With pain, numbness, and burning
Neuropathy refers to a condition characterized by damage or dysfunction of the peripheral nerves, which are responsible for transmitting signals between the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord) and the rest of the body. Neuropathy is caused by conditions including diabetes, infections, traumatic injuries, autoimmune diseases, and exposure to certain toxins. As a consequence of nerve damage, individuals with neuropathy often experience a range of symptoms such as pain, tingling, numbness, and weakness in the affected areas.
Neuropathy can significantly impact a person's quality of life, affecting mobility and daily activities. Neuropathy is more than painful - it's also stressful, bothersome, and all-encompassing. It causes both men and women to become reclusive, depressed, and unable to enjoy life. If you're suffering from neuropathy, you might feel like all hope is lost. But the team at Texas Nerve and Spine are here to help.
Neuropathy relief in Katy, TX, is more achievable than you might think, and it doesn't need to involve harmful surgeries or addictive pain medications.
At our nerve and spine clinic in Katy, TX, we have a simple philosophy: Treat every patient the same way that you would treat your parent, spouse, or child if they were patients at Texas Nerve and Spine. As a family-owned and operated institution, that's just the way we do business. While some spine and nerve pain clinics focus solely on monetary transactions and ROI, we prefer to put our patients' needs first before anything else. And that, in a nutshell, is what sets Texas Nerve and Spine apart from all the others.
We supplement our patient-first philosophy with innovative neuropathy therapies. Our therapies restore our patients' health while correcting the underlying causes of their nerve issues without relying on damaging pharmaceutical drugs or expensive, invasive surgeries.
It all starts with our unique Brain to Body system - a cutting-edge approach developed specifically for people with chronic pain and nerve diseases. This system helps treat patients suffering from a wide range of conditions, including:
If you're in search of lasting relief and world-class therapies for neuropathy, our team is here to serve you.
To reverse neuropathy, areas of the body that have become weak due to disease or injury must be restrengthened. This encompasses your brain, nerves, muscles, blood vessels, and cells. Our experts at Texas Nerve and Spine developed the most advanced chronic pain and neuropathy therapy system to do all of this and more, and we call it the Brain to Body System.
From chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy and extremity numbness to diabetic neuropathy and sciatica, our Brain to Body System helps restore your health and corrects the causes of your problems. Unlike treatments from other nerve and spine clinics, our system provides long-term relief without relying on invasive surgeries or dangerously addictive pharmaceutical medications.
To understand how our Brain to Body System solves chronic pain and similar conditions like nerve disease, you need a basic knowledge of the conditions themselves. That way, you can understand why so many who suffer from them rarely improve.
Neuropathy is nerve damage that causes pain, numbness, and burning in the extremities. This is a type of condition that does not get better on its own and it doesn't alleviate after the use of traditional medical treatments or prescription pain meds.
Pain from neuropathy causes a domino effect; it starts with inflammation, leading to decreased blood supply. This reduction in blood supply results in a lack of oxygen. When your body doesn't get enough oxygen, it loses crucial nutrients that your body needs. This progressive effect often leads to long-term problems such as:
But with our Brain to Body Strengthening System, patients suffering from neuropathy build strength through rehabilitation. This advanced system helps:
Our Brain to Body System is central to our approach to neuropathy relief in Katy, TX. By following our system, we can provide several services to patients suffering from neuropathy.
Breathing in higher levels of oxygen helps to improve your health. Exercise with Oxygen Therapy is a technique that increases oxygen circulation at a more rapid pace than oxygen therapy alone.
At Texas Nerve and Spine, our doctors use the NuStep Recumbent Cross Trainer. This specialized machine trains your muscles, brain, and nerves to work together, which supports your body's whole healing processes. While using the NuStep Recumbent Cross Trainer, patients are hooked up to an oxygen generator to enjoy the benefits of EWOT and reach their neuropathy relief goals.
When you oxygenate your blood with EWOT, it can have amazing benefits that can:
Many patients who visit Texas Nerve and Spine are suffering from neuropathy, due to spinal issues. This requires specialized kind of care from highly trained doctors. If you're in search of a safe, gentle, controlled treatment for nerve and spinal pain, Flexion Distraction therapy may be for you.
