In the State of Texas, county government is a unit of state government often referred to as “an arm of the state” or an administrative subdivision of the state. Texas counties must do those actions required by state law. In some cases, the state requires services or duties to be provided by counties but does not provide the necessary funding, resulting in unfunded … [Read more...] about Resolution Spotlight: Opposition to Unfunded Mandates
unfunded mandates
The Deadliest Duo: Unfunded Mandates and Revenue Caps
Our constitutional system creates three separate branches within the federal, state, and local governments. Each branch has duties and responsibilities. The legislative branch is responsible for adopting laws via the legislature and funding the government. The executive branch is responsible for administering the laws. The judicial branch interprets the laws and ensures that … [Read more...] about The Deadliest Duo: Unfunded Mandates and Revenue Caps
Unfunded Mandate Prevention
House Joint Resolution 123 Calls for Constitutional Amendment
Among the 9,000-plus bills and resolutions filed during the 88th Texas Legislature, one resolution addresses the primary legislative objective of the County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas (CJCAT): Prevent unfunded mandates. House Joint Resolution 123 (HJR 123) filed by Rep. DeWayne Burns proposes a constitutional amendment to restrict the power of the … [Read more...] about Unfunded Mandate Prevention
CJCAT Resolutions Lay Foundation for Legislative Platform
On Oct. 5, 2022, the County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas (CJCAT) unanimously passed a slate of resolutions covering crucial county issues including unfunded mandates, revenue caps, and local option revenue sources. Commissioners Court members from across the Lone Star State voted on each resolution during the Association’s Business Meeting. “At … [Read more...] about CJCAT Resolutions Lay Foundation for Legislative Platform
A United Front
With the primaries concluded, it is time to turn our attention to the next legislative session. The primary results yielded few surprises. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick retains a strong grip on the Senate, and Speaker Dade Phelan will continue his leadership of the House of Representatives. My last two columns discussed the interim charges issued by Lt. Gov. Patrick and Speaker … [Read more...] about A United Front