The Texas 2036 Story

The Texas 2036 story

“What do we want Texas to be like in our third century?”

That was the question Tom Luce, a Dallas attorney, asked in 2016. With the state’s bicentennial year of 2036 on the horizon, he saw not just the opportunity for a celebration of the past but an inflection point to bring Texans together to set a better path for the future.

For Tom, it was always about making sure all Texans have the same opportunities that he once had growing up; now, and into the future. It’s about making sure Texas is the best place to live, to do business and to raise a family.

Tom’s decades of experience leading on issues of law, business and policy have helped shape his approach to Texas 2036, ensuring a prosperous future for all Texans.

Learn more about Tom »

THE EARLY YEARS

“Without data, you’re just another person with an opinion.”

Tom understood that, given credible, unbiased data, legislators, community and business leaders, and Texas families could come together to evaluate how to most effectively address issues that affect all Texans: education and workforce, healthcare, infrastructure and natural resources, justice and safety, and government performance.

During the initial years of Texas 2036, we laid the foundation for the future by gathering over 300 publicly-available data sets, poring over the numbers and identifying trends.

We examined not just where Texas stood on critical issues, but how we compared to other states, and where we needed to be by the state’s bicentennial if we wanted to maintain our legacy of success.

When the state went dark during the COVID-19 pandemic, our data was the light that showed the way.

A screenshot of a 2020 Texas Monthly headline that reads, "A New Texas COVID-19 Tracker Offers a Ton of Useful Information."

A FOUNDATION OF IMPACT

Texas-Sized Results

From 2019 to 2023, under the leadership of President and CEO Margaret Spellings, Texas 2036 made data actionable beginning with the publication of Shaping Our Future: A Strategic Framework for Texas. It was an interactive dashboard, accompanied by a 227-page report that provided an in-depth look at how Texas was positioned for the future. It also established 36 ambitious but achievable goals, undergirded by more than 160 performance indicators to help measure progress.

We began taking our research and analysis to lawmakers and state officials as they deliberated over legislative and regulatory opportunities to reinforce what was working well, and to correct course where needed.

Early on, the impact of our work was significant:

Streamlined investment operations resulted in historic financial distributions — more than $500 million over the previous year — for public schools at no cost to taxpayers.
800,000+ students are now eligible for free, data-informed math and reading tutoring.
700,000+ community college students benefit from a funding model that rewards colleges for helping them earn credentials of value, transfer to universities, and complete dual credit.
370,000+ Texans have affordable health coverage after state rate reform corrected premium misalignment across coverage tiers.
New law enforcement recruitment and retention procedures are in place at 2,700+ agencies, and Texas has new databases and misconduct reporting systems for 79,000+ licensed peace officers.

These are just a few of the results of our work that are improving the lives and livelihoods of Texas families across the state.

THE PATH FORWARD

The Next Texas Century

In 2024, former Rice University President David W. Leebron took the helm at Texas 2036, carrying on Tom’s vision for the next Texas century as one where Texas is the best place to live, work and raise a family.

Under David’s leadership, Texas 2036 has built on the strong foundation of data-driven research and analysis established during the organization’s early years, resulting in generational impacts during the 2025 legislative session including:

Over $22 billion to repair and replace Texas’ aging water infrastructure
$382 million for wildfire response
$135 million to establish the Texas Cyber Command
1.7 million high school students with access to better career-aligned opportunities

“Texas 2036 represents a promise to use data to bring Texans together around the issues that matter most.”

For Tom, the future of Texas was always personal. He spoke of his successes as a testament to the opportunities that Texas provides, akin to riding a wave created by those who came before us.

Through Texas 2036, Tom was able to amplify that wave for future generations, including his own beloved grandchildren.

And Tom knew that today’s Texans have the same grit, determination and innovative spirit that made Texas the land of opportunity he knew growing up.

Through his eyes, the Texas story was always one of a collective journey. Tom envisioned a Texas that beckons to the best and brightest around the country and globe, driving them to add their talents to the shared effort.

At Texas 2036, we’re proud to carry that vision forward, ensuring a bright and prosperous future for generations of Texans to come.