This is a brief summary of discussion and action highlights of the Aug. 13, 2026 regular commissioners court meeting. See full agendas and official meeting minutes and watch full video of the meetings.

• Following a citizen’s comments portion where some individuals addressed the judge expressing concerns about his entering a pre-sale agreement with a land acquisition company that was seeking to buy his ranch, Caldwell County Judge Hoppy Haden reiterated he had no plans to resign his post and will continue seeking reelection for another four-year term. He also told the court and the public that he and all parties had been released from the pre-sales agreement. “I will allow the voters to determine whether I leave office or stay in office,” Haden said.

•  Commissioners voted to reinstate the countywide burn ban at the recommendation of the Caldwell County Office of Emergency Management. Chief EMC Hector Rangel noted that ground conditions were rapidly deteriorating, with the drought index rising between 7-10 points daily. At the time of the meeting the average Keetch-Byram Drought Index was 542, rapidly approaching the drought threshold of 575.
•  Voted to approve an order adopting portions of the 2024 International Fire Code, a model code created by the International Code Councilthat sets minimum regulations for fire prevention, life safety, and hazard mitigation in new and existing buildings, to apply to Caldwell County. According to the order, the new countywide fire code was adopted “to provide minimum requirements, regarding due function, for the design and construction or substantial improvement of public buildings, commercial establishments, and multifamily residential dwellings consisting of four or more units to reduce the risk to life and property from fire.” Buildings subject to Section 233.064(a) of the Texas Local Government Code will now be inspected by the fire marshal to determine whether the building complies with the code. View the code.
•  Voted to approve a resolution to suspend tax abatement agreements related to large-scale data centers pending adjournment of the 90th legislative session. The county had approved Chapter 312 tax abatement agreements for two data center developments earlier this year to ensure these developers entered into development agreements with the county that help protect county resources like water while avoiding noise and light pollution. “With the conversations and political climate surrounding data centers changing, we feel that potential data center developers who may be intent on coming to Caldwell County would now be more likely to enter into these same development agreements without tax incentives as a show of good faith, to show communities that they are intent on being good neighbors and stewards of their environment,” Judge Haden said.
•  Proclaimed August National Emergency Management Awareness Month.