Finding relief for this type of condition and pain is often easier said than done. Fortunately, relief is right around the corner at Texas Nerve and Spine. Our Flexion/Distraction Table stretches the spine safely and gently, allowing injured tissue and damaged discs the chance to heal and become hydrated, which lets the affected area recover more effectively and efficiently, while taking the pressure off the nerves that cause the neuropathy.
Patients looking for neuropathy relief in Katy, TX choose Flexion/Distraction therapy because it:
With more than 20 million people in the U.S. suffering from neuropathy, it makes sense that most of them want a solution that does not require pain medication or invasive surgery. That's where laser therapy from Texas Nerve and Spine comes into play. Laser therapy has been used for therapeutic purposes in medical environments for years. In fact, it is FDA-approved and backed by more than 2,500 research studies, which have demonstrated its efficacy in neuropathy relief in Katy, TX.
Though laser therapy is a common treatment option, not all lasers are the same. Our Class IV laser therapy, used in all applicable programs, is the most efficacious and powerful laser available for tissue healing and regeneration and healing. Class IV lasers use photobiomodulation, which provides excellent results for Musculoskeletal disorders. This process has also been proven to help with other various conditions that cause chronic pain, such as sciatica, carpal tunnel syndrome, low back pain, shoulder pain, and much more.
Our chronic pain patients choose laser therapy from Texas Nerve and Spine because it:
When your motor functions are limited or non-existent from neuropathy, it can ruin your life. You lose the ability to be independent - one of the hallmarks of being human. Fortunately, with Motor Function Retraining Therapy at Texas Nerve and Spine, patients suffering from neuropathy related motor function issues have a light at the end of the tunnel. This type of specialized physical therapy helps people recover from neuropathy that leaves their motor functions lacking. The goal of Motor Function Retraining Therapy is to regain coordination and strength.
Motor Function Retraining Therapy is a crucial part of the motor function rehabilitation process because it helps patients regain the independence they lost. It helps patients return to their original level of motor function or better.
Based on our Brain to Body Strengthening System, our experts design custom exercise programs based on the patient's needs. We may also use electrical stimulation and other modalities for more effective sessions and recovery.
Motor Function Retraining Therapy provides many benefits, including:
Myofascial Release Therapy gives patients neuropathy relief in Katy, TX, and boosts mobility by loosening tight muscles. There are similarities to traditional massages, however, Myofascial Release Therapy focuses on soft tissues and the muscular system in your body to relieve tension and stress on muscles.
Tight muscles have reduced blood flow and less oxygen, leading to restricted movement and intense pain. Our system uses state-of-the-art technology to apply acute, high-velocity vibration directly to the affected tissue to provide the patient with the environment necessary to increase mobility and reduce pain.
Benefits of this type of therapy include:
When the nerves are weakened, due to neuropathy, pain develops, inflammation increases, and blood flow decreases. If you're searching for a safe, effective way to deal with painful spine related nerve issues Neuro Impulse Therapy may be a great option for neuropathy relief in Katy, TX. Unlike common chiropractic therapies, this advanced therapy does not involve any "cracking" or significant adjustments.
Any type of injury can cause dysfunction and weakness in your brain. To improve cognition and the neurological connection between the brain, the muscles, and the nerves, some injured patients choose to undergo Interactive Neurocognitive Therapy using our Neuro Activation Wall. This wall retains, strengthens, and restores proper function to the brain and nervous system without relying on medications or invasive therapies.
Neuro Impulse Therapy works by using very specific impulses directed at the area causing pain. These targeted impulses send a signal to your body so that it can begin healing and repairing your body naturally.
Texas Nerve and Spine patients choose Neuro Impulse Therapy because it:
Peripheral neuropathy occurs when there is a lack of blood flow to the nerves in areas like your feet and hands. When these nerves are devoid of blood, they begin to decay and degenerate because they don't have enough oxygen or nutrients. Eventually, the nerves in your body shrivel up, causing pain, numbness, balance problems, and other painful symptoms.
Our Brain to Body program works wonders for neuropathy issues like these by using state-of-the-art technology like laser therapy and personalized, strategic plans of action created around our patient's needs. If you're looking for both short and long-term pain relief from peripheral neuropathy, this could be the solution you need.
