Transcript Highlights:

• This item got out of House Local and Municipal.
• It would be a much more seamless, locally managed thing.
• Jeff Stuckley, LSI Law Institute, couldn't reach him.
• George, who is authorized as sheriff's municipal police departments and other local law enforcement agencies
• So one of the areas of training would be open meeting laws and public records laws.

Bills: SB348, SB444, SB485, SB517, HB87, HB115, HB162, HB362, HB368, HB377, HB431, HB441, HB466, HB664, HB741, HB822, HB990, HB1243

Keywords: motor vehicles, enforcement, administrative support, law enforcement, private service provider, regulatory compliance, expropriation, public purpose, property rights, compensation, city governance, St. George, insurance premium tax, city of St. George, municipal authority, local taxation, East Baton Rouge Parish, economic development, Baton Rouge North, commissioners

Summary: The committee on Local and Municipal Affairs met on May 7, 2026 and approved the prior meeting minutes before taking up a series of local bills. Early action included HB 362, creating the Regency Park Towns Townhomes Crime Prevention and Security District in Orleans Parish, which was reported favorably. HB 822, dealing with nonprofit entities that hold appointments on boards and commissions while not in good standing with the Secretary of State, drew discussion about how long an entity must be out of compliance and whether notice should be required; the committee adopted an amendment changing the threshold to three consecutive years and then reported the bill as amended. A major portion of the meeting focused on HB 1243, which would shift more authority over the New Orleans Sewerage and Water Board to the Orleans Parish City Council. Supporters, including Representative Hilfriddy and Council President J.P. Morrell, argued the current structure is dysfunctional and unresponsive, and that local elected officials need authority to act more quickly. The Bureau of Governmental Research testified without taking a position on the bill itself but urged a formal transition plan or study committee so the city would have a clear governance path. Despite that concern, the committee adopted an amendment clarifying asset ownership and then reported HB 1243 as amended. The committee also handled several St. George bills. SB 348, allowing local law enforcement to contract for administrative support related to motor vehicle enforcement, was reported favorably. SB 444, granting St. George expropriation authority for certain public infrastructure projects, was also reported favorably. SB 485, concerning the city’s authority over insurance premium taxes, initially had amendments adopted but was then reconsidered; the amendments were stripped and the bill was reported favorably in its original form. HB 431, requiring mayors to complete annual continuing education, was amended to clarify approved training and then reported favorably. Other measures reported favorably included HB 990 on Jefferson Parish master water meters, HB 466 on West Feliciana Parish tax rebates tied to a data center project, HB 664 raising the maximum fine for parish ordinance violations, HB 87 increasing per diem for a Livingston Parish gas utility district board, HB 115 abolishing the police chief position in Edgefield, HB 741 creating emergency housing vouchers for human trafficking survivors, HB 377 removing civil service pay-plan restrictions for state examiners, HB 162 allowing a fee increase for the Jefferson Place/Bocage Crime Prevention District, HB 368 increasing fines for improper demolition of historic properties in New Orleans, and HB 441 returning New Orleans Sewerage and Water Board employees to city civil service. The committee adjourned after reporting the bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• subjects to the 89th Legislature, Second Called Session for consideration: Legislation that protects law
• And I am fine with doctors doing off-label use as they are allowed to under current law.
• President, this law will play in reality an incident that we see throughout the course of a pandemic
• If a local law enforcement agency can provide contracted law enforcement services and bill... Ms.
• Oliverson: This bill prevents Harris County from defunding law enforcement agencies. Move Dr.

Bills: HB25, HB48, HB149, HB254, HB26, HB192

Keywords: ivermectin, pharmacist authority, prescription-free, healthcare regulation, patient access, HB 48, Texas alert notification systems, emergency alerts, public warning systems, alert fatigue, notification fatigue, Texas Division of Emergency Management, Department of Public Safety, DPS alerts, emergency management, State of Texas Emergency Assistance Registry, STEAR, disaster notifications, weather alerts, Amber Alert

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:03:18.480><c> energy</c> families, and strengthen local energy families, and strengthen local
• </c> is just practical giving local is just practical giving local governments<00:03:32.159><c> another
• We're just trying to say for local units of government that want to do it consistent with our laws and
• That's existing law.
• That’s actually firm law.

Bills: HF4348, HF4186, HF4202, HF4455, HF3884, HF3883, HF3882, HF3881, HF2688, HF3295, HF3862, HF3362, HF4242, HF3798

Keywords: HF4186, Minnesota local government finance, housing and redevelopment authority, HRA, public investment authority, qualifying government, State Board of Investment, SBI, index mutual fund, multifamily housing development, long-term equity investment, investment-grade fixed income, federally insured securities, government-sponsored entities, municipal investing, local government investments, housing finance, public funds, investment policy, risk of loss

Transcript Highlights:

• I had a 20-year law practice before I went to the bench in property law.
• That's what the law currently is. That's what the law currently is. This changes that. Okay. Okay.
• That's what the law currently is. That's what the law currently is. This changes that. Okay. Okay.
• with state law—” “Without getting the permission in accordance with state law and parish ordinance,
• Is it state law that it's five years or is it a local parish? Yes, sir. It's 9:56.25.”

