TexAmericas Center announced yesterday that the Sixth Court of Appeals dismissed Hooks Independent School District’s (HISD) claims against TexAmericas Center and related parties regarding HISD’s claims about TexAmericas Center Payment-in-Lieu-of-Texas (PILOT) program. HISD alleged TexAmericas Center did not remit the full amount it believed was owed to the district under the PILOT agreement and subsequently petitioned the court for more than $1 million in additional payments.
In its February 25, 2026 decision, the Texas appellate court, based in Texarkana, entered judgment in favor of TexAmericas Center, dismissing all HISD’s claims against all parties. The Court confirmed that HISD failed to identify a qualifying written contract to support its allegation that TexAmericas Center had not fulfilled its obligation related to the PILOT agreement and accordingly held that TexAmericas Center’s governmental (sovereign) immunity had not been waived. The three-judge panel reversed a lower court ruling that had allowed the case to proceed and ordered all of HISD’s claims dismissed.
TexAmericas Center established its PILOT program as a practical tool to help attract employers and quality jobs to the TexAmericas Center footprint while continuing to support local taxing entities. Since the program’s inception in February 2020, TexAmericas Center has supported 41 PILOT partnerships with employers across the footprint, helping drive investment and job creation while continuing to provide PILOT payments that support local taxing entities.
“We appreciate the Court’s clear decision,” said Scott Norton, Executive Director & CEO of TexAmericas Center. “TexAmericas Center has and will continue to operate with integrity and transparency with our community partners. Our focus on quality job creation, driving investment, economic diversification, and growth benefits every taxing body, business, and individual in our region. As an advocate for economic development in the Texarkana region, we understand that communities are strongest when partners work together for the common good.”
Hooks ISD is expected to make a decision on an appeal in the coming days and did not comment on the decision by the Sixth Court of Appeals.