Spinal conditions that cause neuropathy range in severity from bearable to crippling. To get to the bottom of your spine conditions, our team uses X-Rays to pinpoint the location of your spine's disease. From there, we craft a custom rehabilitation program that addresses the underlying causes of your pain and neuropathy.
Spinal decompression works by gently stretching the spine. When the spine is stretched, it changes its position. This change relieves pressure off the discs in your spine, which act as cushions in your back. By creating negative pressure, herniated and bulging discs retract, giving the nerves and structures in your back relief. This relief sends nutrient-rich fluids and oxygen to the discs so they can heal properly.
Neuropathy can be debilitating. But it doesn't have to be permanent. Your journey to a neuropathy-free life starts with a simple four-step process at Texas Nerve and Spine:
At Texas Nerve and Spine, our doctors understand that true neuropathy relief in Katy, TX, won't happen until we can uncover its underlying cause(s). Our specialists will perform detailed exams and review your medical history to understand the full scope of your condition.
Once we have discovered the underlying reasons for your neuropathy, it's time to begin healing. Our team will work together to craft a personalized treatment plan to provide long-term relief for your neuropathy.
Our team has the experience and resources to provide you with your plan of care. This plan will be based on your needs and our Brain to Body Strengthening System, giving you the relief you deserve - naturally.
Neuropathy relief cannot be accomplished without a tested system and a purpose-driven team that supports your recovery. That's why our expert staff will assess your journey to recovery and be there for support every step of the way. Because when you are a patient at Texas Nerve and Spine, you're never alone.
Contact our office today to get started on your journey to a pain-free life.
KATY MAGAZINE NEWSSeptember 1, 2026By Natalie Cook ClarkTropical Storm Edouardo will make landfall in Southeast Texas today. While impact to the Katy area shouldn't be bad, this is a reminder to prep for future storms. Katy could start feeling some effects by later today.. Photo submitted to Katy Magazine during Hurricane Harvey 2017.Tropical Storm Edouardo Update...
KATY MAGAZINE NEWS
September 1, 2026
By Natalie Cook Clark
Photo submitted to Katy Magazine during Hurricane Harvey 2017.
According to the National Weather Service and NOAA, Tropical Storm Edouardo is projected to make landfall between 1:00 p.m.- 4:00 p.m. Tuesday in Southeast Texas. This projection can still change. Any slight change can make a difference to what Katy will experience when the storm comes, but as of now we can expect to see some rain. While this storm isn't expected to have a major impact on our area, it is important to remember that we are in Hurricane Season and just now entering peak season.
As of now, rain from Tropical Storm Edouardo could reach Katy starting later today and the storm is expected to be over by tomorrow morning. While many coastal school districts canceled classes today, life in Katy, including school, is expected to go on as usual. As always, follow Katy ISD for updates.
As Katy grows, newcomers enjoy all the great city has to offer, but they also need to heed the warning of local officials and seasoned residents. Hurricane Season officially started on June 1 with experts predicting an average season.
In addition to preparing for this storm, local officials urge residents to prepare for other storms that this Hurricane Season could produce.
“Of the 9 tropical cyclones to impact Texas since 2010, only one developed outside of the Gulf of Mexico and that one redeveloped rapidly,” says City of Katy Mayor William “Dusty” Thiele. “When these storms develop in the Gulf of Mexico it means less time to prepare for everyone. That is why it is also important that we encourage our City of Katy residents to take the time to prepare now.”
Hurricane season runs June 1 through November 30. September is considered the most active month. The City of Katy and local agencies are prepared.
“We’ve been focused on ensuring that our City of Katy Departments are prepared to respond to any type of impact from tropical weather as safely and quickly as possible,” says Greg Goedecker, Emergency Management Coordinator of the City of Katy. “We want the community to know that our public safety departments continue to spend time training and discussing response strategies. All our city resources and rescue assets are ready to respond if called upon.”
“This is so important to me to be prepared to care for my family and kids,” says Katy mom Chancie Davis. “With little ones in the house being prepared helps me to help them cope with stressful situations without the burden of not having essentials.”
The Davis family has a home generator to ensure that during power outages they would still be ok. During the pandemic they added to their preparedness supplies by purchasing 5-gallon collapsible water containers to be able to fill with water ahead of a storm.