Bills: HR217, HB66, HB204, HB208, HB326, HB472, HB483, HB484, HB793, HB1051, HB1080, HB1087, HB1111, HB1215, SB78, SB148

Keywords: rent stabilization, affordable housing, cost burdened, Louisiana housing, housing policy, emergency rental protections, Alexandria, municipal ordinances, administrative adjudication, code enforcement, housing violations, building codes, zoning, nuisance ordinances, vegetation ordinances, sewerage, drainage, licensing, permits, local government

Summary: The committee met on April 29 and considered a series of local and special bills affecting municipal and parish governance, blight enforcement, development districts, and term limits. Early action included a motion to apply a three-minute rule. House Bill 483, concerning the Fulberg/Marini Security and Improvement District in Orleans Parish, was voluntarily deferred after discussion and no support cards. House Bill 484, which revised the New Orleans Regional Business Park board by reducing membership from 12 to 11 and giving the mayor four direct appointments with removal authority, was adopted as a substitute and reported favorably. Senate Bill 78, dealing with the Shreveport Downtown Development District, was amended to correct a legislative district reference and then reported favorably. The committee also heard announcements that several previously deferred bills would not be heard that day. Several Shreveport-related blight bills were advanced. House Bill 1051, authorizing demolition of certain dilapidated properties in Shreveport, was amended to allow the city to rely on findings from code enforcement, fire, police, or other public safety officials, and then reported favorably. House Bill 1080, addressing condemned commercial property in Shreveport, was also reported favorably, though the author said he would continue consulting with the city attorney before floor consideration. House Bill 66 for Alexandria expanded the city’s administrative adjudication authority to cover a broader range of ordinance violations, including building, zoning, vegetation, nuisance, sewer, drainage, licensing, and permit matters; it was supported by the city and reported favorably. House Bill 326, requiring the Tickfaw police chief candidate to reside within the village, also passed favorably. House Bill 793, a contentious bill concerning recorded subdivision plats and prescription, drew extensive testimony from the author, parish officials, a former appellate judge, and the McCormick family. Supporters said the bill closes a loophole exposed by recent court rulings that could let noncompliant plats become enforceable after five years without actual notice to local governments, while opponents argued the current substitute still creates uncertainty and could burden property owners; the author said the bill was prospective only and would also go to the Law Institute. Despite the debate, the committee moved the substitute favorably. Senate Bill 148, allowing municipalities to pay a modest per diem to planning and zoning commission members by local ordinance, was reported favorably with support from Lake Charles. The committee rejected House Bill 208, which would have let St. Helena Parish voters decide whether to impose term limits on parish governing authority members. The bill’s author argued the people should decide, but the St. Helena Police Jury opposed it and committee members emphasized local control; the final vote was 3 yeas to 10 nays. House Bill 1215, concerning the disposition of historical statues and monuments, was amended to bar the Office of State Parks from placing transferred monuments back in the parish from which they were removed, and then was reported favorably. House Bill 472, authorizing local rent stabilization ordinances during a governor-declared emergency, was amended to limit such ordinances to the emergency period, tie increases to the consumer price index, and cap them at 365 days; discussion continued on whether the measure duplicated existing price-gouging laws and whether a broader study would be preferable.

Transcript Highlights:

• But this bill has to pass into law first. >> Okay. So, we have a motion. >> Second.
• But this bill has to pass into<00:15:23.600><c> law</c><00:15:24.000><c> first.
• </c> into law first. into law first.

Bills: SB211, SB305, SB300, SB211, SB305, SB300

Keywords: school safety, local law enforcement, superintendent, complaints, school bus regulations, education funding, RAISE Act, student outcomes, public schools, local education agencies, accountability, weighted allocations, special education, English language learners, gifted students, tax exemption, ad valorem tax, tangible personal property, business incentives, economic impact

Bills: SB 393, SB 414, SB 472, SB 578, SB 617, SB 710, SB 785, SB 973, SB 1059, SB 1062, SB 1352, SB 1450, SB 1502, SB 1547, SB 1566, SB 1567

Keywords: appraisal, tax code, property ownership, appraisal district, chief appraiser, homelessness, public notice, municipality, conversion of property, local government, housing, community engagement, electronic communications, municipal entities, transparency, public access, government accountability, property tax, reappraisal, data privacy

Bills: SB 393, SB 414, SB 472, SB 578, SB 617, SB 710, SB 785, SB 973, SB 1059, SB 1062, SB 1352, SB 1450, SB 1502, SB 1547, SB 1566, SB 1567

