for rehabilitation programs, helping inmates successfully prepare to reenter their communities.

This legislation also strengthens the work of the Board of Pardons and Paroles by improving fairness, transparency, and consistency in parole decisions while easing the workload for parole staff, who play a critical role in keeping Texas communities safe. The bill extends TDCJ for 12 more years, with other criminal justice agencies to be reviewed alongside it in the future, ensuring oversight and continued improvement across the system.

Coordinating Water Resources

Senate Bill 480 allows local governments to collaborate with the state and federal government to participate in water research and planning activities. I have consistently made it one of my missions in the Texas Legislature to ensure the Rio Grande Valley has enough water resources. The Legislature made improving Texas’s water supply a top priority of the 89th Legislative Session. Local governments will now be able to contribute to studies and programs that address drought resilience, predict future water supply, and infrastructure planning.

Improving Government Experience

Senate Bill 296 allows the dismissal of multiple traffic offenses resulting from the same incident by completing a single course. Previously, drivers completing an approved driving safety training course could dismiss only one eligible traffic citation per year, even if several violations arose from a single stop. Texans will now be able to submit their dismissal request via certified mail, a designated email address, or an online portal, helping reduce delays and simplify access.

Protecting Texans from Scams

House Bill 2733 ensures that legal and professional services are no longer able to exploit Texans by using social media or other online communication methods to directly solicit legal or professional services. Legal and professional services across Texas have been exploiting a loophole in the existing law that bans ambulance chasing. They have been using social media to target vulnerable Texans who have unfortunately been through a car accident.

En español

Queridos amigos y vecinos,

Espero que usted y su familia se encuentre con buena salud, bienestar y buen animo. Como su representante electo para el Distrito 40 de la Cámara de Representantes, es un honor y un privilegio servirle en la Legislatura del Estado de Texas. Quiero aprovechar esta oportunidad para brindarles una actualización sobre la reciente sesión legislativa bianual y el trabajo que hemos realizado en su nombre.

Durante los últimos meses, he trabajado diligentemente junto con mis colegas no solo para abordar las diversas necesidades e inquietudes de nuestro distrito, sino también para salvaguardar el bienestar de nuestra comunidad. Me enorgullece informar que hemos logrado hechos importantes y promulgado varias leyes cruciales que tendrán un impacto positivo en nuestra comunidad y el gran estado de Texas.

En febrero, fui nombrado por el Presidente de la Cámara de Representantes, Dustin Burrows, como Presidente del Subcomité Permanente de Financiamiento del Transporte de la Cámara de Representantes, que tiene jurisdicción sobre cómo Texas invierte en transporte, incluyendo el fondo estatal de carreteras, el financiamiento de grandes proyectos viales y más. Este puesto de liderazgo garantiza que el Valle del Río Grande tenga una voz fuerte en la mesa de decisiones para el futuro del transporte, lo cual es fundamental a medida que nuestra población continúa creciendo y nuestras necesidades de transporte aumentan. Además de este nombramiento, también fui nombrado como miembro del poderoso Comité de Calendarios, Transporte y Seguridad Nacional, Seguridad Pública e Asuntos de Veteranos.

Sin duda, estos logros no habrían sido posibles sin su continuo apoyo y compromiso. Sus comentarios, inquietudes e ideas han sido invaluables a lo largo de esta sesión legislativa y han dado forma a las decisiones que he tomado en su nombre. Estoy comprometido a permanecer accesible y receptivo a sus necesidades y las necesidades de nuestro Distrito, así que no dude en comunicarse con mi oficina si necesita ayuda o tiene alguna pregunta o inquietud.

A medida que avancemos, continuaré trabajando incansablemente para representar sus intereses, defender los valores de nuestra comunidad y abogar por un cambio positivo. Estoy orgulloso de ser su voz en la Legislatura del Estado de Texas y permaneceré firme en mi compromiso con usted y nuestra visión compartida de un futuro próspero.

Gracias una vez más por su confianza en mí como su representante. Juntos, podemos construir un Texas más fuerte y dejar un impacto duradero para las nuevas generaciones.

Con Cariño, 

State Representative Terry Canales