“Living in Katy it’s not if, but when we will lose power of water,” says Davis. “I want to have confidence that my family is secure.”
Many Katy families purchased generators during the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey and the derecho. .
Katy is growing and full of newcomers to the area. Just as families find their favorite restaurants, they need to learn about the area and any potential risks.
The past several seasons have put out more dangerous and expensive storms. So many storms have developed that officials have run out of names for them. Experts believe that this season has the same makings for such disasters because of the warm gulf waters that create the perfect scenario for a monster storm to form.
“Residents can prepare by documenting and insuring property, planning with neighbors, signing up for alerts and warnings, assembling or updating supplies, strengthening their homes, or testing their family communication plans,” says Goedecker.
has issued their latest predictions for the upcoming 2026 Atlantic Hurricane Season, which began June 1. They predict a below-normall season with 8-13 named storms. They predict that around 3-6 of those storms could have the potential to become major storms with winds of over 111 mph.
It is important to note that this data varies based on which report you view but all data points to an above average season.
However, as their website and marketing material for the season clearly states, “it only takes one storm to change your life.” A fact that Katy knows well after Hurricane Harvey devastated the area in August on 2017.
13 million people were affected by Hurricane Harvey when it stalled out over the Greater Houston area late August of 2017. The storm was one of the most devastating natural disasters in Texas history.
The City of Katy experienced massive damage including sustained damage to 16 Katy ISD campuses. Due to extreme flooding, Creech Elementary had to relocate its 900 students and staff had to be relocated. In less than a week, Katy ISD moved the Creech students and staff to the University of Houston’s Cinco Ranch campus.
The City of Katy and each county has websites/links for Emergency preparedness with resources and where residents can register to stay informed.
If you are new to Katy and new to hurricanes, it is important to understand the U.S. Hurricane Seasons. The Atlantic Hurricane Season is what impacts Katy and it runs June 1 through November 30, with the season’s peek being in August and September.
A Texas resident has taken home a $1 million prize in the Texas Lottery.A Katy resident claimed a top prize-winning ticket worth $1 million in the Texas Lottery scratch ticket game 200X The Cash. The ticket was purchased at Kroger 733, located at 1550 W. Grand Parkway S., in Katy. The claimant elected to remain anonymous.AdvertisementArticle continues below this adThis was the second of four top prizes worth $1 million to be claimed in this game. 200X The Cash offers more than $115 million in total prizes.I...
A Texas resident has taken home a $1 million prize in the Texas Lottery.
A Katy resident claimed a top prize-winning ticket worth $1 million in the Texas Lottery scratch ticket game 200X The Cash. The ticket was purchased at Kroger 733, located at 1550 W. Grand Parkway S., in Katy. The claimant elected to remain anonymous.
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This was the second of four top prizes worth $1 million to be claimed in this game. 200X The Cash offers more than $115 million in total prizes.
In other Texas Lottery news, a jackpot-winning Texas Two Step ticket worth $200,000 for the drawing held on March 9 is approaching its expiration date. The ticket, matching all four of the white ball numbers drawn (1-2-21-23) and the red Bonus Ball (19), was purchased at H-E-B Food Store 079 Convenience, located at 909 10th St., in Floresville. The prize remains unclaimed and the ticket will expire on Saturday, Sept. 5, if not validated by the deadline.
If choosing to claim the prize in-person, the ticket holder must do so at a Texas Lottery claim center by 5 p.m. local time on Friday, Sept. 4. Hours of operation at some Texas Lottery claim center locations may unexpectedly change, so it is advisable to check texaslottery.com for updates.
A ticket holder forfeits any claim to a prize for a draw game after the expiration of the 180th day following the draw date. The deadline may be extended for a period of time for certain eligible military personnel. Unclaimed prizes revert to the state for programs authorized by the Texas Legislature.
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The ticket holder may also claim the prize by mail. The ticket, along with a claim form, must be postmarked on or prior to the Sept. 5 ticket expiration date and should be mailed to:
The National Council on Problem Gambling operates the National Problem Gambling Helpline Network at 1-800-GAMBLER.
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The network is a single national access point to local resources for people seeking help with gambling problems. It has 28 contact centers that provide resources and referrals for all 50 states and U.S. territories. Help is available 24/7 and is 100% confidential.
