County leaders unite at TAC Legislative Conference

Nearly 1,000 county officials and staffers - 750 in person in Austin and 218 virtually - gathered Aug. 27-29 for the Texas Association of Counties' 2025 Legislative Conference. The three-day event gave county leaders a chance to connect, share ideas and reaffirm the value of their work.

At the opening general session, TAC Executive Director Susan M. Redford energized the crowd with a rallying chant of "Stronger!" … "Together!" The call and response captured the conference's theme. TAC President and Yoakum County Commissioner Tim Addison urged attendees to "stay the course," while Redford emphasized TAC's mission "to create opportunities for county leaders to sit at the same table as legislators."

Collaboration was a core message. Wise County Judge J.D. Clark, serving as president of the National Association of Counties, reminded attendees that unified voices carry weight. He highlighted NACo's priorities and his County Storytellers initiative, stressing the power of narrative in public service.

"As county officials, we're all storytellers," he said. "Stories cut through the noise. They help us build trust, they help us connect with our constituents, with our partners. They may not remember a list of statistics that we rattle off, but they'll remember an impact of story."

The keynote speaker, former Congressman and Texas Tech Chancellor Kent Hance, combined humor with a timely message: Political leaders must learn to disagree without being disagreeable.

The conference's busiest day, Aug. 28, featured 10 panels discussions moderated by members of TAC's Legislative Services team. Topics ranged from land use and changes to election law to cybersecurity and emergency preparedness.

Beyond the panels, county officials exchanged best practices in the exhibit hall, swapped stories over an ice cream social and networked at an evening reception. The closing general session, "County Storytellers at the Border," focused on immigration's impact on counties.

TAC will host its next Legislative Conference in August 2026. Registration opens in January.