Keywords: appraisal, tax code, property ownership, appraisal district, chief appraiser, homelessness, public notice, municipality, conversion of property, local government, housing, community engagement, electronic communications, municipal entities, transparency, public access, government accountability, property tax, reappraisal, data privacy

Transcript Highlights:

• There are those places that already have laws.
• Municipalities do have local governance, but this is a legal business and a lawful business, and what
• So we at the state level are absolutely taking away that local control.
• We do that with just about every law that we pass here in the Capitol.
• But we can ensure that our local business, But we can ensure that our local businesses and our local

Bills: HB3419, HB3624, HB3748, HB4335

Keywords: corruption, nonpublic information, government accountability, criminal law, public office, counties, property taxation, watercourse, boundaries, effective date, county government, administration, local resources, public institutions, construction, maintenance, animal welfare, pet shops, commercial breeders, county regulations

Summary: The Senate Local and County Government Committee met and first took up House Bill 3419, which would prohibit officers, employees, or contractors of political subdivisions from using non-public information for personal gain, extending an existing restriction that already applies to state agencies. There were no questions or debate, and the bill passed unanimously, 8-0. The committee then considered House Bill 3748, allowing county commissioners to use county-owned equipment, labor, and supplies on property owned by a four-year institution. Senator Stewart asked whether the bill applied to public or private institutions, and the author said that point needed clarification and would be checked offline. With no further questions or debate, the bill passed 8-0. The final measure was House Bill 4335, a pet store bill that would prevent municipalities from banning retail pet stores and would extend a courtesy notice period for certain animal breeders and related entities from 60 to 90 days. The bill drew extensive questioning and debate over local control, animal welfare, Petland, shelter overcrowding, and whether the measure favored an out-of-state corporation. Supporters argued it protected free enterprise and legal businesses, while opponents said it preempted local authority and could worsen animal welfare concerns. The committee passed the bill 6-3.

Transcript Highlights:

• Under current law. Representative Anchía: Under current law, yes.
• The bill further mandates cooperation from local prosecuting attorneys, attorneys and law enforcement
• Could they force a local authority, a local DA, to prosecute a case?
• Because law enforcement, they work with... each other all the time - law enforcement, prosecution.
• Attorney General overriding local prosecutors on election laws.

Bills: HB8, HB12, SB 3, HJR1, SB 11, SB 16, SB 14

Keywords: HB 8, Texas public school accountability, school accountability, public school transparency, STAAR, state assessments, instructionally supportive assessment program, Student Success Tool, Texas Education Agency, TEA, accountability ratings, A-F ratings, through-year assessment, benchmark testing, norm-referenced assessment, college career military readiness, CCMR, local accountability plan, school district performance, campus turnaround

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, this is a major cost-saving bill, not only for state government, for local.
• Uh, current Alabama law says your license plates—there's a required redesign.
• </c><00:09:48.800><c> Uh</c><00:09:49.120><c> current</c> government, for local.
• Uh current government, for local.
• :50.640><c> license</c><00:09:51.120><c> plates</c> Alabama law says your license plates Alabama law

Bills: HB136, HB137, HB220, HB213, HB256, HB136, HB137, HB220, HB213, HB256

Keywords: Teacher's Retirement System, TRS, DROP, Deferred Retirement Option Plan, retirement benefits, teacher retirement, classroom teacher, Tier I, Tier II, public pension, pension reform, education employees, retirement system, sick leave, cost-of-living adjustment, COLA, beneficiary, lump-sum payout, rollover, service retirement

Transcript Highlights:

• So that's already in the law.
• this again, we already have in law.
• Nothing changes in the law that's currently in the law about the time limitation that a person who owns
• Nothing changes in the law that's currently in the law about the time limitation that a person who owns
• Jackson, do the locals bear any cost on this? There is no local.

Bills: HCR35, HB440, HB515, HB543, HB614, HB1010, HB1039, HB1088, HB1122, HB1179, HB1200

Keywords: tax delinquency, property sale, rehabilitation, Louisiana State Law Institute, legislation, homestead exemption, property tax, parish governance, Louisiana Constitution, voter approval, adjudicated property, real estate, political subdivisions, property sales, government authority, residential lease, tax credit, property valuation, Louisiana constitution, disaster response

Transcript Highlights:

• Comply with state drug laws, and it removes the requirement to comply with federal drug laws.
• The substitute requires local governments to comply with state consumable hemp product laws.
• Members, it's of vital importance that the laws of the state, the laws that this legislature considers
• by local governments.
• The Roe ban, that's the 1925 law, in the list of enforceable criminal abortion laws.

