Brazos County Judge Duane Peters Retiring After December 1, 2026 Commissioners Court Meeting

Press release 10/06/2026: (AUSTIN, TX) — Texas Comptroller Don Huffines today signed an executive order to abolish the tax on medical records and the systems doctors use to access them. “No Texan should have to pay a tax to see their own medical records,” Huffines said. “And no doctor should be taxed for pulling up the chart of the patient sitting in front of them. Healthcare is expensive enough. The last thing government should do is pile a hidden tax on top of it. “Healthcare costs are outrageous and totally out of control. It is one of the top reasons that families file for bankruptcy. We will do our part to make healthcare as affordable as we can by saving taxpayers millions of dollars in taxes that should never have been charged.” Huffines heard the problem firsthand last month at a roundtable discussion that included small business owners and physicians. Doctors told him they were being charged sales tax just to access the electronic medical records of their own patients. “That’s a tax on healthcare,” Huffines said. “Every dollar a doctor’s office sends to Austin for a tax nobody voted for is a dollar it can’t spend on nurses, equipment, or reducing the cost for patients.” Under the rule established by previous leadership of the Comptroller’s office, technology that stores or shares medical records was unfairly subjected to the sales tax, which meant Texans could get hit with a tax just for accessing their own medical information. The Huffines rule change clarifies that it is neither taxable information services nor taxable data processing services. Huffines said the problem is similar to the one he found with marketplace fees: a decades-old tax rule stretched to cover things the Legislature never intended. “When the Legislature wrote these rules, doctors’ offices weren’t running cloud-based record systems and patients weren’t logging into portals,” Huffines said. “A Comptroller doesn’t get to arbitrarily rewrite the Tax Code. If it’s not authorized in the law, it’s not a tax.” The Huffines rule change ends taxes on charges for: electronic health record (EHR) systems; electronic medical record (EMR) systems; patient portals; and other healthcare technology systems used to maintain, access, or share medical records. The Huffines executive order directs the agency to publish a proposed amendment to Rule 3.342, governing the taxation of information services. Under the updated rule, electronic health records, electronic medical records, patient portals, and other healthcare technology systems would no longer be taxed as information services or data processing services. The proposed amendment will be filed with the Texas Secretary of State and published in the Texas Register, followed by a 30‑day public comment period. Texans can submit feedback to the Comptroller’s office during that window. “This is how you lower the cost of healthcare without spending a dime of taxpayer money: Stop taxing it,” Huffines said. “Ending this tax isn’t a cost to government, because this money should never have been collected in the first place.” This is the latest step in Huffines’ Taxpayer First Project, his effort to bring fairness, transparency, consistency, and respect to how Texas collects taxes. Last week, Huffines ended a hidden double tax on marketplace fees that hit Texans when they ordered food, booked a ride, or shopped online. He said his office will continue to review how the information services and data processing taxes are interpreted and may propose additional changes in the future. Got a news tip? e-mail us at news@wtaw.com, text us at (979) 695-1620, or reach out on Facebook or Twitter/X.

College Station based American Momentum Bank is focusing on the Texas energy sector, including opportunities in the Permian Basin, Eagle Ford, Haynesville, and Gulf Coast energy markets. They will continue to work closely with its commercial lenders in Midland and Odessa, while increasing business development efforts in Houston and Dallas-Fort Worth. The division will be led by Jim Dixon, who has transitioned from American Momentum Bank’s executive vice president and chief risk officer to executive vice president and managing director of energy finance.   Press release from October, 1, 2026: COLLEGE STATION, TX — American Momentum Bank has launched a formal Energy Finance Division, expanding its strategic commitment to serving companies across Texas’ energy sector and building on the bank’s existing experience financing energy related businesses. The division will focus on developing relationships with energy companies through lending, deposits, treasury management and other financial services. American Momentum Bank has long served customers in the sector, particularly upstream oil and gas companies and energy service businesses, and will use the new division to pursue additional opportunities across Texas. “Energy continues to be vitally important to the Texas economy, to the communities we serve and to many of our customers,” said American Momentum Bank President Bo Scott. “We already have meaningful experience working with companies in this industry, and formalizing the Energy Finance Division gives us an opportunity to build on that foundation while bringing a more focused approach to serving energy businesses across the state.” The division’s primary focus will begin with upstream oil and gas companies, with additional emphasis on midstream companies, oilfield and energy service businesses, power generation companies and businesses involved in renewable energy and energy transition activities. Financing capabilities will include reserve-based lending, borrowing-base facilities, term loans, equipment financing, midstream project financing and working capital lines. American Momentum Bank is based in College Station and has banking locations in West Texas. The bank will pursue opportunities across the state, including the Permian Basin, Eagle Ford, Haynesville and Gulf Coast energy markets. It will continue working closely with its commercial lenders in Midland and Odessa, while increasing business development efforts in Houston and Dallas-Fort Worth. The division will be led by Jim Dixon, who has transitioned from American Momentum Bank’s executive vice president and chief risk officer to executive vice president and managing director of energy finance. “Energy companies are looking for banking partners that understand their industry, have the financial capacity to support their needs and can make informed decisions efficiently,” Dixon said. “Our goal is to combine deep banking and credit experience with responsive service and streamlined decision-making so we can be a strong long-term partner to our clients.” About American Momentum Bank: A Texas-chartered banking association with total assets of $2.8 billion as of June 30, 2026, provides comprehensive products and services for businesses and individuals. American Momentum Bank has 18 full-service banking centers in Texas and eight full-service banking centers in Florida. American Momentum Bank’s strong capitalization, superior asset quality and experienced management teams position it as one of the premier banks in each state. Visit www.americanmomentum.bank to learn more.

(AUSTIN, TX) – Governor Greg Abbott today ordered the United States and Texas flags at all state buildings lowered to half-staff on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, in solidarity with the State of Israel and in honor of the men, women, and children murdered in the brutal October 7th terrorist attacks carried out by Hamas. “Three years ago, Hamas carried out a brutal terrorist attack on the State of Israel and murdered more than 1,200 men, women, and children,” said Governor Abbott. “Texas stands with Israel and with the Jewish community. We will always honor the lives lost that day.” Flags should return to full-staff at sunset on Wednesday, October 7, 2026. Individuals, businesses, municipalities, and other political subdivisions are encouraged to lower their flags for the same period. Got a news tip? e-mail us at news@wtaw.com, text us at (979) 695-1620, or reach out on Facebook or Twitter/X.