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Texas County Progress

The Official Publication of the County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas

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Early Session Legislative Update

March 1, 2023 by Sarah L

     The 140-day Regular Session of the 88th Legislature has begun, and more than 2,500 bills have already been filed in the House and Senate. Senate Committee membership has been announced by the lieutenant governor, and House Committee appointments will be made shortly by the speaker of the House. No final actions can be taken in the first 60 days except for emergency items declared by the governor. 

State Budget 

     HB 1/SB 1 includes increased funding for mental health programs and adult and juvenile probation salaries. We need support for additional funding for reduction of jail and juvenile backlogs, courthouse preservation, indigent defense, and the EMS and trauma care systems (local project grants). Senate Finance Committee hearings on the budget have begun. 

Bills of Interest 

Good Bills – Need Support 

  • HB 103 by Murr – Allows a retired judge with 96 months of service to serve as a retired visiting judge to a constitutional county court. 
  • HB 251 by Murr – Assess visiting statutory probate judge fees against estate. 
  • HB 458 by Craddick – Require Texas Juvenile Justice Department to accept a committed juvenile within 30 days. 
  • HB 499 by Meza – Allows all counties to adopt countywide voting. 
  • HB 657 by Bailes – Allows a county to post notices on the internet instead of newspaper after satisfying certain requirements. 
  • HB 1132 by Spiller – Raises bid limit from $50,000 to $100,000. 
  • SB 157 by Perry – Raises warrant fee from $50 to $75 for felony, class A and B offenses. 
  • SJR 20 by Eckhardt – Authorizes optional dollar amount county homestead exemption. 

Problem Bills – Need Work 

  • HB 192 Schaefer – Limits authority to restrict firearms to courtrooms instead of courthouse. 
  • HB 257 by Cortez – Allows the sale of fireworks on July 5. 
  • HB 1489 by Tepper – Restricts use of Certificates of Obligation. 
  • SB 171 by Blanco – Requires criminal disposition reporting within five days jeopardizing grants. 
  • SB 175 by Middleton – Silences county officials’ legislative communications and deletes TAC’s enabling statute.

Filed Under: Feature Story, From the General Counsel, Legislature Tagged With: 88th Legislative Session, HB 1, HB 103, HB 1132, HB 1489, HB 192, HB 251, HB 257, HB 458, HB 499, HB 657, SB 1, SB 157, SB 171, SB 175, SJR 20

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March 2023

March 2023
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Dates of Interest for the 88th Regular Session of the Texas Legislature

Official deadlines will be set when the House and Senate adopt their rules, but until then, the Texas Legislative Council Drafting Manual provides the following general calendar: 

Bill pre-filing began:  Nov. 14, 2022 

1st day of session:  Jan. 10, 2023 

60-day bill filing deadline:  March 10, 2023  

Adjournment sine die:  May 29, 2023 

Post-session 20-day deadline for governor to sign or veto:  June 18, 2023 

Effective date (91st day after adjournment):  Aug. 28, 2023

Sample Rules of Procedure, Conduct, and Decorum at Meetings of the County Commissioners Court

Resolutions

Unfunded Mandate Resolution

The latest resolutions passed by the County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas and the three Regional Associations are available at the links below.

County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas Resolutions 2022

North & East Texas Resolutions 2022

South Texas Resolutions 2022

West Texas Resolutions 2022

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