A hundred days into his tenure as Texas Comptroller, former state Sen. Kelly Hancock has wasted little time leaving his mark on one of the state’s largest and most influential agencies. From launching a statewide education savings program to streamlining disaster aid and overhauling decades-old financial systems, Hancock’s early tenure has been characterized by rapid implementation and a business-minded approach.
Hancock, who formally joined the comptroller’s office this summer to avoid a constitutional conflict while running for the position, cites efficiency, technology, and accountability as the driving forces behind his first 100 days.
Education Savings Accounts: Launching Texas’ Largest School Choice Initiative
Perhaps the most high-profile undertaking of Hancock’s early term has been the rollout of Texas’ new Education Savings Account program—recently rebranded as Texas Education Freedom Accounts (TEFA). The initiative allows parents to use state funds for approved educational expenses, such as private school tuition, tutoring, and curriculum materials.
The comptroller’s office selected Odyssey, a national education platform, to administer the program. The mobile-first system provides families with a secure digital wallet for education-related purchases and real-time balance tracking.
“The goal all along was just to make sure we got a partner that would help us implement the largest program in the nation,” Hancock said in an October 6 statement. He added that the contract—priced at $13 million per fiscal year, significantly below the $50 million biennial cap—includes strict performance benchmarks and oversight tools to safeguard taxpayer dollars.
Hancock’s team released draft rules for the program in August, covering eligibility, allowable expenses, and funding levels for students, including those with disabilities and homeschoolers. The office received over 300 public comments, which Hancock said were being reviewed before finalizing the regulations.
While some critics questioned Odyssey’s ties to investor Jeff Yass, a key donor to Gov. Greg Abbott’s pro-school-choice efforts, Hancock defended the decision, emphasizing cost efficiency and implementation readiness.
Flood Relief: Targeted Aid for Texas Hill Country
In response to the devastating July 4 floods that hit the Texas Hill Country, Hancock moved quickly to extend tax filing deadlines for affected businesses and residents.
“As a small business owner, I can relate,” he said. “Cash flow is an issue when something like this happens, and our office wanted to make sure Texans could focus on rebuilding before worrying about paperwork.”
Hancock personally visited impacted communities on behalf of Gov. Abbott, coordinating with local and federal officials. His office also fast-tracked access to $220 million in broadband infrastructure funds, prioritizing rural and disaster-prone areas like Kerrville.
By expanding eligibility criteria, Hancock said the comptroller’s office ensured that “communications equipment necessary for early warnings” could qualify for funding—an example, he noted, of running government “at the speed of business.”
Opioid Response: A Localized, Multi-Faceted Strategy
As chair of the Opioid Abatement Fund Council (OAFC), Hancock oversaw the distribution of $21 million in short-term grants this year to support community-based prevention and recovery programs.
“Opioid abuse is not a single-source issue,” Hancock said. “The solutions have to be as diverse as the state itself.”
The funding—drawn from Texas’ share of a $26 billion national settlement with major drug manufacturers and distributors—went to local governments, nonprofits, and faith-based groups across the state. Texas expects to receive $1.6 billion over 18 years from the agreements, which Hancock said will continue to fuel “targeted, data-driven initiatives” in hard-hit communities.
Modernizing the State’s Financial Systems
Beyond immediate crises, Hancock has also turned his attention to modernizing the comptroller’s core operations. In August, he announced the launch of the CAPPS STARR project—short for Centralized Accounting and Payroll/Personnel System – State of Texas Accounting and Reporting Resource.
The multiyear effort will upgrade three of the state’s most critical but outdated systems:
The Uniform Statewide Accounting System (USAS)
The Texas Identification Number System (TINS)
The State Property Accounting System (SPA)
“Upgrading to a modern, cloud-based platform will help us better serve other state agencies, safeguard taxpayer dollars, and meet the needs of a growing Texas,” Hancock said in announcing the project.
While the soft launch is currently set for September 2027, Hancock hinted the rollout may come sooner—and under budget. “That’s just the business side of me,” he said with a grin.
Balancing Governance and Campaigning
Hancock’s path to the comptroller’s chair has been unusually complex. To comply with a 2002 legal opinion from then–Attorney General Greg Abbott prohibiting sitting lawmakers from being confirmed to appointed posts during their term, Hancock joined the comptroller’s office as an employee before launching his campaign on June 19.
Since then, he’s been juggling the dual roles of agency head and statewide candidate—an uncommon situation even in Texas politics.
Still, in his first 100 days, Hancock has moved decisively to align the comptroller’s office with his vision of a modern, transparent, and results-driven agency.
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