Aransas County in position for growth with new Harbor Bridge completion

ROCKPORT — The new Harbor Bridge in Corpus Christi took longer to finish than expected, but now that it’s nearing final completion and even though it’s more than 25 miles from Rockport, its expansion could have an impact on the area in the future.

During the monthly meeting of the Aransas County Partnership in early August, State Representative Todd Hunter said with bridge project finally being done in December, he said a specialty cruise industry could be in the works.

The initial idea is to do 100-500-passenger “niche” cruises that focus on things such as birding, maritime history, coastal arts and music, and the goal is to draw visitors from areas such as Austin, San Antonio, the Rio Grande Valley and Northern Mexico.

How Aransas County fits into that is attractions such as the Fulton Mansion, the Texas Maritime Museum, the Cultural Arts District and other conservation initiatives could be part of those excursions.

The cruises also tie into the possibility as the port expands because of the new bridge that the county could benefit from growth in high-tech and eco-tourism, Hunter said.

“It makes our region, especially for San Patricio (County) and Aransas County … it makes us closer,” said Jeffrey Sjostrom, president of the Aransas County Partnership. “It creates more synergy as we are looking at that regional growth from Nueces County to outlining counties. There is a potential opportunity and asset.”

During the monthly meeting, Hunter spoke on a wide range of topics from past Legislative sessions and what to expect in 2027 when it reconvenes.

Windstorm Insurance Reform

Hunter said coastal residents and public entities are no longer bearing the brunt of Texas Windstorm Insurance Association rate hikes. Following 2025 legislative restructuring, TWIA is 9% over its actuarial requirement, marking its first full solvency in 30 years, Hunter said. Rates are frozen through 2027, and catastrophic storm costs are now spread statewide rather than across 14 coastal counties.

Insurance costs for districts

To ease high premium costs for coastal school districts subject to state recapture laws, Hunter said Texas secured a $100 million budget allocation. The funding provides full windstorm insurance reimbursements for public school systems in coastal counties, including Rockport-Fulton ISD.

Healthcare reform top topic in 2027

Hunter said healthcare and tax reform will lead legislative priorities during the next session. Proposed health bills focus on lowering out-of-pocket costs and expanding mandatory insurance coverage for ovarian, breast and prostate cancer treatments.

Hunter added new medical billing measures will target healthcare systems by requiring full transparency in itemized costs for patients before processing high bills. This mandate specifically focuses on protecting patients over age 55.

Tax reform still on the table

Hunter said lawmakers will also evaluate comprehensive property tax reform alongside potential adjustments to sales tax structures. The effort aims to prevent rising property appraisals from eroding previous tax relief.

Water concerns

State leaders are establishing regional and statewide water management frameworks to guarantee long-term water supplies, Hunter said during the meeting. The policy urges municipal bodies to develop secondary water sources instead of relying on rainfall.

He added the Legislature will also consider introducing a regulatory framework governing incoming data centers. The regulations could focus on transparency, grid protection, local infrastructure contributions and private property rights to manage high energy and water demands.