Help is also available via an online peer support forum at gamtalk.org.
Sep 3, 2026
KATY, Texas (Covering Katy News) — Texas Heritage Marketplace is moving closer to becoming a major shopping and dining destination on Katy's rapidly developing western edge, with Lowe's preparing to open its new store and the City of Katy taking ownership of key infrastructure serving the $400 million development.The Katy City Council on Aug. 10 accepted water, sanitary sewer, drainage and street improvements along Heritage Oak Lane, as well as a sanitary sewer lift station that will be operated by the city.The action rep...
KATY, Texas (Covering Katy News) — Texas Heritage Marketplace is moving closer to becoming a major shopping and dining destination on Katy's rapidly developing western edge, with Lowe's preparing to open its new store and the City of Katy taking ownership of key infrastructure serving the $400 million development.
The Katy City Council on Aug. 10 accepted water, sanitary sewer, drainage and street improvements along Heritage Oak Lane, as well as a sanitary sewer lift station that will be operated by the city.
The action represents another milestone for Texas Heritage Marketplace, a 165-acre development along the eastbound side of Interstate 10 at Texas Heritage Parkway. The development is just west of Buc-ee's, which sits across the freeway on the westbound side of I-10.
For Katy-area residents, the changes are becoming increasingly visible as stores, restaurants and other projects move toward opening.
Among the most prominent is a new 95,000-square-foot Lowe's store that is preparing to open in September. The store will also include a 30,000-square-foot outdoor garden center and is expected to employ more than 100 full- and part-time workers.
The Katy Area Chamber of Commerce has scheduled a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony for Sept. 4. Lowe's has not announced an official opening date for shoppers.
The Katy location is part of a broader expansion by Lowe's into fast-growing markets across the country. The company has said it plans to open approximately 10 to 15 stores annually over the next several years.
"We have a strong pipeline of new stores planned for high-growth markets where we see opportunities to conveniently serve more homeowners and Pros," Lowe's Chairman and CEO Marvin Ellison said when the company announced its expansion strategy.
The strategy makes the Katy area a natural fit. Thousands of homes have been built or are planned along the Interstate 10 and Texas Heritage Parkway corridors, including large residential developments stretching west toward Brookshire and south toward Fulshear.
Lowe's is only one part of the much larger Texas Heritage Marketplace.
Developer NewQuest describes the project as a 750,000-plus-square-foot mixed-use retail and regional destination. The 165-acre project is planned to include major retailers and restaurants, along with a Houston Methodist emergency room. Future phases call for 550 apartment units, while NewQuest's broader plans also include medical office space and self-storage.
The development's anchor lineup includes Target, which is nearing completion and expected to open in October. Sam's Club is also under construction.
Academy Sports + Outdoors, Burlington, Spec's and Ulta Beauty are among the junior anchors. EoS Fitness will also be part of the lineup.
Whataburger sits at the front of the development and has already opened.
Other announced eateries include Olive Garden, Texas Roadhouse, Escalante's, Tony C's, Aji Izakaya, a casual Japanese pub and restaurant, and Kilwin's, which sells ice cream, fudge and other sweets. Mattress Firm, James Avery, The Kebab Shop and Chase Bank have also been announced for the development.
Several of the restaurants and retailers will be located around a nearly five-acre green space planned near Target and EoS Fitness.
“With a project this size, we typically develop it in phases,” said David Meyers, NewQuest's managing director of leasing and development partner. “But the demand for retail in this high-growth area is immediate so everyone is committed to getting it done as quickly as possible.”
The development's location is particularly significant because Texas Heritage Parkway provides a 6.5-mile connection between Interstate 10 and Fulshear. NewQuest says the center is positioned to serve major master-planned communities including Cane Island, Cross Creek Ranch, Firethorne, Jordan Ranch, Lakehouse and Young Ranch, along with the fast-growing Sunterra and Tamarron communities.
Texas Heritage Marketplace is emerging at a time when development is rapidly changing what was once a comparatively undeveloped stretch of Interstate 10 west of Katy.
New subdivisions, schools, road projects and commercial developments have followed population growth farther west, increasing demand for stores, restaurants and public services.
The opening of Lowe's and the City of Katy's acceptance of the development's infrastructure are signs that Texas Heritage Marketplace is moving beyond plans and construction and into the next phase of becoming an active commercial center.
