1788 health complex will include facilities, education

MIDLAND In what was called a transformative day, Gov. Greg Abbott on Thursday signed several bills into law and announced funding for a medical-educational complex near the Wagner Noël Performing Arts Center.

At the signing held in the Permian Basin Petroleum Museum, Abbott was joined by State Reps. Brooks Landgraf, R-Odessa, Tom Craddick, R-Midland, Chairman of the Permian Strategic Partnership Don Evans, and Sen. Kevin Sparks, R-Midland.

Midland Mayor Lori Blong, other elected officials, law enforcement and community dignitaries were on hand.

In addition to bills passed during the 89th legislative session that will safeguard Texas’ robust oil and gas industry and spur economic growth across West Texas, Abbott signed funding for an item that funds a historic $123 million investment in the Beacon project, which includes the Behavioral Health Hospital. It will be a component of the state budget.

The complex is located near 1788 and 191.

“It’s going to transform the entire Permian Basin region for decades … It’s going to attract new visitors and new residents. It’s going to encourage more people to call Midland and the Permian Basin home,” Abbott said.

“That’s going to provide substantial economic growth for decades in the future for the region,” he added.

Abbott said the project meant a lot to people in the entire region.

“You planted a flag (and) said, we need this for the future of this region, and because of your all-in position on this, it made a difference; got it across the finish line,” he added. “… I’m proud to take this and line-item, sign and approve this $123 million project,” Abbott said.

Evans said June 5, 2025, is a “transformative day for the Permian Basin.”

“The state has agreed to fund development of the Beacon Alliance, which will be a healthcare campus along with a higher education campus that will serve the entire Permian Basin,” Evans said.

“We will bring out here iconic medical institutions, the best in the world will be in the Permian Basin. The state has put us in a position to do just that. We have to be able to build out the infrastructure — roads and utilities and now we can,” he added.

He noted that they have been working on this for about six years and put 700 acres together.

“It will be a destination type development. It will be where people will come and they’ll live and they’ll work and they’ll play and the work part of it will be healthcare and the work part of it will be higher ed also. It’s a transformative day. It truly is,” Evans said.

He said they are not ready to announce the medical facilities, but said the UT System is interested in expanding UTPB out there.

Craddick mentioned possible medical facilities at the Beacon complex would be MD Anderson and Texas Children’s Hospital.

On a separate item, Abbott said many in the region have complained about oilfield theft, “and for good reason.

“It is on the rise and is very costly. Your senator and representatives got three laws to my desk to fix that. The first is House Bill 48 by Rep. (Drew) Darby and sponsored by Senator Sparks.”

Abbott said the bill establishes an Oilfield Theft Prevention Unit to be located in the Texas Department of Public Safety.

The second is Senate Bill 494, by Sparks, sponsored in the House by Landgraf. It establishes the Theft of Petroleum Products Task Force.

The third is Senate Bill 1806, by Sparks, and sponsored in the House by Craddick. Abbott said it authorizes local law enforcement to confiscate petroleum products that are alleged to have been stolen.

“It creates a program to inspect oil and gas tanks for possible theft, and it increases criminal penalties for theft of petroleum products in Texas. Bottom line, they’re bringing the full weight of the law to crack down on oil theft in the Permian Basin,” Abbott said.

“So that is all talk. Now it’s about to become law,” he added.

Landgraf said it was nice that the bills were signed in the Permian Basin.

Abbott also signed Senate Bill 529 by Sparks and supported in the House by Craddick that will help Midland to boost hotel and convention projects and to attract more tourists and businesses to the city.

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