Texas Border Business
By Roberto Hugo González
Texas Border Business
At the McAllen Legislative Wrap-Up Luncheon on October 3, 2025, Sen. Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa (D–District 20) outlined what he called critical investments in water, health research, and grid reliability approved during the 89th Texas Legislative Session. The event, held at the Embassy Suites Convention Center, was sponsored by the McAllen Chamber of Commerce and the McAllen Economic Development Corporation.
Hinojosa said water was the top concern for Texas as the state faces population growth and recurring drought. “We are experiencing a drought in many regions of our state, and we are running out of water,” he told attendees. He noted that lawmakers dedicated a new revolving fund of $1 billion annually for 20 years, totaling $20 billion, and added $2.5 billion in direct appropriations this session. “In addition to that, there’s $6 billion bonding authority the Water Development Board has, which is evergreen authority, meaning they can reuse and relend those monies,” he explained. He stressed that the Rio Grande Valley is among the regions most affected by drought and highlighted both infrastructure upgrades and new sources, such as desalination. “We have to focus on expanding our infrastructure… and trying to find new water resources. Without water, we don’t have an economy.”
Beyond water, Hinojosa emphasized the importance of long-term health research, with a focus on dementia and Alzheimer’s. “We set aside $3 billion… for dementia and Alzheimer’s research and prevention,” he said, comparing the effort to the state’s earlier creation of the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas. “We are looking at this as a way to prevent disease, minimize its impact, and focus the research to make a difference.” He said the investment was motivated by testimony from families across the state of Texas. “Many of us have experienced our parents or grandparents, or we know friends impacted by dementia,” he said. The proposition will go before voters in November.
Hinojosa also addressed energy reliability, citing new funding for the electric grid after the 2021 winter storm known as Winter Storm Uri. “We added $5 billion for the electrical grid improvements this session, on top of $5 billion last session,” he said. “That’s $10 billion to make sure that we don’t have another event like Uri, when so many people froze to death because the grid went down.”
He concluded by stressing that these measures—on water, health, and energy—are not abstract policies but practical investments. “Water is life. Without it, we cannot sustain growth. Dementia affects families across our communities, and we must find solutions. And the grid is essential for safety and economic security,” Hinojosa said.
The luncheon gathered business leaders, city officials, and residents to hear directly from the Rio Grande Valley delegation.
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