--- title: "Texas $1 Insurance Fee Funds Thousands of Flock Cameras" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/texas-1-insurance-fee-funds-thousands-of-flock-cameras" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/texas-1-insurance-fee-funds-thousands-of-flock-cameras" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/texas-1-insurance-fee-funds-thousands-of-flock-cameras.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/texas-1-insurance-fee-funds-thousands-of-flock-cameras" category: "Politics" area: "United States" published: "2026-09-01T15:05:11.581Z" source_reported: "2026-09-01T14:00:00.000Z" updated: "2026-09-01T15:05:11.581Z" trust_score: 85 critic_score: 85 hype_score: 15 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-09-01T14:18:45.411Z" --- # Texas $1 Insurance Fee Funds Thousands of Flock Cameras *A state agency used revenue from a fee intended to fight theft to expand a surveillance network.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 85 of 100, higher is better. Two full reports with named sources and documents corroborated by 16 digests. - Craft 85 of 100, higher is better. Quotes, figures, dates, and right of reply included in full reports. - Hype 15 of 100, lower is better. Headlines match the body's substance across all outlets. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - A $1 fee on Texas auto insurance policies, enacted in 2023 to combat catalytic converter theft, has funded the expansion of the Flock surveillance network. - The Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority has used at least $30 million of this fee to deploy at least 3,200 Flock cameras across the state. - Governor Greg Abbott's office announced a pause on state funding for local grants used for Flock cameras following inquiries about the spending. - Some lawmakers involved in passing the original fee legislation stated that its use for surveillance cameras was not their intention. In 2023, the Texas Legislature unanimously passed a law that increased auto insurance costs for Texans by $1 annually. The stated purpose of this fee was to combat catalytic converter theft. Analysis by The Texas Tribune found that a state agency, the Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority, has since used at least $30 million of this revenue to expand the Flock surveillance network. The Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority, whose board is largely appointed by Governor Greg Abbott, has used the $1 fee increase to acquire at least 3,200 Flock cameras. The agency has awarded grants totaling $50.8 million to help law enforcement agencies purchase and maintain surveillance equipment, including Flock cameras. An additional $15.9 million has been allocated to the Texas Department of Public Safety for nearly 1,200 more cameras. ## Disagreement on legislative intent Sources indicate differing views on the intended use of the $1 fee. Washington Top News and abc 13 Houston reported that State Sen. Carol Alvarado and Rep. Jeff Leach, who were involved in the bill's passage, stated that surveillance cameras were not discussed during legislative consideration. Alvarado expressed surprise at the fee funding AI-supported license plate readers, telling abc 13 Houston, "I did not have that in mind when we passed the bill." Conversely, Miguel Rodriguez, chair of the Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority and Laredo Police Chief, indicated an intention to use the proceeds to "cover the entire state" with cameras, viewing them as a tool to disrupt criminal organizations. ## What the coverage left out None of the left-rated reports below mention the specific figure of $81 million raised by the $1 fee increase, nor the $50.8 million funneled into 234 grants by the Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority. The right-rated report does not mention the specific figure of $81 million raised by the $1 fee increase, nor the $50.8 million funneled into 234 grants by the Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority. ## Who covered it Shares of the 17 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 41% (7) - Centre: 53% (9) - Right: 6% (1) 1 of 18 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-09-01T14:18:45.411Z. