Abbott orders Texas agencies to stop funding Flock roadside camera network

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has ordered all Texas state agencies to stop funding the Flock roadside camera network, with the instruction communicated to agencies Thursday evening, according to The Hill. The directive comes amid growing scrutiny of how Flock cameras are used across the United States and whether the system is deployed and handled in ways that comply with policy requirements and public-safety expectations.

The Hill reported that Abbott’s action bars agencies from using state funding for Flock cameras, treating the decision as a statewide pause rather than a narrower review limited to one agency or contract. The report did not indicate that Texas agencies are required to remove already-installed hardware or immediately change existing enforcement practices, but it framed the order as a stop to new or continued state funding.

The Hill said the timing of the Abbott instruction coincides with additional attention to the camera network, including a pending Texas Tribune investigation. The Tribune, the report said, was preparing to publish findings about the use of Flock systems, tying broader media scrutiny to the policy decision by the governor’s office.

The Flock camera network has been used by various jurisdictions to capture video and license-plate information for traffic enforcement and related investigations. The Abbott order focuses on funding and therefore raises questions about how Texas will handle future deployments, any ongoing reimbursement or vendor payments tied to state funds, and which agency records or procurement documents will need to be updated to comply with the directive.

Abbott’s order also highlights a federalism and administrative-governance issue: state agencies that participate in or support roadside camera programs rely on state budgeting and procurement controls to determine what technology is financed. A statewide funding halt can function as a compliance mechanism, but it also can require agencies to coordinate quickly with purchasing offices and legal teams to ensure that grant spending, contract renewals, and reimbursements do not continue through state channels.

The Hill report did not provide further specifics on the legal authority Abbott is citing, the exact scope of affected contracts, or whether the directive applies to both new purchases and ongoing operating payments. The report also did not describe any formal appeals process or immediate court challenges tied to the funding pause.

A spokesman or agency spokesperson was not quoted in the summary provided by The Hill, and the report did not detail next steps such as an independent audit, a commission-led review, or a timeline for when agencies might be allowed to resume funding if conditions are met. The practical outcome, as described, is that state-funded support for Flock cameras would stop until agencies receive further direction.