(New Braunfels) — Guadalupe County leaders were among the more than 40 elected officials and staff members who gathered recently in New Braunfels to discuss how the 2025 legislative session will impact their communities and to make sure they were ready. The regional County-to-County Coalition meeting brought together commissioners, engineers, planners, and groundwater conservation district managers from nine counties to share insights on critical legislative outcomes and prepare for future policy efforts.
Guadalupe County was represented by Commissioner Stephen Germann, who joined fellow commissioners from Comal, Hays, Kendall, and others in organizing the event. The summit centered around legislative updates on natural resource management — including water supply, wastewater and stormwater quality, land use conflicts, and the aggregate industry—issues that are increasingly pressing as these counties rank among the fastest growing in the country.
“Being a County Commissioner is already a full-time job without engaging the Legislature, but it’s critical for Austin to know what problems look like on the ground in our communities,” said Comal Commissioner Jen Crownover. “That’s why this workshop series is important. If we want to protect our communities and encourage responsible development, we have to be able to navigate the Texas Legislature on behalf of our constituents.”
Speakers included former State Representative Andrew Murr, Joyce Yannuzzi from State Senator Donna Campbell’s office, and water consultant Leah Martinsson, who briefed attendees on capitol dynamics, committee passage rates, and the implications of the 13 percent bill passage rate during the session. They also outlined expectations for a potential upcoming special session and gave insight into the legislative priorities of the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Speaker.
Guadalupe County officials, alongside their regional counterparts, also began strategizing for the 2027 legislative session, identifying areas for collaboration and refining approaches to legislative advocacy.
“We’re so lucky to live in a region where our local elected leaders share a common vision, collaborate on shared issues, and show up in Austin for their constituents,” said Grace Gilker, Communities Program Manager for the Hill Country Alliance. “With a record-breaking 9,460 bills filed at the Texas Legislature this year, this coalition of county leaders has been crucial to ensuring that the work of monitoring bills is shared, that nothing slips through the cracks, and that the Hill Country’s voice is heard at the Capitol.”
The Hill Country Alliance, along with partner organizations such as the Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance, National Wildlife Federation’s Texas Coast and Water Program, Comal Conservation, and the Heart of Texas Conservancy, has supported this growing coalition since its launch in 2023.
What began as a small regional effort now includes five host commissioners and more than 100 local officials and staff working together for the future of the Texas Hill Country.