County leaders begin assessing legislative impact

More than 40 county officials and staff representing nine counties across the Hill Country gathered last week for a County-to-County Coalition meeting in New Braunfels, to share key takeaways from 2025’s busy state legislative session.

Legislative updates focused on topics critical to natural resource management, such as water supply, wastewater and stormwater quality and management, land use conflicts, and the aggregate industry.

“Being a county commissioner is already a full-time job without engaging the Legislature, but it’s critical for Austin to know what problems look like on the ground in our communities,” Comal County Commissioner Jen Crownover said.

“That’s why this workshop series is important. If we want to protect our communities and encourage responsible development, we have to be able to navigate the Texas Legislature on behalf of our constituents,” Crownover said.

Organized by Commissioners Crownover and Kevin Webb, of Comal County, attendees included Andra Wisian, Kendall County, Stephen Germann, Guadalupe County, and former Commissioner Lon Shell, Hays County.

This was the coalition’s fifth meeting, bringing together county leaders from across the Hill Country region.

Presenters shared legislative outcomes on topics including water supply, wastewater and stormwater quality/management, land use conflicts and the aggregate industry.

With an eye to the future, attendees began to outline specific goals for the 2027 legislative session and define opportunities for collaboration with state legislators.

“We’re so lucky to live in a region where our local elected leaders share a common vision, collaborate on shared issues, and show up in Austin for their constituents,” said Grace Gilker, Hill Country Alliance communities program manager.

“This coalition of county leaders has been crucial to ensuring that the work of monitoring (thousands of) bills is shared, that nothing slips through the cracks, and that the Hill Country’s voice is heard at the Capitol,” Gilker added.

The group included county commissioners, engineers, planners and groundwater conservation district managers from Bandera, Comal, Guadalupe, Hays, Kendall, Kimble, Medina, Travis and Williamson counties.

These leaders represent some of the fastest-growing counties in the country. Joined by former State Rep. Andrew Murr, District Director for State Sen. Donna Campbell’s office Joyce Yannuzzi, and water consultant Leah Martinsson, the workshop empowered participants to navigate the Texas Legislature for their constituents and provided information on which bills moved through the Capitol and why.

The County-to-County Coalition is an ongoing collaboration driven by host commissioners and supported by nonprofit partners Hill Country Alliance, Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance, National Wildlife Federation’s Texas Coast and Water Program, Comal Conservation, and the Heart of Texas Conservancy.

Since 2023, the Coalition has grown and evolved into a regular collaboration between five host commissioners, five nonprofits and more than 100 Hill Country County officials and key staff.