Should Houston ISD ask voters to approve a new school construction bond?
Houston ISD voters rejected a $4.4 billion bond in 2024. Should the district try again now, or wait for an elected board? Read both sides.
Local government directory
Houston, TX: council, meetings and contacts
Houston is the 4th largest city in the United States with about 2,397,315 residents, in Harris. Here is who governs it, when they meet in public, and where the agendas are posted.
City government at a glance
- Form of government
- Mayor-council
- Governing body
- Houston City Council — 16 members
- Regular meetings
- Tuesdays 1:30 p.m. (public session 2:00 p.m.) and Wednesdays 9:00 a.m., City Hall, 901 Bagby, 2nd Floor
- City Hall
- 901 Bagby St., Houston, TX 77002
- Main information line
- 311 or (713) 837-0311
- Population (2025 est.)
- 2,397,315 (2020 census: 2,304,580)
- County
- Harris
- Planning body
- Houston Planning Commission
11 district and 5 at-large council members; officials limited to two four-year terms.
Official links
- Houston official website
- Houston City Council
- Agendas, minutes and meeting video
- Harris County Commissioners Court
- Houston Independent School District
The bodies that decide things in Houston
| Body | What it decides | Where to find it |
|---|---|---|
| Houston City Council | Ordinances, the city budget, zoning changes, contracts, police and fire funding | Official page |
| Harris County Commissioners Court | County budget, sheriff and jail, public health, elections administration, county roads | County website |
| Houston Independent School District board | School budget, boundaries, calendar, curriculum adoption, superintendent | District website |
| Houston Planning Commission | Rezonings, site plans, variances and long-range land use recommendations | City website |
Questions people ask about Houston government
When does the Houston City Council meet?
Tuesdays 1:30 p.m. (public session 2:00 p.m.) and Wednesdays 9:00 a.m., City Hall, 901 Bagby, 2nd Floor Always confirm the date and location on the official agenda before you attend, because meetings can be cancelled, moved or continued.
How do I contact Houston city government?
The main information line is 311 or (713) 837-0311. City Hall is at 901 Bagby St., Houston, TX 77002, and the official website is https://www.houstontx.gov.
How do I speak at a Houston public meeting?
Find the agenda for the meeting, check the sign-up deadline (many cities close the list before the meeting starts), prepare remarks for the posted time limit — usually two or three minutes — and state your name, your district and your specific ask.
Open debates in Houston
Should Texas return Houston ISD to an elected school board?
Texas has run Houston ISD since 2023 and extended control to June 2027. Should the elected school board get its authority back? See both cases.
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