# Texas Freezes Funding for Flock Safety Cameras

Texas state government, led by Governor Greg Abbott, has ordered a freeze on funding for over 900 Flock Safety automated license plate reader (ALPR) cameras deployed across multiple cities and counties. This funding pause in 2026 has prompted local governments to discontinue or reconsider their contracts with Flock Safety, impacting law enforcement's surveillance capabilities and raising concerns about privacy and data access. Some municipalities, such as Laredo, are seeking voter input on whether to continue funding these systems locally, while others have ended contracts entirely due to budget constraints and uncertainty about the funding timeline.

- Local governments in Texas face budgetary challenges and must evaluate the cost-benefit of continuing ALPR programs without state support.
- Procurement professionals should anticipate potential contract terminations, renegotiations, or new solicitations as municipalities adjust to funding changes.
- Vendors providing ALPR technology may encounter reduced demand or need to explore alternative funding models or service offerings.
- This development highlights the importance of monitoring state-level funding decisions that directly affect municipal procurement and law enforcement technology deployments.

**Jurisdictions:** sled
**Industries:** Public Safety
**Topics:** Digital Infrastructure
**Published:** September 28, 2026

### Government Entities
- Office of the Governor
- Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT)
- Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority (MVCPA)
- Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS)
- City Council of Laredo

### Vendors
- Flock Safety (provider of automated license plate reader cameras)

### Key Quotes
> In my opinion as the head of this local government, with state funding paused, the circumstances have changed. If continuing these Flock systems will require the local taxpayer to fund their entire system, I believe that 272,000 residents should have an opportunity to express their opinion.
> — Victor Treviño, Mayor of Laredo

> You can’t afford the number of cops it would take to do what this system is doing.
> — Billy Couch, Police Chief of College Station

> Technology advances and so does police work, and LPRs are just the next step in that advancement.
> — Phillip Waller, Assistant Police Chief of Schertz

### Sources
- [Texas unplugs over 900 Flock cameras](https://www.inkl.com/news/texas-unplugs-over-900-flock-cameras) - inkl