Additional retailers and restaurants are expected to open as construction continues throughout the development.
Covering Katy News tracks the developments, road projects, new businesses and government decisions shaping the Katy area. Subscribe to support independent local reporting and stay ahead of the changes affecting your community. SUBSCRIBE HERE
New right-to-repair protections, residential solar registration requirements, public-school funding changes and manufactured-housing rules are among the Texas laws taking effect.By The Katy NewsKATY, Texas — A new group of Texas laws and delayed legislative provisions took effect Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, bringing changes that could affect consumers, homeowners, educators, school districts, businesses and local governments.The measures originated during the 89th Texa...
New right-to-repair protections, residential solar registration requirements, public-school funding changes and manufactured-housing rules are among the Texas laws taking effect.
By The Katy News
KATY, Texas — A new group of Texas laws and delayed legislative provisions took effect Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, bringing changes that could affect consumers, homeowners, educators, school districts, businesses and local governments.
The measures originated during the 89th Texas Legislature. The Texas Legislative Reference Library’s effective-date list includes both entire laws beginning Sept. 1 and individual sections of larger bills that took effect in stages. That distinction is important because the appearance of a bill on the Sept. 1 list does not necessarily mean every provision in that bill started on that date.
For Katy-area residents, some of the most notable changes involve repairing electronic devices, purchasing residential solar systems, funding special-education services and regulating manufactured housing.
House Bill 2963 establishes new right-to-repair requirements for certain consumer electronic devices sold in Texas.
The law generally applies to digital electronic equipment sold to a Texas consumer with a wholesale price of at least $50. Manufacturers must make the documentation, replacement parts and tools needed to diagnose, maintain or repair covered equipment available on fair and reasonable terms to independent repair businesses and equipment owners.
This could eventually give consumers more choices when deciding where to repair certain phones, tablets, laptops and other eligible electronic devices instead of relying exclusively on a manufacturer or its authorized repair network.
However, the law will not immediately apply to every electronic device currently owned by a Texas resident.
HB 2963 applies only to covered equipment that was originally made available for sale in Texas by the manufacturer on or after Sept. 1, 2026. Manufacturers also have up to one year after the product’s first Texas sale to make the required repair materials available.
The law contains several exclusions, including certain motor vehicles, medical devices, farm equipment, heavy equipment, major home appliances, alarm and life-safety systems, video-game consoles and equipment used in critical infrastructure.
Enforcement belongs to the Texas attorney general. The law does not create a private right of action allowing an individual consumer to sue solely under the new right-to-repair chapter.
For consumers, the main point is that the change will develop gradually as newly introduced products become subject to the law.
Beginning Sept. 1, residential solar retailers and solar salespeople must be registered with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation before conducting covered sales or leases of residential solar panels and solar-energy systems.
The registration requirement is part of Senate Bill 1036, which created the Residential Solar Retailers program. Certain prohibited business practices and additional regulatory requirements also became enforceable Sept. 1.
Several consumer protections under the law had already taken effect on Sept. 1, 2025.
Covered residential solar agreements must provide for installation by a licensed electrical contractor, identify the contractor or possible contractors and require the appropriate permits and utility interconnection approvals. A buyer or lessee must also be allowed to cancel the contract without a penalty by providing written notice no later than the fifth business day after signing. The agreement must identify the final calendar date of the cancellation period and provide an address for submitting the cancellation.
Before signing a solar agreement, Katy-area homeowners should:
TDLR says it is currently accepting retailer and salesperson registration applications. The agency is temporarily suspending enforcement of two administrative rules involving contract disclosures and consumer educational materials until Nov. 1, 2026. TDLR separately states that the retailer and salesperson registration requirement begins Sept. 1, 2026.
Senate Bill 568 includes major changes to the way Texas funds special-education services.
Beginning Sept. 1, the state moves from a placement-based special-education funding model toward a service intensity-based model. In general, the revised approach is intended to connect state funding more closely to the level and intensity of services provided to a student rather than relying primarily on the student’s instructional placement.
The delayed provisions also:
Because these provisions primarily address state funding formulas, classifications and reporting, their earliest effects are likely to be seen in school-district budgeting and administration. Parents should not assume that every student’s services or educational plan automatically changes because the funding model has changed.
