From increasing pay for Harris County law enforcement officers to investing in flood maintenance, protecting funding for community health and strengthening disaster readiness, Commissioner Lesley Briones delivered on key community priorities in 2025.

“Our work this year was rooted in what the community told us mattered most to their families: public safety, infrastructure, community health, and disaster readiness,” said Commissioner Lesley Briones. “By investing in these non-negotiables, we are creating a stronger, safer Harris County.”

Notable accomplishments in 2025 include:

Public Safety

• Delivered pay parity for Harris County law enforcement officers to support and retain experienced officers.
• Expanded the Holistic Assistance Response Team (HART) Program to all unincorporated areas, allowing law enforcement to prioritize violent crimes.
• Advanced a countywide Worksite Safety Policy to protect construction workers through rest breaks, heat-illness prevention, inspections, and whistleblower protections.
• Invested $6.2 million to strengthen protections for survivors of domestic violence and children, supporting services at The Children’s Assessment Center and One Safe Place Houston.

Infrastructure, Parks, and Connectivity

• Advanced progress on 2018 Flood Bond projects, directed remaining bond and partnership funds to 147 high-impact projects, including 27 in Precinct 4.
• Secured $67.3 million in federal funding to rebuild homes, expand affordable housing, support disaster-impacted small businesses, and repair critical infrastructure following major disasters.
• Delivered 50 miles of new sidewalks and began construction on 25 more to enhance safety and connect communities.
• Broke ground on transformational Burnett Bayland Park Project, launching a major reinvestment in one of the region’s most heavily used community parks.
• Completed the Sharpstown Trail, a 1.8-mile concrete path built in response to community calls for safer pedestrian access and improved transit connections.

Public Health

• Restored funding for Harris County Public Health, whose services include vaccinations, mobile health clinics, mosquito control, and the animal shelter. 
• Increased Harris Health’s budget, including Ben Taub and Lyndon B. Johnson Hospitals, clinics, and emergency rooms across the County, amid federal cuts to Medicaid.
• Expanded free mobile dental and medical services at Bayland Community Center Health Hub and other Precinct 4 community centers.

Disaster Readiness

• Led effort to mandate backup power HVAC systems at assisted living and nursing facilities in unincorporated Harris County to ensure critical heating and cooling systems remain operational during emergencies — keeping our most vulnerable residents safe during disasters.
• Distributed 250 free portable A/C units through the Cool 4 the Summer program to protect seniors and vulnerable residents during periods of extreme heat.
• Upgraded Bayland Community Center’s HVAC system through a $55,000 grant from Daikin and the Astros Foundation, strengthening its role as a cooling center during extreme heat.
• Finalized Precinct 4’s Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) and invested in generators and emergency equipment to maintain essential services during emergencies and support rapid recovery afterward.

Economic Stability and Affordability

• Advanced a historic living wage policy for Harris County employees and contractors, significantly increasing pay for thousands of workers.
• Precinct 4’s first GRADcafé opened in Gulfton, expanding free college and career navigation support for students, young adults, and families.
• Adopted a $2.769 billion balanced county budget that protects funding for flood control, public health, roads, sidewalks, and parks without cutting critical services.

“In 2025, we delivered results to the people of Harris County,” said Commissioner Lesley Briones. “I’m grateful for this opportunity to serve the people of Precinct 4, and I look forward to what we will accomplish together in 2026.