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 8 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-09-01T17:00:15.952Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - Left-rated reports focused on the expansion of the Flock surveillance network funded by the $1 insurance fee, often highlighting that this was not the original intent of the legislation. Outlets like abc 13 Houston and The Texas Tribune noted that the Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority has used at least $30 million of the fee to expand the network. Several reports quoted or paraphrased lawmakers, including State Sen. Carol Alvarado, who expressed surprise that the fee was funding AI-supported license plate readers, stating, "I did not have that in mind when we passed the bill." The expansion of at least 3,200 Flock cameras was a consistent point across these reports. The reports also mentioned Governor Abbott's office pausing state funding for local grants for Flock cameras after inquiries. ### Centre - Centre-rated reports consistently stated that the $1 fee increase on Texas auto insurance policies, enacted in 2023 to combat catalytic converter theft, has funded thousands of Flock cameras. Reports from outlets such as Washington Top News and Spectrum Local News highlighted that the Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority has used at least $30 million of the fee for this expansion, leading to at least 3,200 cameras. The involvement of Governor Greg Abbott's office in pausing state funding for local grants for these cameras was also noted. Some reports included statements from lawmakers who indicated that surveillance cameras were not discussed when the bill was considered. ### Right - The right-rated report from Madison Courier stated that the Texas Legislature raised auto insurance costs by $1 in 2023 to combat catalytic converter theft. It also noted that an analysis by The Texas Tribune found a state agency has since used at least $30 million of that fee to expand the surveillance network. **Provisional coverage gap:** right. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - high: 10 - unknown: 2 - veryHigh: 6 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [Spectrum Local News](https://spectrumlocalnews.com/tx/austin/news/2026/09/01/lawmakers-car-insurance-policies-flock-cameras) — Lawmakers added $1 to Texans’ car insurance policies for Flock cameras - [Washington Top News](https://wtop.com/national/2026/08/lawmakers-added-1-to-texans-car-insurance-policies-the-money-paid-for-thousands-of-flock-cameras) — Lawmakers added $1 to Texans’ car insurance policies. The money paid for thousands of Flock cameras. – WTOP News - [The Toronto Star](https://thestar.com/news/world/united-states/lawmakers-added-1-to-texans-car-insurance-policies-the-money-paid-for-thousands-of-flock-cameras/article_19e3960b-ba6f-50db-9229-c56c4cdb1fb4.html) — Lawmakers added $1 to Texans’ car insurance policies. The money paid for thousands of Flock cameras. - [WellandTribune.ca](https://wellandtribune.ca/business/lawmakers-added-1-to-texans-car-insurance-policies-the-money-paid-for-thousands-of-flock-cameras/article_cb155f72-ff08-5dfb-8db1-16ed4feb3446.html) — Lawmakers added $1 to Texans’ car insurance policies. The money paid for thousands of Flock cameras. - [Newsday](https://newsday.com/news/nation/texas-car-insurance-fee-flock-cameras-e95406) — Lawmakers added $1 to Texans' car insurance policies. The money paid for thousands of Flock cameras. - [Enid News & Eagle](https://enidnews.com/region/lawmakers-added-1-to-texans-car-insurance-policies-the-money-paid-for-thousands-of-flock/article_d3ecd426-a286-5cac-9296-457f97de45a8.html) — Lawmakers added $1 to Texans’ car insurance policies. The money paid for thousands of Flock cameras. - [Madison Courier](https://madisoncourier.com/ap/news/lawmakers-added-1-to-texans-car-insurance-policies-the-money-paid-for-thousands-of-flock/article_ea645ade-49ee-5d3c-8815-0eba82357043.html) — Lawmakers added $1 to Texans’ car insurance policies. The money paid for thousands of Flock cameras. - [GazetteXtra](https://gazettextra.com/news/nation_world/lawmakers-added-1-to-texans-car-insurance-policies-the-money-paid-for-thousands-of-flock/article_37fb619c-e07c-5e58-9fcf-99ddda7ffb23.html) — Lawmakers added $1 to Texans’ car insurance policies. The money paid for thousands of Flock cameras. - [Jalopnik](https://jalopnik.com/2247631/texas-funds-flock-camera-surveillance-catalytic-converter) — Texas Funds Flock