Craig Chapman

The meeting commenced with acknowledgement of technical difficulties preventing public broadcast viewing, resulting in the public comment section being postponed. New board members were sworn in. Key agenda items included the approval of the consent agenda, a report from the chair, and a resolution honoring former board chair Mr. David Kelner for his extensive service to the legal profession in Texas, including his work on various committees and schools of law. Following this, there were general housekeeping announcements regarding board communications and the announcement of candidates for the 2026-2027 chair-elect position: Steve Chisano, Danna Gomez, and Amy Rod, each of whom addressed the board regarding their vision for leadership, focusing on transformational leadership, process excellence, and utilizing the strengths of the diverse board membership.

The meeting commenced with reports from the Chair of the Board and the Executive Director. Key discussions included updates on the BoardEffect portal, meeting attendance tracking, and ongoing projects like the Texas Bar College Summer School and Local Bar Leaders Conference. The Executive Director announced the Law Practice Management Committee received an ABA award for the Succession Planning Project and recognized staff award recipients. The President honored a former Director and provided updates on the Wall of Honor, grievance panel vacancies, the Emerging Technology Committee, and the 'Stand with Santos' initiative, which achieved significant fundraising and volunteer milestones for access to justice. The Nominations & Elections Subcommittee reported on the 2026 election process. The Policy Manual Subcommittee successfully moved seven motions to approve various changes, including removing obsolete sections and updating dues references. The Audit & Finance Committee reviewed financial reports, internal audits, and approved the Quarterly Investment Report for May 2025, the PFM Broker/Dealer List, and the State Bar of Texas investment policy. The Client Security Fund Subcommittee reported reviewing 103 applications, approving 44 for a total of $920,807.08. The Appeals-Grant Review Subcommittee's recommendation to deny Judge Maria Aceves' application for Civil Trial Law certification was approved despite one dissenting vote and one abstention. Updates were also provided on CLE programs, health insurance premium increases, State Bar Sections dues, and the TYLA's focus areas. The meeting concluded with the announcement that District 12 Director Carlo Taboada resigned during the first break, and the meeting was adjourned after reports from the Commission for Lawyer Discipline, Texas Center for Legal Ethics, and Texas Access to Justice Commission.

The executive committee meeting commenced with roll call, confirming a quorum. Key discussions included administrative updates such as the upcoming 2026 State Bar Annual Meeting in Houston, for which sponsorship levels were outlined. A detailed review of the 'By The Numbers' report from the December 2025 Texas Bar Journal was provided, highlighting performance metrics across serving the public (over 108,000 referrals made), law-related education reaching over 160,000 students, Client Attorney Assistance Program (CAP) success rates (over 84% resolution success), and client security fund approvals of over $650,000. Membership service updates covered high website traffic and the Texas Lawyers Assistance Program handling 875 consultations. The President provided an extensive update on activities, including traveling across the state to speak at numerous bar associations and events, and noted significant progress in the 'Stand With Santos Access to Justice Campaign,' raising over $112,000 in funds and $1,258,000 in donated pro bono hours towards the $300,000 goal. The committee also approved the minutes from the September 4, 2025 meeting.

The agenda for the Board of Directors meeting includes several administrative and reporting items. Key discussions involve reports from the Chair, Executive Director, President, and President-elect. The Budget Committee will consider approval of the 2026-27 proposed budget for publication. The Nominations & Elections Subcommittee will consider candidates for the 2026-27 SBOT President-elect. The Administration Committee agenda includes actions regarding proposed amendments to the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure (Rule 34.6 and Rule 42.1) and the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure (Rule 76a) concerning court records. The Audit & Finance Committee plans to review financial reports, approve the Fiscal Year ending May 31, 2025 Financial Audit, and approve Quarterly Investment Reports. The meeting also includes a closed session for legal consultation regarding pending litigation and personnel matters.

The meeting included reports from the Executive Director on various conferences and the success of the Succession Planning Toolkit, which received an award from the ABA. The President provided an update on the "Stand with Santos" initiative, Grievance Panel appointments, and the Wall of Honor. The Chair reported on the use of the BoardEffect platform and announced that solicitation for the 2026-27 Chair of the Board would commence at the September Board of Directors meeting. The President-elect offered an update on the 2026-27 budget process. Reports were also received from the Immediate Past President regarding the redesign of TexasBar.com. The Nominations & Elections Subcommittee provided an update on the timeline for president-elect candidates and district director openings. The Chief Legal Counsel reported the dismissal of the Turnbull case. Business concluded with adjournment.