26 things you can look forward to in 2026

THE WOODLANDS, TX – Time flies; we’re already 0.5% done with 2026 and the days will just seem to be zipping by each new dawn. January 1 of the new year saw significant changes to local, nation, and global issues, ranging from barely noticeable to life-changing.

In honor of the 26th year of the 2000s, here are 26 things that changed with the calendar.

New Laws

The 89th Texas legislative session brought several new laws into effect. Following hundreds of bills passed and signed by Governor Greg Abbott, key new law subjects effective as of January 1 include:

1. Artificial Intelligence – Comprehensive AI regulations were established, creating the Texas AI Council to study development and potential issues, and banning AI-generated child pornography and impersonations.

2. Immigration Enforcement – Sheriff’s offices running jails – including Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office – must now formally cooperate with ICE, verifying immigration status and warrants.

3. Squatters and Evictions – New laws accelerate the eviction process for squatters, making it quicker for landlords, and increase penalties for criminal trespass related to squatting.

4. Tax Cuts – Increased homestead exemptions were approved, boosting the exemption to $140,000 for all homeowners and $200,000 for disabled/senior homeowners.

5. Gender-Affirming Care Restrictions – Laws were passed restricting certain gender-affirming treatments for minors and prohibiting individuals assigned male at birth from using women’s domestic violence shelters.

6. Foreign Property Ownership – Restrictions were placed on certain foreign countries and entities from acquiring real property in Texas.

7. Parental Consent in Schools – Schools now need annual parental consent for certain routine services.

8. Trafficking Victim Protections – Victims of human trafficking are shielded from prosecution for some crimes committed under duress, though serious offenses remain ineligible for protection.

Entering the Public Domain

As of January 1, a vast array of creative works published in 1930 and sound recordings from 1925 officially entered the public domain in the United States, allowing people to legally share, remix, and adapt these cultural icons without permission or licensing fees. Characters, books, films, and songs that are now copyright and trademark free include:

9. The original version of Betty Boop

10. Pluto (the dog, not the now-and-then planet)

11. Nancy Drew via the first four books written about her

12. Pre-marriage Blondie & Dagwood

13. Dashiell Hammett’s The Maltese Falcon (the book)

14. The popular illustrated version of The Little Engine That Could

15. Dick and Jane from the Elson Basic Readers

16. The Best Picture-winning adaptation of All Quiet on the Western Front

17. The Big Trail, which marked John Wayne's first leading role

18. The Technicolor musical King of Jazz, featuring Bing Crosby's film debut

19. “Georgia on My Mind”

20. “Dream a Little Dream of Me”

Fun in The Woodlands

21. Election Days – It’s a hot election year, with ballot changes ranging from hyper-locally municipal to federal government midterms. The primaries will take place Tuesday, March 3, and the last day you have to register to vote for it is Monday, February 2. Non-county uniform elections take place on Saturday, May 2. Chances are, there will be runoff elections for the primaries, and those will take place on Tuesday, May 26. And then the big Election Day of the year will occur Tuesday, November 3.

22. Semiquincentennial – Montgomery County is actively commemorating the Semiquincentennial, the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, through its local America250 committee. Key events and milestones – with many still unannounced as of this date – include Liberty Tree Plantings of Mexican Red Oaks, major celebrations set for Independence Day, a special program scheduled at the Heritage Museum in Conroe to honor the U.S. Navy’s anniversary, and Montgomery County’s efforts to align with the Texas America250 Commission, which supports statewide reading challenges, pop-up mini-exhibits, and a nationwide “America’s Potluck” event planned for July 5, 2026.

23. East Montgomery County Convention Center – This new, large venue opens this fall in New Caney to help cover events points east of The Woodlands.

24. The Habitat for Humanity Building Hope Gala – This annual gala – one of many such glorious and glitzy events – will occur April 25; this year’s elegant fundraiser comes with a ‘Casa de Corazón’ theme.

25. The Montgomery County Senior Expo – This large health fair will take place on October 22 with a Mardi Gras theme at the Lone Star Convention Center.

26. Best of The Woodlands – Year in and year out, hundreds businesses vie for the top honors amongst our Woodlands Online audiences with this intense competition covering dozens of industries and subcategories. Be sure to check out our site and social media daily so that you can make some educated decisions while voting for the best!

Woodlands Online wishes everyone a prosperous and happy 2026, and we look forward to bringing you the latest and greatest in Woodlands area news and events.