With the appointment of committees, legislative hearings will begin. Rep. Garnet Coleman has been re-appointed as chairman of the House County Affairs Committee. Sen. Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa has been designated to assume the chairmanship of the Senate Intergovernmental Relations Committee.
Some important county bills are listed below with a very brief analysis. We are monitoring many other bills. Remember that bills may change dramatically in committee or through floor action. Stay tuned for further updates.
Good Bills – Need Support
HB 104 by Rep. Gonzales repeals the excessive fees on driver’s licenses.
HB 205 by Rep. McClendon requires the state to develop a plan for allocation of sufficient hospital beds for mental commitments.
HB 335 by Rep. Stickland authorizes posting of notices on county website as an alternative to newspaper publications.
HB 385 by Rep. Thompson / SB 265 by Sen. Huffman authorizes commissioners court to self-insure county officers and employees in-lieu of surety bonds.
HB 520 by Rep. Kuempel requires municipalities to fund an autopsy when the body is found within a municipality.
HB 563 by Rep. Guillen provides severance tax funding for counties within shale oil and gas development areas.
HB 675 by Rep. Ratliff authorizes county regulation of off-premises signs advertising sexually-oriented business.
HB 691 by Rep. Phillips authorizes county to regulate location of halfway houses for probationers and parolees.
HB 714 by Rep. Kuempel authorizes county to contract with DPS for joint vehicle-weight facilities.
HB 761 by Rep. Marquez / SB 170 by Sen. West / SB 456 by Sen. Rodriguez authorizes commissioners court to require residential code inspection before utilities are connected.
HB 832 by Rep. Giddings/SB 186 by Sen. Carona authorizes county to abate mosquitoes on uninhabited residential property.
SB 300 by Sen. Lucio provides severance tax funding for oil and gas counties.
Problem Bills – Need Improvement
HB 14 by Rep. Pitts / SB 14 by Sen. Williams requires all counties to maintain a website and post financial information; increases requirements for issuance of certificates of obligation.
HB 708 by Rep Isaac removes commissioners court authority over approval of deputy constables.
HB 777 by Rep White increases axle weight allowance for overweight timber or timber product trucks.
HB 958 by Rep. Orr reduces TCDRS rate of return from 7 percent to 5 percent.
HB 960 by Rep. Sanford increases mandatory county bond ballot language to require debt and surplus funds information.
SB 144 by Sen. Williams – Revenue Cap; reduces rollback rate from 8 percent to 5 percent. H