HOUSTON, Texas – The Harris County District Attorney’s Office is continuing its investigation into the Houston Independent School District’s use of bond-related funds after receiving new information from the district and a consulting firm, according to an email sent to complainants on Thursday, November 14, 2024.
Assistant District Attorney Sean Kozar-King notified parents who filed criminal complaints earlier this year that the inquiry remains active.
He said he could not share details because of grand jury confidentiality but confirmed that prosecutors received additional material from HISD and Outreach Strategists, a consulting firm tied to last year’s $4.4 billion bond campaign.
Kozar-King wrote that prosecutors are reviewing the new information to determine whether any of it is actionable under Texas law.
Records reviewed by 2 Investigates show HISD allocated $2 million to hire Outreach Strategists to provide “support” for the bond. Parents allege that more than $1.5 million of those funds went toward efforts that aided the campaign. Texas law prohibits government entities from using public money to advocate for or against a political measure.
Parents Heather Golden and Laura Hanet, who filed complaints, said they want clarity on whether HISD’s spending met that standard. They said they want prosecutors to conduct a thorough review of the district’s expenditures.
In August, 2 Investigates reported that Brent Chapell, head of the district attorney’s public integrity division, said the Texas Rangers were leading the investigation, though a Rangers spokesperson said no such investigation had been launched. Afterward, the district attorney’s office met with parents and reviewed their documentation.
HISD has not publicly detailed how the investigation has affected its bond projects and has not released a full breakdown of work performed by Outreach Strategists under the $2 million allocation.
