After failing to pass any legislation in the First Called Session due to a lack of a quorum in the House of Representatives, the Second Called Session sent 14 bills and one constitutional amendment to Gov. Greg Abbott. Some of these bills will have a significant effect on counties. S.B. 6 by Sen. Huffman will revise the bail bond system in Texas. Defendants charged … [Read more...] about Second Special Session Report
S.B. 1
Regular Session Report
Despite delays and disruptions from COVID-19 and the winter storm, there were 7,148 bills and constitutional amendments introduced during the 87th Regular Legislative Session. When the session concluded, 1,081 bills were sent to the governor, and he vetoed 21 of them, including the entire appropriation for the legislature. As expected, thousands of these bills affected county … [Read more...] about Regular Session Report
County Indigent Health Care Q&A: Part 2
Editor’s Note: Our March issue covered the background of county indigent health care, patient eligibility, and county jail inmates. The following completes our two-part series. In 1985, Rita Kelley was serving as the regional planner of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services for the seven-county Central Texas Council of Governments (CTCOG) region. In June of that year, Walt Reedy, … [Read more...] about County Indigent Health Care Q&A: Part 2
Texas Indigent Defense Commission: Legislative Impact Report
During the 83rd Regular Session of the Texas Legislature, Gov. Rick Perry vetoed 26 bills, signed 1,361 bills, and allowed 13 bills to become law without his signature. Of the 1,361 signed bills, four bills are of particular interest for indigent defense: S.B. 1, S.B. 1044, H.B. 1318, and H.B. 1245. Per the Texas Indigent Defense Commission’s Legislative Appropriation … [Read more...] about Texas Indigent Defense Commission: Legislative Impact Report