Welcome TO HAYS COUNTY!
Hays County is located in Central Texas. It was established in 1848. Our County Seat is San Marcos. Visit this
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The Hays County Burn Ban is IN EFFECT
Announcements
To view the original notice, click here FILED HAYS COUNTY, TEXAS at 8:25 o'clock AM Oct 20 2025
To view the original notice, click here FILED HAYS COUNTY, TEXAS at 8:15 o'clock AM.
To view the original notice, Click here
News
SAN MARCOS, Texas — The Hays County Health Department is excited to announce the release of the 2025 Hays County Resource Guide — an updated, comprehensive directory designed to help residents, community partners and organizations easily access vital support services and share information with others. Following the launch of the first edition in October 2024, this updated guide features many additions, updates and newly added sections. Expanded or added areas include: Veteran and Military Family Services; Disability; Neurodivergence and Accessibility Resources; Arts, Culture, and Healing; Reproductive Health Resources; and Animal Welfare and Care Services. The updated resource guide offers information such as services, location(s), cost, languages services are available in, and more on a wide range of resources, including healthcare, cultural centers, housing, food assistance, mental health services and more, all available to Hays County residents. “These enhancements were made possible with the help of local organizations and dedicated community leaders through submitting requests for additions and changes,” said Health Department Director Matthew Gonzales. “We thank everyone who contributed to making this guide a more inclusive and valuable resource for all of Hays County.” “This resource guide is the result of many voices coming together with a shared vision: expanding access to care and ensuring no resident is left behind. Through collaboration across our community, we are not just sharing information; we are building bridges of connection, dignity, and belonging. In doing so, we transform resources into pathways of support and resilience that serve all who call Hays County home,” said Izzy Vigil, Hays County Health Department Behavioral Health Coordinator. “In doing so, we transform resources into pathways of support and resilience that serve all who call Hays County home.” The 2025 Hays County Resource Guide is part of the department’s ongoing effort to connect the community with vital services. It is available digitally on the health department’s website at https://www.hayscountytx.gov/resource-directory and will be updated quarterly to ensure the most accurate and current information is accessible. Paper copies will be available at the health department. As we look ahead to the next edition, the health department continues to invite feedback from the public, local organizations and service providers. Suggestions for new resources, such as updates to existing listings or general feedback on the guide’s format and usability, are welcome and encouraged. Fill out a form at bit.ly/4gOM4oy to request an additional resource or contact Izzy Vigil at Isabella.Vigil@hayscountytx.gov with suggestions. “The 2025 Resource Guide reflects our department’s deep commitment to fairness, access, and community collaboration. Every update and addition represents a step toward a more connected and supported Hays County,” said Gonzales. “We’re proud to work alongside our partners to ensure that every resident — regardless of background or circumstance — can find the help they need and deserve.” To provide feedback or suggest additions for the 2025 edition of the Hays County Resource Guide, please visit https://www.hayscountytx.gov/resource-directory. The deadline for submissions is Dec. 1, 2025. ###
SAN MARCOS, Texas— On Tuesday, Oct. 14, the Hays County Commissioners Court voted to approve changes to the list of voting locations for the Nov. 4, 2025, General Election to meet Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility standards. “Many of the issues cited include slopes of parking lots that exceed the maximum requirements, and changes in foundation levels that cause barriers to voters with disabilities,” said Hays County Elections Administrator Jennifer Doinoff. “Additionally, pathways to the voting location from the public right-of-way had compliance issues that couldn’t be overcome before early voting started.” The changes to the list of voting locations are as follows: · Sunfield Station has been relocated to Holiday Inn Express (next door) · Dripping Springs Learning Center has been relocated to Patriot’s Hall Wellness Center · Driftwood Community Center was closed “It’s important to comply with ADA standards to ensure that voters with disabilities have every opportunity to vote in-person independently, like all other voters,” Doinoff said. “Hays County Elections is dedicated to finding locations that are fully and equally accessible for all voters. Our team will work with the affected locations to make permanent remedies, so that we can use them for future elections.” Early voting began on October 20 and runs through October 31. For more information, visit https://www.hayscountytx.gov/elections.
SAN MARCOS, Texas – The office of Hays County Criminal District Attorney Kelly Higgins announced Friday, Oct. 17, that 53-year-old Andrew Palmore, formerly of Kyle, Texas, was found guilty of continuous sexual abuse of children this week by a Hays County jury and sentenced on Oct. 16, 2025 by that same jury to life in prison, the maximum punishment allowed by law for the offense of continuous sexual abuse of children. There is no possibility of parole. In February of 2022, the Kyle Police Department began investigating Palmore, a former teacher at Blanco Vista Elementary School, after an outcry of child sexual abuse. The minor child who outcried was not a student at Blanco Vista Elementary. Throughout the course of the investigation, Det. Pedro Carrasco Jr. uncovered evidence of a previous investigation regarding another child by the San Marcos Police Department and interviewed the defendant. He admitted to sexually abusing three children. Palmore also revealed that one of the victims was part of the San Marcos Police Department investigation. The investigation also led to the discovery of additional elementary-aged children who claimed that Palmore sexually abused them, including former students of the defendant at Casey Elementary School in Austin, Texas, during the 2000s. During the trial, the jury heard testimony from six different children whom Palmore abused, as well as testimony from two adult women who were victims of the defendant during his time at Casey Elementary. It was apparent from the testimony of the witnesses that Palmore used his position as a teacher to gain access to an untold number of children and to garner the trust of the community and the parents, said Higgins. It is impossible to know the true extent of Palmore’s sexual abuse, which spanned more than two decades, he added. "This case highlights the importance of collaboration between law enforcement, prosecutors, and the community in ensuring justice is served," said Dr. Jeff Barnett, Kyle Police Chief. "Our department remains committed to protecting children, preventing abuse and holding offenders fully accountable to the fullest extent of the law." Assistant District Attorneys Daniella Garcia and Elizabeth Schmidt prosecuted this case. “Children are the most vulnerable members of our society, and today, the children of Hays County have been made safer by ensuring a dangerous sexual predator will never have access to another child again. Bringing this predator to justice was truly a team and community effort,” Schmidt said. “We’d like to thank Det. Carrasco for his hard work, thoroughly investigating this case that led to the discovery of victims that spanned the defendant’s 20-year career as a teacher, the brave survivors who stood up to their offender, the victim assistant coordinator who demonstrated extraordinary powers in managing to keep everything on track and all of the witnesses who testified in the trial. We also appreciate the time and attention of the jurors who rendered justice. We hope the victims find some measure of reassurance knowing that they are safer, and they have the community’s support.”
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