2017 in Texas

2017 in Texas
Year	2017
State	Texas
Caption	Texas state capitol, Austin

2017 in Texas

2017 in Texas encompassed political, economic, cultural, and environmental developments across cities such as Austin, Texas, Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, and El Paso, Texas. Major episodes included responses to Hurricane Harvey, debates involving the Texas Legislature, actions by the Governor of Texas and legal proceedings in the Texas Supreme Court, as well as sports achievements by franchises like the Houston Rockets, Dallas Cowboys, and San Antonio Spurs.

Incumbents

The Governor of Texas in 2017 was Greg Abbott, with the Lieutenant Governor of Texas being Dan Patrick (politician). The Texas Attorney General was Ken Paxton, and the Comptroller of Public Accounts of Texas was Glenn Hegar. The Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives was Joe Straus until his successor discussions involved figures such as Dennis Bonnen and members of the Texas House of Representatives. Federal representation included senators Ted Cruz and John Cornyn (politician), alongside U.S. Representatives such as Sheila Jackson Lee, Beto O'Rourke, Randy Weber, Kay Granger, and Eddie Bernice Johnson.

Events

In August, Hurricane Harvey made landfall along the Texas Gulf Coast, prompting responses from Federal Emergency Management Agency, President Donald Trump, Greg Abbott, and municipal officials in Houston, Pasadena, Texas, Port Arthur, Texas, and Galveston, Texas. The aftermath featured rescues by United States Coast Guard, volunteers coordinated via United Way of Greater Houston and American Red Cross, and debates in the United States Congress over disaster relief funding alongside lawmakers such as John Cornyn and Ted Cruz. Earlier in the year, controversies around Sanctuary cities policies involved legal filings by Ken Paxton and municipal ordinances in cities like Austin, Texas and San Antonio. Border and immigration issues engaged U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Department of Homeland Security, and local officials in El Paso, Texas and Laredo, Texas, intersecting with actions by Greg Abbott and federal judges in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas. High-profile criminal cases prosecuted in 2017 involved the Harris County, Texas district attorney's office and trials in the Dallas County Courthouse and Bexar County Courthouse. Educational debates included measures affecting the University of Texas at Austin, Texas A&M University, and the Texas State University System, with funding discussions in the Texas Legislature and statements by Dan Patrick and Joe Straus.

Economy and infrastructure

Energy and petrochemical industries remained central, with firms such as ExxonMobil, Chevron Corporation, ConocoPhillips, and Phillips 66 addressing damage from Hurricane Harvey alongside ports including the Port of Houston Authority and Port of Corpus Christi. The Houston Ship Channel and railroads like Union Pacific Railroad and BNSF Railway were affected, prompting coordination with the Texas Department of Transportation and investments tied to projects at George Bush Intercontinental Airport and Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. The technology sector in Austin, Texas saw activity from Dell Technologies, Apple Inc., Google, and Amazon (company), while financial centers in Houston and Dallas involved banks like JP Morgan Chase and Wells Fargo and regulatory oversight by the Texas State Securities Board. Legislative fiscal debates touched the Texas Comptroller office and budgetary planning for the Texas Education Agency and infrastructure bonding.

Arts, culture, and sports

Cultural institutions such as the Houston Museum of Natural Science, Dallas Museum of Art, San Antonio Museum of Art, and The Contemporary Austin staged exhibitions, while festivals like South by Southwest, Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, ACL Festival, and State Fair of Texas drew national attention. The Dallas Cowboys and Houston Texans competed in the National Football League seasons, while the Houston Rockets advanced in the National Basketball Association playoffs, and the San Antonio Spurs featured players linked to Gregg Popovich and Tony Parker. Collegiate sports involved the University of Texas at Austin Longhorns and Texas A&M Aggies in NCAA Division I play, and events at venues such as the Cotton Bowl Stadium and NRG Stadium hosted concerts by artists under labels including Live Nation and AEG Presents.

Disasters and public safety

The most consequential disaster was Hurricane Harvey, which caused catastrophic flooding in Harris County, Texas, Fort Bend County, Brazoria County, and the Texas Gulf Coast, prompting emergency declarations by Greg Abbott and federal aid from President Donald Trump and the FEMA. Industrial incidents at petrochemical plants affected facilities operated by Motiva Enterprises and Shell plc, triggering responses by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. Law enforcement actions included investigations by the Texas Rangers (law enforcement) and prosecutions in counties such as Harris County, Travis County, and Dallas County. Public health responses engaged the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for vector concerns and the Texas Department of State Health Services for community recovery.

Births and deaths

Notable births in Texas in 2017 included heirs and family births among public figures in Houston and Dallas social circles. Significant deaths of Texans or Texas residents in 2017 included figures from politics such as former representatives and state officials, cultural figures associated with Austin, Texas music scenes, and sports personalities connected to franchises like the Dallas Mavericks and Houston Astros.

Category:2017 by U.S. state Category:2017 in the United States