More than 700 new state laws are now in effect.

Among those is Senate Bill 22, which establishes a grant program to help bring extra funding to prosecutors, constables and sheriff's offices in smaller counties.

In the Rio Grande Valley, only Starr and Willacy counties qualify for the program

Willacy County Sheriff Jose Salazar says he wants to use the funding to increase salaries.

“We currently are looking at raising our pay for our deputies [by] $7,000, $8,000,” Salazar said. “It's definitely a morale booster for our personnel.”

Agencies must apply for the grant, and the amount of money given is dependent on population size.

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