Area school districts may provide additional information as the Texas Education Agency implements the new funding structure.
Delayed sections of House Bill 2, the state’s major public-education and school-finance legislation, also took effect Sept. 1.
The law revises the Teacher Incentive Allotment by increasing allotment payments and accounting for new teacher-designation levels. HB 2 also expanded local teacher-designation systems and established grants intended to help districts make more teachers eligible for designations.
The Sept. 1 change does not mean every Texas teacher automatically receives the same raise. The amount available to a district or teacher can depend on designation status, the district’s approved system and the way state allotment funds are implemented locally.
Other delayed HB 2 provisions concern educator-preparation allotments, achievement academies, special-education financing and grants supporting early-grade instruction.
House Bill 8 from the Legislature’s second called session also appears on the Sept. 1 effective-date list, but only one delayed section of the bill begins on that date.
The broader law directs the Texas Education Agency to transition from the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness, commonly known as STAAR, to a new instructionally supportive assessment program. However, most of the assessment-system changes apply beginning with the 2027–2028 school year—not Sept. 1, 2026.
The section taking effect Sept. 1, 2026, concerns a future school-finance calculation involving certain reading-support grants and third-grade assessment performance. The funding reduction described in that section does not begin until the 2030–2031 school year.
Therefore, families should not interpret HB 8’s appearance on the Sept. 1 list as meaning STAAR testing was immediately eliminated or replaced at the start of September 2026.
Senate Bill 785 changes how municipalities with zoning regulations may treat new homes built under the federal HUD manufactured-housing code.
Under the law, a municipality generally may not require a specific-use permit for a compliant new HUD-code manufactured home when the municipality does not impose the same type of permit requirement on other residential property within the same zoning classification.
Municipalities with zoning regulations must also allow new HUD-code manufactured homes by right in at least one residential zoning classification, residential zoning district or dedicated manufactured-housing district. Municipalities with comprehensive zoning maps must identify the applicable areas on those maps.
The law does not allow a manufactured home to be placed automatically on any property. Other zoning requirements, development standards, deed restrictions, utility requirements and applicable construction rules may still apply. Anyone considering the purchase or placement of a manufactured home should confirm the requirements for the specific property before making a financial commitment.
Part of House Bill 1056 also took effect Sept. 1.
The law recognizes qualifying gold and silver specie as legal tender in Texas. However, it expressly provides that a person or business cannot be required to offer or accept gold, silver or a gold- or silver-backed currency as payment.
The legislation also authorizes the Texas comptroller to establish electronic payment systems involving currency backed by gold or silver bullion held by the Texas Bullion Depository. Most of those broader implementation provisions are scheduled to take effect May 1, 2027.
For consumers, the practical distinction is that the state’s recognition of gold and silver does not require Katy-area stores, landlords, lenders or service providers to accept precious metals as payment.
House Bill 5424 changes the method used to calculate the maximum compensation, reimbursements or benefits that may be provided to an individual designated as a volunteer or auxiliary firefighter.
A fire department may not provide annual compensation, reimbursement or benefits exceeding 20 percent of the highest total compensation paid to full-time fire-protection personnel by a local government in the same county. When no local government in that county pays full-time fire-protection personnel, the comparison may be based on an adjacent county.
The change may be particularly relevant to volunteer and combination fire departments when structuring stipends, reimbursements and benefits.
The state’s Sept. 1 list also includes narrower or more technical provisions concerning court administration, advisory bodies connected to the Department of Family and Protective Services, governmental operations in the Texas border region, continuing education for certain property-tax arbitrators, veterinary regulation and compensation for distributed renewable-energy owners in certain areas outside ERCOT.
Some of those laws took effect earlier, with only designated sections delayed until Sept. 1, 2026.
The most immediate consumer-facing changes are the solar registration requirement and the beginning of the right-to-repair framework.
Homeowners considering solar should verify registrations before signing, carefully examine financing terms and keep copies of all contracts, cancellation notices and communications.
Consumers seeking electronic repairs should remember that right-to-repair coverage depends on the type of product, when it was first made available for sale in Texas and whether it falls within one of the law’s exemptions.
