Tarrant County Commissioner Matt Krause and Fort Worth City Council member Elizabeth Beck disagreed over whether local or state governments should regulate data centers during a panel at the Fort Worth Report's 2026 Growth Summit. Krause favored state regulation with local input; Beck argued Fort Worth should act now using its home-rule authority.
Texas LegislatureState lawmakers considering data center regulation
The facts
Fort Worth is a home-rule city, allowing it to adopt regulations not explicitly prohibited by the state.12Stated by 2 sources
The state is solely authorized to regulate water supply, planning, air quality, energy and state sales taxes for data centers.1
Texas Legislature convenes in January 2027 for the regular legislative session.2
Circle T data center complex is planned on 87.9 acres at 13580 Denton Highway in Westlake.2
Circle T complex would be 506 feet from homes in Keller's Lakes at Marshall Ridge neighborhood.2
Westlake amended its Circle T Ranch planned development district in January 2025 to allow data centers.2
Keller City Council unanimously passed a resolution opposing the Circle T project in August.2
Who said what
These are statements and claims made by the people involved. They are reported, not verified.
Matt Krause State should regulate data centers; local governments should regulate local aspects and await state action.12
Elizabeth Beck Fort Worth should pass data center regulations now rather than wait for state lawmakers; data centers do not need business incentives.12
Adrian Shelley Local officials should engage residents to learn their preferences on data centers and signal lawmakers.1
How they headlined it
The same event, as each outlet put it. Marked words appear in only one outlet's headline.
What data center laws do Tarrant officials, residents want to see from Texas Legislature?
These outlets were found through Google News headlines. Google decides which outlets appear there, and they lean mostly one way, so this sheet can only be as balanced as the reporting it was built from. Leanings are AllSides Media Bias Ratings.
Gilead Sciences Inc agreed to a $45 million settlement on October 22, 2026, resolving allegations that it used illegal kickbacks to influence Medicaid prescriptions in Texas. The settlement ends a legal action initiated by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in October 2023.
$$45 million for medicaid kickback settlement
Gilead Sciences Inc, defendant in settlement; Ken Paxton, Texas Attorney General who initiated legal action
Texas Railroad Commissioner Wayne Christian endorsed U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright's position that data center developers, not ratepayers, should fund the power infrastructure their facilities require. Christian said existing infrastructure should be prioritized and urged lawmakers to let communities decide whether to host data centers.
$$50 million for department of Energy investment in Texas grid resilience
Wayne Christian, Texas Railroad Commissioner; Chris Wright, U.S. Energy Secretary; Texas Legislature, State lawmakers
Daniel Pullin resigned as Texas Christian University's chancellor, effective immediately on October 22, 2026. His predecessor Victor Boschini Jr. was appointed chancellor effective immediately.
$$10 million for gift to Roach Institute of Athlete Engineering
Daniel Pullin, Resigned TCU chancellor; Victor Boschini Jr., Appointed TCU chancellor; Kit Moncrief, Chair of TCU board of trustees
Tarrant County Judge Tim O'Hare and Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham announced approval of a $10 million grant from the Texas General Land Office to install emergency backup generator power systems at two county facilities.
$$10 million for disaster recovery grant for emergency backup generator power systems
Tim O'Hare, Tarrant County Judge; Dawn Buckingham, Texas Land Commissioner; Tarrant County Commissioners, Approved the funding during October meeting
Texas A&M University-San Antonio opened a new $55 million Public Health and Education Building on Wednesday. The 35,000-square-foot facility houses academic programs and will support medical education and training through partnership with Texas A&M's College of Medicine and University Health.
$$55 million for building construction and development
Texas A&M University-San Antonio, opened the building; Glenn Hegar, Texas A&M University System Chancellor; Salvador Hector Ochoa, TAMUSA President and 3 more
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced an Assurance of Voluntary Compliance with Lululemon USA Inc. regarding concerns about potentially harmful "forever chemicals" in activewear. The settlement requires the company to enforce chemical safety standards across its supply chain through independent lab testing and third-party certifications for three years.
Ken Paxton, Texas Attorney General; Lululemon USA Inc., Activewear company subject to settlement
Texas Comptroller Don Huffines announced an executive order barring businesses that require customers to show COVID-19 vaccination or post-transmission recovery documentation from receiving contracts or grants from the Comptroller's office. The order requires contractors and grantees to certify compliance with Texas Health and Safety Code Section 161.0085.
Don Huffines, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts
Texas Comptroller Don Huffines signed four orders he called executive orders. Three weeks prior, he issued the first, targeting virtual marketplace seller fees. He then issued three more orders addressing medical records taxes, Flock camera funding, and state diversity programs. The orders direct comptroller staff to begin changing agency rules.
$Huffines said the virtual marketplace order puts tens of millions of dollars annually back in the pocket of Texas families and small businesses [1,2,3].
Don Huffines, Texas Comptroller; Brandon Rottinghaus, University of Houston political science professor