A tense Harris County Commissioners Court meeting over a proposed tax hike for early childcare programs ended with a rare public rebuke of the county’s top official. In a 3-1 vote Thursday, commissioners approved a censure of Judge Lina Hidalgo, citing her conduct during the heated debate.
Commissioners Lesley Briones, Tom Ramsey, and Adrian Garcia supported the censure, while Commissioner Rodney Ellis opposed it. Although the measure carries no direct consequence, a county official told the Houston Chronicle it will be entered into the court’s official record.
The decision followed a tense and disorderly meeting earlier in the day. Hidalgo urged dozens of children in attendance—there to advocate for continued funding of several childcare initiatives—to address commissioners and push for the tax hike.
Calls for order went unheeded, and Hidalgo frequently interrupted discussion, escalating tensions in the chamber.
In a post on X after the meeting, Garcia criticized what he described as “disruptive behavior” from Hidalgo.
“We must hold ourselves to the highest standards,” Garcia wrote. “It was particularly offensive to witness her trying to use children as props for her political agenda. The people of Harris County deserve better.”
Hidalgo has made no official statement and posted on X after the meeting: “I am grateful for my staff and their hard work. And I am grateful to have been able to fight for these families and show the Harris County tax payers that I trust their judgment (…).”
According to the Houston Chronicle, the exchange also came after Hidalgo used both social media and her remarks in court to challenge her colleagues, accusing them of protecting their “contractor-funded war chests” and warning that failing to pass the tax measure could lead to cuts in basic services.
While commissioners never took a formal vote on the increase, they missed a key deadline to move it forward, effectively killing the proposal.
Thursday’s action marked the first time the Commissioners Court has formally admonished Hidalgo.
