NSDA heartily congratulates Texas for creating the Texas Special Districts Coalition. Alongside NSDA, the TSDC aims to bring together state and local special districts and district advocacy organizations representing the range of special district interests to collaborate on shared issues of concern in Austin, to offer professional and governance resources, and to facilitate a strong grassroots network of special district leaders to support state and federal level policy efforts.

The Coalition was formally established during a signing ceremony in Austin on March 27, 2025, which included co-founders representing the interests of Texas’ emergency services districts, municipal utility districts, water authority/water control & improvement districts, special utility districts, and library districts.

"We are thrilled to see this coalition come to fruition after several years of critical basebuilding," said Ann Terry, Chair, NSDA. " This first step is essential to a long and successful path for over 3000 Special Districts across Texas providing critical services such as libraries, fire services, hospitals, flood control, ports, and  more."

 “Emergency services districts are focused on providing the best fire protection or emergency medical services to the people in their communities, and that covers more than 10 million Texans. Those services save property and lives,” said Clay Avery, TSDC Co-Founding Member and Executive Director of the State Association of Fire & Emergency Services Districts (SAFE-D). “SAFE-D’s involvement in TSDC will help responders across Texas – from El Paso to Beaumont – use their taxpayers’ dollars more efficiently and effectively.

“The Texas Special Districts Coalition will serve as the new ‘town square’ for all types of special districts in our state to come together, learn from one another, and advocate for special districts on all levels,” said Erica Richardson, TSDC Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Benbrook Library District. “As one of only 15 special library districts in Texas, I am excited for what the future holds as the Coalition empowers special district leaders across the state with professional resources and strengthens our advocacy network for the betterment of all Texas’ special districts.”

“We are proud to be at the ground level of this initiative to unite our state’s many special districts and connect our fellow managers and directors over common causes from Austin to Washington,” said Chris Boyd, TSDC Co-Founder and General Manager of Mustang Special Utility District. “I applaud my fellow special district leaders for the work that has been put into this effort and look forward to further collaborating with local district leaders elsewhere in Texas.”

“Special districts are the unsung heroes of Texas’ critical infrastructure – making sure fires are out, floodwaters are controlled, water is clean, waste is disposed of, and communities are connected with the resources they need,” said Jonathan Roach, TSDC Co-Founding Member and Managing Partner of The Woodlands-based Roach & Associates, PLLC. “Our voice is loud, but has been historically splintered throughout the halls of our State Capitol. We are excited to formally bring Texas’ special district stakeholders together – as one voice – to collaborate on the many common policy issues we face.”

For more information on the Texas Special Districts Coalition’s foundation or to learn how to get involved, please contact:  Admin@TexasSDC.com