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Important Note*** We have had a couple of people complain that the Newsletter is "Inside Woodlands" and Not "Inside The Woodlands" the reason for that is that there are trademarks we can not infringe on. Just wanted to clear that up. 

So Enjoy The Newsletter ....

Homeowners in The Woodlands will soon enjoy sweeping property tax relief following the passage of Proposition 13 in November 2025.

This amendment raises the state’s homestead exemption for school district property taxes from $100,000 to $140,000, effective January 1, 2026.

For residents 65 and older, or those with disabilities, the total exemption jumps to $200,000, offering an even greater benefit.

Most property owners will see lower tax bills in 2026, which arrives as local real estate trends shift — listings surged 43% this March, while median prices fell 7%, creating a more balanced market.

Community leaders are optimistic the new exemptions will both ease financial pressures and spur homeownership.

Residents are urged to verify their exemptions on 2026 tax statements and confirm eligibility to fully benefit from these substantial changes.

SB 2420 ushers in sweeping changes for how tech companies safeguard children in the digital realm.

The groundbreaking legislation requires app store operators to implement robust age verification systems before allowing any account creation.

Mobile platforms must now establish what legislators call "commercially reasonable" parental verification processes.

This shifts the dynamic from reactive parental oversight to proactive approval systems.

The law tackles a persistent family concern: surprise digital expenses.

In-app purchase restrictions now demand explicit parental consent before minors can make any digital transactions within games, social platforms, or entertainment apps.

Industry analysts suggest this could revolutionize app developer revenue models.

The measure addresses countless parents' frustrations with unexpected charges from children's online activities.

Digital privacy champions applaud the legislation as essential protection against unchecked minor data collection.

However, critics express concerns about potential barriers for legitimate teen users accessing educational resources.

App store operators are actively developing compliant verification systems as implementation details continue evolving.

This reflects states' increasing initiative on child digital safety amid slower federal regulatory progress.

Texas homeowners will finally understand why insurance companies drop them thanks to new transparency rules taking effect in 2026.

House Bill 2067 forces insurers to provide written explanations for every cancellation, denial, or non-renewal — ending years of mysterious policy rejections.

The law creates powerful data tracking for consumers and regulators monitoring coverage patterns statewide.

Insurers must file quarterly reports by ZIP code detailing their reasons for policy actions, with summaries published online.

The timing is crucial as nearly half of homeowners claims were closed without payment in 2024, up dramatically from 35% in 2016.

Nonrenewal complaints more than doubled this year while major carriers like Progressive and Farmers Insurance retreat from Texas.

Previously, insurers could cancel with minimal explanation.

Now they must specify exact reasons — storm exposure, claims history, or property issues.

The rules apply to policies made after January 1, 2026, as homeowners face insurance rates that climbed 19% in 2024 alone.

Some residents now pay $10,000-$15,000 annually from lesser-known carriers as the state's insurance crisis deepens.

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🎉 Inside Woodlands Weekend Family Picks

This Coming Weekend

Your trusted local guide to family friendly fun in The Woodlands and nearby.

🏡 The Woodlands

⛸️ Ice Skating at Town Center
📍 The Ice Rink near The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
🗓️ Friday through Sunday
⏰ Session times vary daily

🌳 Outdoor Family Time at the Park
📍 Northshore Park
🗓️ All weekend
⏰ Open daylight hours

🧠 Hands On Learning & Play
📍 The Woodlands Children’s Museum
🗓️ Friday through Sunday
⏰ Morning and afternoon hours

🌲 Climbing & Adventure Course
📍 Texas TreeVentures
🗓️ Friday through Sunday
⏰ Reservation based sessions

📚 Library Family Activities
📍 George & Cynthia Woods Mitchell Library branches
🗓️ Saturday
⏰ Morning programs for kids

📍 Nearby Family Picks

🎈 City Place Family Events & Open Plaza Fun
📍 City Place, Spring
🗓️ Saturday and Sunday
⏰ Afternoon to evening

🚜 Farm & Petting Zoo Visit
📍 Old MacDonald’s Farm, Porter
🗓️ All weekend
⏰ Daytime hours

🏰 Indoor Play for Younger Kids
📍 Oh Toodles
🗓️ Friday through Sunday
⏰ Morning and early afternoon

⛳ Mini Golf & Family Games
📍 Shankz Mini Golf & Games, Shenandoah
🗓️ All weekend
⏰ Afternoon and evening

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5 Steps to Winterize Your Home

Without a little prep work and routine maintenance, winter weather can wreak havoc on your home. Following a few simple steps can help you avoid frozen pipes, drafty rooms and slippery sidewalks.

