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Police Chief Thomas Hover presents a draft sex offender residency ordinance to the City Council
Discussion item 4.3 on the September 22, 2026 agenda was "Sex Offender Residency Ordinance," presented by Police Chief Thomas Hover. The draft would bar registered sex offenders whose offenses involved a minor from establishing a permanent residence within 1,000 feet of public parks, libraries, schools, youth centers and licensed day care centers, measured property line to property line. It would not apply to people already living in a zone, to juveniles or registered minors, to temporary residences, or where a protected location opens after a residence is established. Violations would be a Class C misdemeanor with a fine of up to $500 a day. No vote was taken. Mayor Cole Stanley said it would be "fast-tracked as fast as the charter allows."[1][2][3][4]
What the sources say
- ✓ Verified
Discussion item 4.3 on the September 22, 2026 City Council agenda was "Sex Offender Residency Ordinance." Draft minutes of the meeting (in the October 13 agenda packet, for approval) record: "Mayor Stanley introduced the item. Thomas Hover, Police Chief, presented the item." Discussion items carry no vote. [1][2]
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As described by NewsChannel 10 and the Amarillo Tribune, the draft would apply to registered sex offenders whose offenses involved a minor and bar a permanent residence within 1,000 feet of designated child safety zones. Exemptions include people who established residence before the ordinance takes effect, juvenile offenders not convicted as adults, registered minors, temporary residents, cases where a protected location opens after residency was established, and incorrect registry information. A violation would be a Class C misdemeanor with a fine of up to $500, each day a separate offense. The Tribune reported that APD would publish a residency restriction map, and that Hover showed a preliminary map. [3][4]
- Buffer feet
- 1,000
- Max fine
- $500
- ⚠ Sources differ
Which schools the draft's 1,000-foot zones would cover, as reported.
Reported value 1[3]
- Value
- Public or private elementary and secondary schools (with public parks, libraries, youth centers and licensed day care centers)
Reported value 2[4]
- Value
- Elementary and middle schools (with public parks and libraries, youth centers and licensed day care centers); churches not included
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NewsChannel 10 reported that Amarillo currently has no local residency restrictions for sex offenders and that under state law only probation and parole officers can now act against someone for living within a child safety zone. The Tribune reported that the ordinance would extend the child-safety-zone requirement that probation terms already impose past the probation period. [3][4]
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Thomas Hover, Police Chief: Hover told the council, "The whole purpose of what we're trying to do is protect the vulnerable from harm. In this particular case, the most vulnerable to harm is children." He told the Tribune he kept the 1,000-foot distance used in probation terms rather than a shorter one, and that "Yes, it is restrictive. However, there is a ton of other places for these individuals to live." [4]
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Amarillo Tribune; Thomas Hover, Police Chief: The Tribune reported that the Texas Sex Offender Registry lists over 1,000 registered sex offenders living in Potter and Randall counties, that APD's 2024 annual report counted a little over 700 within city limits, and that Hover said offenders with child victims are about 10 to 12% of registered offenders in the city. Hover also described a recent three-day APD compliance operation: "we had 631 homes we visited, 335 field contacts, made seven arrests, and there's nine investigations." [4]
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Cole Stanley, Mayor: Mayor Cole Stanley said the ordinance would be "fast-tracked as fast as the charter allows it to go forward" (Tribune) and that the council expects action this year (NewsChannel 10). He told NewsChannel 10, "It's one more thing that we can do to further protect children." The Tribune reported Hover said the ordinance was well underway and waiting to be placed on an agenda. [4][3]
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As of October 17, 2026 no sex offender residency ordinance had appeared on a City Council agenda for a reading: it is not on the October 13, 2026 agenda, and the agenda for the next regular meeting, October 27, 2026, had not been posted on the City's CivicClerk portal. [5]
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Neither the agenda nor the City has published a stated reason for bringing the proposal back in 2026. The Tribune reported that Hover became police chief in early 2026 after being selected in December 2025, and that a resident who has advocated for such an ordinance for years attended the September 22 meeting and spoke in support. [4][1]