Parents, teachers and school employees should watch for notices from their school districts and the Texas Education Agency explaining how the new special-education and teacher-incentive funding provisions will be administered locally.
Because many Texas bills contain multiple effective dates, residents should review the enacted text—not merely the bill’s overall title—before deciding whether a particular provision applies to them.
This article provides general public information and is not legal advice.
This photo shows the Panera Bread restaurant at 25546 Kingsland Blvd. in Katy shortly after it closed in August 2025. The restaurant is expected to reopen soon under new ownership as part of a Houston-area expansion by Hamra Enterprises.KATY, Texas (Covering Katy News) — Nearly a year after Covering Katy first reported the closures in August 2025, two Panera Bread restaurants serving the Katy area are preparing to reopen under new ownership.Hamra Enterprises, a Missouri-based franchise operator, announced it will reopen ...
This photo shows the Panera Bread restaurant at 25546 Kingsland Blvd. in Katy shortly after it closed in August 2025. The restaurant is expected to reopen soon under new ownership as part of a Houston-area expansion by Hamra Enterprises.
KATY, Texas (Covering Katy News) — Nearly a year after Covering Katy first reported the closures in August 2025, two Panera Bread restaurants serving the Katy area are preparing to reopen under new ownership.
Hamra Enterprises, a Missouri-based franchise operator, announced it will reopen the restaurants at 25546 Kingsland Blvd., near Katy Mills, and 19506 Katy Freeway, on the westbound frontage road between Greenhouse and Fry roads.
The company said the Kingsland Boulevard restaurant will be among the first of seven Houston-area Panera Bread locations to reopen, with the first restaurants expected to open this month. All seven locations are expected to be open by the end of 2026.
The announcement brings Panera Bread back to Katy after the two restaurants unexpectedly closed, along with 13 other Houston-area locations, in August 2025.
The closures followed a legal dispute between Panera Bread and franchise operator EYM Café of Texas LLC, which lost the right to operate under the Panera Bread name. EYM later filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection after reporting millions of dollars in liabilities.
For longtime Katy residents, this is not the first change to Panera Bread's local footprint. Before the Kingsland Boulevard and Katy Freeway restaurants closed in 2025, the chain operated a popular restaurant at LaCenterra at Cinco Ranch. That location closed in 2023 after its lease ended, leaving the Kingsland Boulevard and Katy Freeway restaurants as the only Panera Bread locations serving the Katy area.
Hamra Enterprises purchased seven of the former Panera Bread restaurants during a November 2025 bankruptcy sale, marking the company's first expansion into Texas.
"We have spent 50 years earning the trust of guests across 11 states, and we do not take lightly what it means to serve in a new market," Hamra Enterprises CEO Mike Hamra said in a statement. "Houston is one of the most dynamic, diverse and food-forward cities in the country, and we are committed to being an operator this community is proud to have. We are here to serve, we are here to give back, and we are here to stay."
The company said reopening the seven restaurants will create approximately 280 jobs across the Houston area.
The Kingsland Boulevard restaurant is located near Katy Mills, placing it in one of the city's busiest shopping areas. While the restaurant benefits from heavy traffic generated by the mall and surrounding businesses, it also faces strong competition from dozens of nearby restaurants for the lunchtime crowd.
The Katy Freeway restaurant has long served commuters, nearby office workers and residents traveling the Interstate 10 corridor on Katy's east side.
When the restaurants reopen, customers can expect Panera Bread's familiar menu of freshly baked breads, bagels, sandwiches, soups, salads, pastries and beverages. MyPanera loyalty rewards, Rapid Pick-Up service and drive-thru service also will be available where offered.
Hamra Enterprises also announced a partnership with Make-A-Wish Texas Gulf Coast and Louisiana, allowing customers to support children with critical illnesses through future fundraising efforts.
Founded in 1975 and headquartered in Springfield, Missouri, Hamra Enterprises operates Panera Bread, Wendy's, Noodles & Company and Caribou Coffee restaurants across 12 states and employs more than 6,000 people. The company currently operates 88 Panera Bread restaurants and said the Houston expansion represents its first venture into Texas.
Specific opening dates for the two Katy-area restaurants have not yet been announced.
For many residents who have driven past the vacant buildings for nearly a year, the announcement answers a lingering question: Panera Bread is coming back to Katy.
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