Watch video for helpful tips this winter!

1. Clear Gutters – Melting snow will have nowhere to go if gutters are clogged with leaves and debris.

2. Protect Pipes – Open cabinet doors under kitchen and bathroom sinks so warm air can surround pipes. Drain outside spigots before temperatures drop below freezing.  

3. Improve Insulation – Cold air can seep in through openings around windows and doors. Install weather stripping and seal openings with caulk to insulate cracks and crevices.

4. Prevent Slips and Falls – Keep sidewalks and driveways clear of ice and snow. Sprinkle deicing salt on steps, sidewalks and driveways to prevent accidents.

5. Control the Temperature – Set the thermostat to at least 65 F during winter months. Consider installing an energy efficient or programmable thermostat.

A Sweet Treat

It is cooler weather (well it is supposed to be but NOT here!), football, sweaters and warm, delicious food. It’s about gathering around the table with loved ones to enjoy a snack or meal and making memories that will last a lifetime.

As the weather changes, there are few better places to be than the kitchen, whipping up something amazing for all who are gathered.

This season, when you’re craving something sweet, try this Pumpkin Bread with Chocolate Chips. It’s rich with lots of semi-sweet chocolate chips but also has a prominent pumpkin flavor that is hard to resist.

This recipe is easy to make and provides an opportunity to get the little ones involved in the kitchen. For example, they can stir and pour those yummy chocolate chips into the batter.

Made start to finish in less than an hour, this dessert gives you more time to rake leaves, carve pumpkins and cuddle up by the fireplace.

It can be a perfect treat for get-togethers from parties and events to just a couple of friends enjoying each other’s company.

It’s light and moist with a crisp exterior. The signature pumpkin taste blends with the sweet chocolate to create a unique taste perfect for winter.

Watch video to see how to make this recipe!

Pumpkin Bread with Chocolate Chips

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cook time: 45-50 minutes

Servings: 12

Nonstick cooking spray

1 1/2    cups all-purpose flour

1/2       teaspoon salt

1/2       teaspoon baking powder

1/2       teaspoon baking soda

2          teaspoons pumpkin pie spice

1          cup canned pumpkin

1/3       cup brown sugar

1/3       cup granulated sugar

1/2       cup vegetable oil

3          eggs, at room temperature

1/2       tablespoon vanilla extract

1          cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

1          cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 F. Spray 8-by-4-inch loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray and line with parchment paper. Set aside.

In a large bowl, whisk flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda and pumpkin spice. Set aside.

In a medium bowl, combine canned pumpkin, brown sugar, granulated sugar, oil, eggs and vanilla extract. Stir together.

Stir wet ingredients into dry ingredients; mix until combined.

Fold in chocolate chips.

Pour batter into loaf pan. Bake 45-50 minutes until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

Cool at least 10 minutes in pan before removing to a wire rack to finish cooling.

Protecting Children in a Digital Age

Is Now More Important Than Ever

Keeping a watchful eye on your kids requires an increasing level of tech savvy many parents find intimidating. Not only are your kids vulnerable to bad actors online, but your family’s personal information could be at risk, as well.

Learn how to protect your children and family in this digital age with these tips:

Elementary-Age Children

Encourage open communication. Have conversations about what your kids see and do online and talk with them about potential dangers. Avoid lecturing in favor of an open exchange of information.

Make their inherent interest in privacy work in your favor. Kids in this age group, particularly toward the middle school years, understand the concept of privacy and value it immensely. Use that context to help them understand what goes online is there to stay. Talk about what kinds of information should always be kept private, including identifying details like addresses and social security numbers.

Stay on alert. Not all apps are completely safe (even the ones you can access from trusted stores) and not all filters are foolproof. Keep close tabs on what your kids are downloading by reading comments and reviews, and regularly monitoring what kind of content they see.

Middle School and High School Kids

Continue talking about privacy. You can never have too many conversations about privacy. What seems like harmless sharing on social media can be quite revealing. For example, frequent posts about visits to a favorite store or restaurant can allow a predator to begin tracking behavior patterns that make your child a target. It’s also important for kids to understand how their privacy settings work. For example, settings that allow exposure to friends of friends make their visibility to strangers much broader than they may realize.

Help manage their online reputation. Behaviors that once resulted in a day or two of hallway chatter can now live forever. Documenting mischief online is only fun until it spills over into real life and everyone sees those mistakes in full color – including prospective future employers.

