Hunt Foundation pledges $5M for UTEP law school; county declares flood disaster

The Woody and Gayle Hunt Family Foundation pledged $5 million in matching funds Wednesday for a proposed law school at the University of Texas at El Paso, according to El Paso Matters. The grant is the third major commitment to the project in the past year, advancing UTEP's effort to reach its $20 million startup goal.

The Paul L. Foster Family Foundation announced a $5 million matching grant in October 2025, and El Paso law firm Tawney, Acosta and Chaparro committed $5 million last April. With the Hunt Foundation's pledge, UTEP has now secured $15 million in commitments. Several law firms, including Farah Law, Flores Mendez Law, ScottHulse Attorneys at Law, and Dallas-based Kastl Law, have made donations eligible for the Hunt Foundation match.

Woody L. Hunt, chairman of the Hunt Family Foundation, said in a statement that El Paso has distinctive legal needs and that a law school would prepare lawyers to serve the region. UTEP announced the grant during a ceremony at Texas Western Hall, attended by university leaders, business representatives, attorneys and members of the El Paso legislative delegation. The university plans to present its law school concept to the Texas Legislature in 2027, with a target opening date of 2030. The school would emphasize public and private international law involving the United States and Mexico, focusing on contracts, estates, taxation, imports and exports, customs, immigration, and international water law. It would also address a shortage of fluently bilingual lawyers.

Elsewhere, El Paso County Judge Richard Samaniego signed a disaster declaration Tuesday to activate emergency resources following severe flooding over the weekend in Northwest El Paso and the Horizon City area. The declaration allowed the county to contract emergency services without standard purchasing procedures. County Commissioner Iliana Holguin said the emergency status enabled immediate response, including contracts with a pumping company to remove standing floodwater.

The county distributed sandbags and opened an emergency shelter at Horizon High School providing lodging, meals and water. The El Paso Community Foundation, city of El Paso and El Paso County launched a flood relief fund at epcf.org/floodemergencyresponse, with 100% of donations going to affected families. United Way is recruiting volunteers for debris removal and can be reached at 915-273-3484.