By Julie Anderson | Editor, County Progress Two years ago when Rep. Burt R. Solomons (R-Carrollton) filed House Joint Resolution 56 calling for the prohibition of unfunded mandates, Oldham County Judge Don R. Allred was there in person to offer his applause. “This was an important piece of legislation for counties,” stressed Allred, a past president of the County Judges … [Read more...] about Keep Your Eye Out…For Unfunded Mandates, and Legislation to Prohibit Them
83rd Legislative Session
Lessons from the 82nd Session of the Texas Legislature: The Intrinsic Value of a Broken Record
When a vinyl record suffers a scratch, the record needle jumps causing a section of the recording to repeat until the needle is removed or shifted. Two years ago commissioners courts across the Lone Star State were looking to get scratched – or, more accurately, gouged. Facing a $27 billion deficit, the Texas Legislature proposed major shifts in public policy through the … [Read more...] about Lessons from the 82nd Session of the Texas Legislature: The Intrinsic Value of a Broken Record
General Counsel’s Report – January 2013
As the new legislative session begins on Jan. 8, we will again gather for the Texas Association of Counties Legislative Breakfast at 7:30 a.m. every Tuesday to discuss legislative issues. During the period following the general election and the beginning of the session, legislators may pre-file bills. These bills are assigned a bill number, but no further action can be … [Read more...] about General Counsel’s Report – January 2013
83rd Texas Legislature
The County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas (CJCAT) has always approached the Texas Legislature with resolve. For example, during the past few legislative sessions local government officials and associations such as the CJCAT voiced spirited opposition to appraisal and revenue caps and extreme budget cuts. Consequently, multiple regular and special sessions … [Read more...] about 83rd Texas Legislature