Be clear about your position on bullying. From the safe distance of a screen, it’s easier for kids (and adults) to say things they’d never say in person. Teach your kids to handle problems constructively offline and avoid engaging in attacks on others through social media, email and other platforms.

College Students

Reinforce the risks. Once they’re on their own, kids may feel more liberated to make their own choices online. However, college students are easy prey for identity theft and worse. Remind them what’s at stake if they fail to protect their identity and private information, like where they live and what they do on a regular basis.

Teach smart practices. With all the independence that comes with college life, this is an ideal time for your student to take personal responsibility for his or her online security, including learning about virus protection, updating software, avoiding scams and backing up data.

Photo courtesy of Getty Images

Understanding Winter Pet Health Risks

While some dogs prefer to be outdoors regardless of the weather, the cold and often snowy and icy conditions winter brings can pose serious threats to their health.

Much like the well-publicized challenges of keeping your four-legged family members healthy during the warmer weather, it’s important for pet owners to be aware of the unique threats that can arise during colder conditions.

Recognizing Cold Weather Hazards

Winter weather can pose various hazards to pets, including frostbite and hypothermia. Dogs left outside for extended periods, particularly those with short coats or pre-existing health conditions, are at greater risk. It’s essential to limit exposure to freezing cold, provide adequate shelter and recognize the symptoms of winter-related illnesses.

Signs of hypothermia include shivering, lethargy and pale gums. Frostbite may present as discolored, cold skin, particularly on extremities like ears, paws and tails.

Protecting Your Pet’s Skin and Paws in Winter

Cold, dry air can cause pets’ skin to become dry and flaky. Regular grooming and moisturizing can help maintain their skin’s health. Consider using pet-safe moisturizers and avoid bathing them too frequently, as it can strip natural oils.

Additionally, be cautious of salt and de-icing chemicals, which can irritate dogs’ paws and skin. Protect their paws by using booties or applying a pet-safe balm to help prevent cracks and irritation caused by ice, salt and cold surfaces. If not covering paws, always clean them after walks to check for any signs of injury or discomfort, and consider using pet-safe ice melters.

Adjusting Diets for Winter

During the winter months, dogs may require a different diet to maintain their energy levels and body heat. Consult with your veterinarian about adjusting your four-legged friend’s food intake, especially if his or her activity level changes. Monitor your pet’s weight and adjust feeding portions as needed to prevent obesity or malnutrition.

Also ensure your pet has access to fresh water, as dehydration can still occur in cold weather. In fact, warm water may encourage pets to drink more.

Keeping Pets Safe Indoors

If your winter pet safety plan includes keeping your dog indoors more often, ensure you provide him or her a warm and comfortable place to rest. Avoid placing your pet’s bed near drafty windows or doors, cold tile floors or uninsulated areas.

Also be mindful of potential hazards such as space heaters, fireplaces, holiday decorations and chemicals such as antifreeze, which is toxic to dogs. Keep them out of reach to prevent burns or accidental ingestion.

If you notice any unusual behavior or symptoms, contact your veterinarian immediately. Early intervention can prevent severe complications and ensure your furry friend remains healthy throughout the winter months. 

Photo courtesy of Shutterstock

Meet Henry, an 8-week-old male puppy who urgently needs a rescue partner with medical resources. Henry had to be separated from his mom and single littermate due to the sibling bullying him, which raised immediate concerns for his safety and well-being. Since intake, Henry has struggled with a persistent upper respiratory infection and is still experiencing chest congestion despite treatment. More concerning, our medical team suspects hydrocephalus. Henry shows signs that may include: -Unsteady gait / balance issues -Possible vision impairment -Possible hearing impairment Because of these concerns, Henry needs advanced diagnostics and evaluation by a specialist. Despite his challenges, Henry is a sweet, vulnerable puppy who deserves the chance to receive proper diagnosis and care in a supportive rescue environment. Henry is eating well and loves to wrestle with his stuffed toys. 🙏 We are seeking a rescue to pull Henry as soon as possible so he can receive the care he needs! If your rescue can help Henry or if you can share this plea with a rescue that specializes in medical or neurologic cases, please reach out immediately. Henry A422146 Male - Shepherd mix – 8 weeks old – 2.8 pounds 🐾RESCUE INQUIRIES: Email: mcassist@mctx.org Montgomery County Animal Shelter 8535 SH 242 Conroe, TX 77385 www.mcaspets.org *We cannot guarantee the behavior of animals*