Camera Surveillance Network With $1 Car Insurance Fee Meant To Combat Catalytic Converter Theft - [Winnipeg Free Press](https://winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/life/sci-tech/2026/08/31/lawmakers-added-1-to-texans-car-insurance-policies-the-money-paid-for-thousands-of-flock-cameras) — Lawmakers added $1 to Texans’ car insurance policies. The money paid for thousands of Flock cameras. - [MyParisTexas](https://myparistexas.com/lawmakers-added-1-to-texans-car-insurance-policies-that-money-paid-for-thousands-of-flock-cameras) — Lawmakers added $1 to Texans’ car insurance policies. That money paid for thousands of Flock cameras. - [abc 13 Houston](https://abc13.com/story/lawmakers-added-1-texans-car-insurance-policies-money-paid-thousands-flock-cameras/19764215) — Lawmakers added $1 to Texans’ car insurance policies; that money paid for thousands of Flock cameras - [Corsicana Daily Sun](https://corsicanadailysun.com/news/lawmakers-added-1-to-texans-car-insurance-policies-that-money-paid-for-thousands-of-flock/article_59679358-bb01-4f40-aaf6-f49d66686bff.html) — Lawmakers added $1 to Texans’ car insurance policies. That money paid for thousands of Flock cameras. - [San Antonio Current](https://sacurrent.com/news/texas-news/lawmakers-added-1-to-texans-car-insurance-policies-that-money-paid-for-thousands-of-flock-cameras) — Lawmakers added $1 to Texans’ car insurance policies. That money paid for thousands of Flock cameras. - [Weatherford Democrat](https://weatherforddemocrat.com/texas/sports/lawmakers-added-1-to-texans-car-insurance-policies-that-money-paid-for-thousands-of-flock/article_ede41bbc-5004-53ef-9def-ac1dc39908d0.html) — Lawmakers added $1 to Texans’ car insurance policies. That money paid for thousands of Flock cameras. - [The Gilmer Mirror](https://gilmermirror.com/2026/08/29/lawmakers-added-1-to-texans-car-insurance-policies-that-money-paid-for-thousands-of-flock-cameras) — Lawmakers added $1 to Texans’ car insurance policies. That money paid for thousands of Flock cameras. - [WFAA 8abc](https://wfaa.com/article/news/state/texas-news/lawmakers-added-1-texans-car-insurance-policies-that-money-paid-for-thousands-flock-cameras/287-20e8cf8b-7885-47ef-a6df-4c57ec9a79fd) — Lawmakers added $1 to Texans’ car insurance policies. That money paid for thousands of Flock cameras. - [The Texas Tribune](https://texastribune.org/2026/08/28/texas-flock-cameras-auto-insurance-fee-mvcpa-grants) — How a $1 Texas insurance fee funded thousands of Flock cameras ## Questions **Why was the $1 fee added to Texas auto insurance policies?** The $1 fee was added to Texas auto insurance policies in 2023 by the Texas Legislature with the stated purpose of combating catalytic converter theft. The revenue generated from this fee has been used by the Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority to expand the Flock surveillance network. **How much money has been spent on Flock cameras from the insurance fee?** At least $30 million of the $1 insurance fee revenue has been devoted to expanding the Flock surveillance network. The Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority has used $50.8 million from the fee to fund 234 grants, which have helped law enforcement agencies purchase surveillance devices, including Flock cameras. **What was the reaction from Governor Abbott's office?** Following inquiries from The Texas Tribune about the spending of the $1 insurance fee on Flock cameras, Governor Greg Abbott's office announced a pause on all state funding for local grants intended for these cameras. Abbott's spokesperson stated that any Texas agency funding for cameras would be clarified to ensure it cannot be used for Flock cameras. **Did lawmakers intend for the fee to fund surveillance cameras?** Some lawmakers involved in passing the original legislation stated that surveillance cameras were not discussed during the bill's consideration. State Sen. Carol Alvarado expressed surprise at the fee funding AI-supported license plate readers, indicating it was not her intention when the bill was passed. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/politics/texas-1-insurance-fee-funds-thousands-of-flock-cameras. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Texas $1 Insurance Fee Funds Thousands of Flock Cameras", https://mediabias.news/politics/texas-1-insurance-fee-funds-thousands-of-flock-cameras