Primary Department: County Engineer
Primary Department Head/Elected Official: Milton Rahman, PhD, P.E., PMP, CFM, ENV-SP
Managing Department: County Engineer
Managing Department Head/Elected Official: Milton Rahman, PhD, P.E., PMP, CFM, ENV-SP
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA
Type of Request: Investment Memo
Investment Memo Type: Final Investment Memo
Project Name: Harris County Courts Expansion
Project ID (if applicable): 26035XJ5RR01
Vendor Legal Name (if applicable): N/A
MWBE Contracted Goal (if applicable): N/A
MWBE Current Achievement (if applicable): N/A
Justification for 0% MWDBE Participation Goal: N/A - Goal not applicable to request
Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): N/A
Justification for 0% Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): N/A - Not a grant item
Incremental Authorization Requested: $24,000,000
Total Estimated Project Cost: $24,000,000
Request Summary:
title
Request for approval of a Final Investment Memo for the Harris County Courts Expansion project for an amount of $24,000,000, and request for approval of commercial paper funding in the amount of $24,000,000.
end
Project Description:
On 17 Sept 2025, Texas State Legislature passed HB 16. Texas House Bill 16, enacted by the 89th Legislature, mandates Harris County to establish six additional civil courts with the following implementation deadlines:
• County Civil Court at Law #5 - Required by December 4, 2025 (currently operating in temporary shared space)
• District Civil Courts 513th, 514th, 515th, Required by September 1, 2026
• District Civil Courts 516th, 517th, Required by October 1, 2026
This project will start in FY2026 and be completed in FY2027. It provides courthouse facilities to accommodate these mandated courts and ensure long-term compliance with state law.
Space Planning Committee Approval -
On January 16, 2026, the Harris County Space Planning Committee approved a courthouse space reorganization strategy to create courtroom capacity at the Civil Courthouse (201 Caroline). The approved plan relocates administrative functions of both the District Clerk and County Clerk from 201 Caroline to available space at 1001 Preston, freeing approximately 40,402 square feet (equivalent to one full floor) for conversion to courtroom facilities.
Relocations Approved:
• District Clerk: 22,037 sf from 201 Caroline 4th Floor to 1001 Preston.
• County Clerk: 18,365 sf from 201 Caroline 7th Floor to 1001 Preston.
New Court Locations Approved:
• Two Courts at 1019 Congress.
• Four Courts at 201 Caroline.
Anticipated Project Expenditures and Timeline:
|
Project Scope Breakdown |
Estimated Cost |
Estimated Completion |
|
1019 Congress Remodeling and Relocation |
$6,000,000 |
FY2027 |
|
1001 Preston Remodeling and Relocation |
$2,870,000 |
FY2027 |
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201 Caroline Remodeling and Relocation |
$12,000,000 |
FY2027 |
|
Contingency (15%) |
$3,130,000 |
FY2027 |
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Total |
$24,000,000 |
FY2027 |
Justification & Alternatives:
No alternatives as approved and directed by Commissioners Court on 01/29/2026.
Anticipated Impact on Other Funds (If Applicable):
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Fund Code |
Description |
Estimated Cost |
Funding Method (Existing or Future Budget Request Required) |
Estimated Date of Needs |
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County Strategic Plan Goal: 1. Make Harris County safer and more just.
County Strategic Plan Objective: E: Increase efficiency across the legal system.
Justice/Safety Initiative (Goal 1): E1: Modernize data and technology architecture across the legal system.
Infrastructure Initiative (Goal 2): H4: Consistently embed sustainability considerations in the project planning and design process.
Economy Initiative (Goal 3): J2: Increase the strength and size of MWBE prime vendors.
Health Initiative (Goal 4): N/A
Climate/Resilience Initiative (Goal 5): T2: Make County buildings more energy efficient.
Housing Initiative (Goal 6): N/A
Previous Court Action:
|
Date |
Agenda Item # |
Action Taken |
|
1/29/2026 |
26-0818 |
Approved: Relocate County Clerks Offices and District Clerks Offices from 201 Caroline to 1001 Preston. |
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Address: 201 Caroline, 1001 Preston, 1019 Congress
Precinct(s): Precinct 1
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Fiscal and Personnel Summary |
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Funding Sources |
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Existing Budget |
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$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
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$ |
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Total Current Budget |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
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Additional Budget Request |
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Commercial Paper |
$ |
$24,000,000 |
$24,000,000 |
$ |
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$ |
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$ |
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Total Additional Budget Request |
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$24,000,000 |
$24,000,000 |
$ |
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Total Funding Request |
$ |
$24,000,000 |
$24,000,000 |
$ |
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Personnel (Fill out section only if requesting new PCNs) |
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Current Position Count for Service |
- |
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Additional Positions Request |
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Total Personnel |
- |
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Anticipated Court Date: 2/26/2026
Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date): Click or tap to enter a date.
Emergency/Disaster Recovery Note: Not an emergency, disaster, or ARPA related item
Legal funding compliance confirmed by: Paige Abernathy, Assistant County Attorney, 2/16/2026
Department Approval by: Chief Samuel Pena, Infrastructure Services & Disaster Recovery
Noe Ramirez, AIA, Director of High-Profile Special Projects , 02/16/2026
Office of County Engineer
OMB CIP Team Approval by: William McGuinness, Director-Capital Projects & Infrastructure, 2/16/2026
Commercial Paper Request (For OMB use only):
Receiving Department: County Engineer
Project PeopleSoft ID: TBD
CP Series Description: Commercial Paper Series D-2 can be used for (1) construction of public works, (2) the purchase of automobiles, equipment and machinery, including computers, materials and supplies for the operation of the County’s precincts and departments (3) Professional services, including services provided by engineers, architects, attorneys, auditors, financial advisors, and fiscal agents, in connection with the contractual obligations described in (1) and (2).
Commercial Paper is being requested for the Harris County Courts Expansion project and is expected to be repaid within the next three fiscal years either through bonds, budgetary means or pay-as-you-go sources.
OMB Financial Management contact: Fahad Gulzar, Acting Deputy Executive Director, Office of Management and Budget