In Matagorda County, a new Texas law, Senate Bill 22, effective from September 1st, aims to support law enforcement in rural areas with a historic $330 million grant. This grant targets 236 counties with populations below 300,000, offering funds for salaries, hiring more deputies, purchasing equipment, and vehicles. However, the main challenge is attracting and retaining staff. Despite efforts to advertise positions, including reaching out to law schools and other offices, they’ve had little success. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick prioritized this bill after realizing the low salaries for sheriffs and deputies, making it hard to fill these vital but dangerous roles.