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
unfunded mandates
Unfunded Mandate Legislation
Past Efforts Lay Groundwork for Future Progress
During the Regular Session of the 82nd Texas Legislature, Rep. Burt R. Solomons filed House Joint Resolution 56 (HJR 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,” recalled Allred, a past president of the County Judges and … [Read more...] about Unfunded Mandate Legislation
2022 Legislative Issues
According to the Constitution of the County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas, one of the purposes of the organization is to “encourage active participation in governmental affairs.” This active participation has become more vital to “foster the general welfare of county government” in recent years. The direction of the state legislature and its … [Read more...] about 2022 Legislative Issues
Changes in County Government Legal Requirements
Counties are governed by the Texas Constitution, legislative statutes, court decisions, and orders and regulations from the governor and state agencies. This column will discuss some recent changes affecting Commissioners Courts. VIRTUAL MEETINGS OF COMMISSIONERS COURTS In March 2020, Gov. Greg Abbott suspended certain provisions of the Texas Open Meetings Act to allow … [Read more...] about Changes in County Government Legal Requirements
Anatomy of an Unfunded Mandate, Part II
A statutory duty imposed upon counties by the legislature without funding is an unfunded mandate. Every unfunded mandate requires a property tax increase. The majority of the CJCAT legislative efforts are directed toward the prevention of additional unfunded mandates. This session was no exception. In 2005, this column described the “Anatomy of an Unfunded Mandate.” That … [Read more...] about Anatomy of an Unfunded Mandate, Part II