Abbott Suspends State Agency Funding for Flock Cameras
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott ordered state agencies to suspend funding for Flock cameras. The measure is not a blanket ban on their use by cities or police departments.
Funding for Flock cameras has been suspended at the state agency level by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott. According to his spokesperson, he issued an order on Thursday, August 28, directing agencies to stop funding Flock Safety camera systems. The measure applies to state resources and does not represent a blanket ban on the use of these cameras by cities or police departments.
Flock camera systems are used for automated license plate recognition. Their use in public safety infrastructure has prompted debate over privacy, data sharing and government oversight of the technology.
Flock camera funding involves state money
According to available information, the governor’s order targets state agencies and their spending. Local governments and police departments therefore do not necessarily have to stop using Flock cameras automatically. They may use their own or federal funds to operate or acquire them.
The Texas Tribune found that the state’s Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority directed at least $30 million to the Flock network. The funding suspension could therefore stop or delay further state-supported deployment of automated license plate recognition cameras in Texas.
The order’s scope and duration remain unclear
The full text of Abbott’s order and the precise length of its validity have not yet been publicly documented. It has also not been confirmed whether it will affect already-signed grants, existing contracts or service payments for deployed systems.
Without an official explanation, it is not possible to confirm the specific motive behind the decision. The claim that it was a direct response to a particular media investigation therefore cannot be considered a confirmed fact.
What to watch next
- publication of the governor’s written order or guidance for state agencies,
- decisions by the Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority on grants and approved payments,
- responses from local police departments and Flock Safety, including any possible contract changes.
Sources
- The Texas Tribune – Confirms that Abbott ordered a suspension of state funding for Flock cameras and that his spokesperson confirmed it.
- The Texas Tribune – Documents the finding that the state authority spent at least $30 million on expanding the Flock network.
- The Washington Post – Independently corroborates the halt in the flow of state money to Flock cameras.
Verified and updated: 08/30/2026 19:10
