Angelina County Commissioners Court adopts Resolution 010-26 asking the Legislature for authority over data centers
Angelina County Commissioners Court voted unanimously on July 14th, 2026 to adopt Resolution 010-26. It asks the Texas Legislature to grant counties specific powers over large scale industrial development that local government currently can't reach. The requests include buffer and setback rules, noise and heat attenuation standards, light pollution limits, water impact statements and public hearings. County Judge Keith Wright framed the problem plainly. Without an abatement the county has no control over a data center at all. He also said the ask was kept narrow on purpose because a broad one would fail. The resolution carries no force by itself and lands with a Legislature that is not in regular session.
How to take part
Angelina County posts Commissioners Court agendas, minutes and meeting videos on its Commissioners Court page. The court meets in the courtroom and annex at 211 East Shepherd Avenue in Lufkin. Judge Wright told residents every decision has to be made by the court in public.
Where
1 county. In Lufkin.
Dates
| Date | What | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-07-14 | ordered | Commissioners Court unanimously approved Resolution 010-26 at its regular Tuesday session in Lufkin |
The evidence
Every fact above rests on one of these. The words are the source's own.
Angelina County commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday to formally ask the Texas Legislature for limited authority to regulate data centers.Angelina County commissioners vote to ask state for authority to regulate data centers Journalism
The court approved Resolution 010-26, which requests that the state grant counties specific powers to oversee large-scale industrial developments that are currently beyond local control.Angelina County commissioners vote to ask state for authority to regulate data centers Journalism
"If we can't get an abatement, if there's not going to be an abatement, then there are zero control that we have over these data centers."Angelina County commissioners vote to ask state for authority to regulate data centers Journalism
"You can always ask for a lot, but we tried to limit to what we thought we could get."Angelina County commissioners vote to ask state for authority to regulate data centers Journalism
"Just because it's rural East Texas and rural areas outside of a city, I don't think they should just have unfettered access to do whatever they want."Angelina County seeks greater authority over data center development Journalism