Speaker of the House Dade Phelan has assigned interim charges for study by the committees of the House of Representatives. The entire 24 pages of charges are available at www.house.texas.gov. The County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas will monitor the hearings and recommendations of each House committee on these charges. Items affecting counties include the following:
Committee on Business & Industry
- Examine the proliferation of fraudulent deeds purporting to convey the sale or transfer of real or personal property. Recommend policy changes that will better protect potential victims from this illicit activity.
Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence
- HB 17, relating to official misconduct by and removal of prosecuting attorneys.
Committee on Elections
- SB 1070, relating to the interstate voter registration crosscheck program; and
- SB 1750, relating to abolishing the county elections administrator position in certain counties.
- Adherence to Texas Election Laws: Evaluate the Secretary of State’s Election Audit Program’s findings and solicit information regarding emergent election issues in other counties. Make recommendations to ensure counties faithfully adhere to Texas election laws, and that those tasked with administering and enforcing the law receive appropriate resources and training.
Committee on Environmental Regulation
- HB 3060, relating to the regulation of recycling and recycled products; and
- HB 4885, relating to programs established and funded under the Texas Emissions Reduction Plan.
Committee on Homeland Security & Public Safety
- HB 3290, relating to the next generation 9-1-1 service fund; and
- SB 602, relating to the law enforcement authority of federal border patrol agents.
- Communications Interoperability: Study the communications challenges of first responders and emergency personnel. Make recommendations, considering the need for a cross-agency communications upgrade or statewide interoperability plan, to increase reliable, available, and modern communications for public safety and emergency response purposes in communities across the state.
Committee on Insurance
- HB 2259, relating to the sale and purchase of retail fireworks permits.
Committee on Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence
- HB 841, relating to certain judicial statistics and related information gathered by the Texas Judicial Council; and
- HB 2384, relating to court administration, including the knowledge, efficiency, training, and transparency requirements for candidates for or holders of judicial offices.
Committee on Juvenile Justice & Family Issues
- Juvenile Justice System Outcomes: Evaluate the system for adjudicating and disposing of cases involving delinquent conduct and determine whether changes to juvenile court proceedings and improvements to the planning and funding for services to keep children in the juvenile justice system closer to home will lead to better overall outcomes for youth and public safety.
Committee on Land & Resource Management
- HB 14, relating to third-party review of plats and property development plans, permits, and similar documents and the inspection of an improvement related to such a document; and
- SB 2038, relating to release of an area from a municipality’s extraterritorial jurisdiction by petition or election.
Committee on Licensing & Administrative Procedures
- HB 4446, relating to certain licensing and permitting requirements for game rooms; authorizing an occupational permit or license; authorizing a fee.
Committee on Public Health
- SB 26, relating to local mental health authority and local behavioral health authority audits and mental and behavioral health reporting, services, and programs.
- Responses to Mental Health Emergencies: Review and evaluate best practices of procedures for the emergency detention of a person with mental illness.
Committee on State Affairs
- HB 9, relating to the development and funding of broadband and telecommunications services.
- Panhandle Wildfires: Evaluate the findings and recommendations of the Investigative Committee on the Panhandle Wildfires that are within the committee’s jurisdiction and develop related legislative solutions and other actions for preventing future wildfires and improving wildfire disaster preparedness, response, and mitigation.
- Securing the Border: Conduct a review of functions and operations of state agencies involved with carrying out Operation Lone Star as they relate to securing the border and preventing transnational criminal activity. Evaluate whether agencies have sufficient resources and authority to carry out their prescribed duties. Make recommendations to increase the safety and well-being of personnel and efficiency of agency operations as needed.
Committee on Transportation
- Bridge Safety: Evaluate the current status of state-maintained bridges, existing safety standards related to bridges, and long-term financial needs for bridge planning, construction, maintenance, and inspection. Examine ways to improve bridge project delivery.
- Alleviating Road Traffic: Identify the state’s most congested roadways and review state forecasts for future congestion and the expected impact on economic activity. Evaluate TxDOT plans for alleviating congestion and consider the necessity of additional options to ensure economic development, congestion, and safety goals are achieved in a timely manner with reduced cost to public tax dollars.
Committee on Ways & Means
- HJR 2/SB 2 (88 S2), relating to providing property tax relief through the public school finance system, exemptions, limitations on appraisals and taxes, and property tax administration; authorizing the imposition of a fee; and
- HB 796, relating to the creation and maintenance by an appraisal district of a publicly available internet database of information regarding protest hearings conducted by the appraisal review board established for the district.
- Property Tax Relief: Study and make recommendations to build on the historic property tax relief provided by the 88th Legislature, including:
- Whether Texas’ economic performance and state tax revenues support further compression of school district tax rates;
- Whether to extend the limitation on appraised value of certain non-homestead real property past the current expiration date of Dec. 31, 2026;
- Whether to maintain the homestead exemption at its current rate; and
- Whether to further reduce the limit on appraised value of homesteads.
Committee on Youth Health and Safety
HB 3, relating to measures for ensuring public school safety, including the development and implementation of purchases relating to and funding for public school safety and security requirements and the provision of safety-related resources.
Behavioral Health Services for At-Risk Youth: Evaluate programs and services currently available to children and families that are either involved with, or at high risk for becoming involved with, foster care and juvenile justice systems. Study the current barriers for accessing community-based behavioral health services for children with intense behavioral health needs, with an emphasis on ensuring that parents do not have to give up custody of children to gain access to services.