Bills: HB229, HB3990, HB5082, HB5510, HB229

Keywords: biological sex, government information, definitions, sex-based distinctions, public health, flags, display, state law, municipalities, government buildings, drug enforcement, local control, home rule, municipal charter, county policy, ordinance preemption, state preemption, attorney general enforcement, civil penalties, mandamus

Transcript Highlights:

• themselves under the governance of our laws, including this bill, if it were to pass into law.
• that law?
• A local midwife...
• This law, if it becomes a law, to enforce what you want to have enforced.
• is now state law.

Bills: HB229, HB229, HB3990, HB5082, HB5510

Keywords: HB 229, Texas, political subdivision, local government, county dues, county association, state association of counties, lobbying, lobbyist, public funds, taxpayer lawsuit, injunctive relief, attorney's fees, Government Code Chapter 556, Local Government Code Section 89.002, legislative advocacy, municipal government, county government, city government, special district

Transcript Highlights:

• > units</c><00:05:07.039><c> from</c> local unit local government units from local unit local government
• </c><00:09:54.320><c> was</c> court and then or a federal law was court and then or a federal law was
• </c> um should be talked about at a local um should be talked about at a local level<00:12:29.360><c>
• </c> that cities and and other local that cities and and other local governments<00:23:14.039><c> can
• </c> think about ensuring that local think about ensuring that local governments<00:23:27.840><c> can

Bills: HF484, HF483, HF1447, HF1496, HF554

Keywords: natural gas, gas hookups, residential construction, energy policy, local control, state preemption, municipal regulation, county ordinance, electrification, climate policy, housing development, building codes, energy source, utility infrastructure, Minnesota Statutes chapter 326B, propane, utility service, building permits, local government, energy choice

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill requires that if a person is pulled over who does not have a driver's license, law enforcement
• Because there's no state law, that's what this bill aims to address. Motion, Senator...
• Act 202-20 has passed and is signed into law, so we now have a public-private... partnership to establish

Bills: SB241, HB304, HB295, HB361

Keywords: criminal enterprise, database, law enforcement, crime management, Alabama law, impoundment, driver licenses, vehicle redemption, local identification cards, HB295, Alabama National Guard, military punishment, non-judicial punishment, Article 15, court-martial, special court-martial, disciplinary measures, commanding officer, Adjutant General, Governor

Transcript Highlights:

• Law that dealt with civil procedure. That was the intent of the bill.
• Now it just applies to procedural law, but there's not always a fine line between procedural law and
• substantive law.
• Some bills that certainly dealt directly with procedural law.
• Current laws fail to address these AI-specific harms.

Bills: HB4922, HB4713, HB4256, HB872, HB1571, HB4266, HB4559, SB251, SB441, SB1719

Keywords: healthcare liability, emergency medical care, standard of proof, negligence, legal reforms, Texas General Arbitration Act, arbitration, binding arbitration, statute of limitations, limitations period, tolling, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, Section 16.073, alternative dispute resolution, ADR, civil procedure, lawsuit filing, court jurisdiction, Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence, procedural law

Transcript Highlights:

• safety laws and protect lives.
• I do, there are things, you know, the, the local towns, local cities, they do set, they have the ability
• I think this law agrees with you, your assessment that state law would require that it be in a commercially
• The bill works to reduce these tragic incidents by allowing local law enforcement to use automated traffic
• This bill will bolster law enforcement's capabilities to enforce the existing laws related to work zone

Bills: HB 341, HB 791, HB 1564, HB 1695, HB 1722, HB 1729, HB 1772, HB 2003, HB 2954, HB 2989, HB 3084, HB 3134, HB 3135, HB 3309, HB 3611, HB 3679, HB 3727, HB 3832

Keywords: affordable housing, zoning, development, community support, local regulations, bicycle lanes, traffic collisions, Texas Department of Transportation, study, public safety, bicycles, electric bicycles, scooters, road safety, transportation study, HB 791, Central Catholic High School, San Antonio, specialty license plate, specialty plates

Transcript Highlights:

• There are things, you know, the local towns and local cities, they do have the ability to set their own
• The bill works to reduce these tragic incidents by allowing local law enforcement to use automated traffic
• Provided by contract and by law on site.
• This bill will bolster law enforcement's capability to enforce the existing laws related to work zone
• I've been in law enforcement for 48 years.

Bills: HB341, HB791, HB1564, HB1695, HB1722, HB1729, HB1772, HB2003, HB2954, HB2989, HB3084, HB3134, HB3135, HB3309, HB3611, HB3679, HB3727, HB3832

Keywords: affordable housing, zoning, development, community support, local regulations, bicycle lanes, traffic collisions, Texas Department of Transportation, study, public safety, bicycles, electric bicycles, scooters, road safety, transportation study, HB 791, Central Catholic High School, San Antonio, specialty license plate, specialty plates

Transcript Highlights:

• However, it was talked to death for 10 minutes on the local and consent calendar.
• There's an old saying in law: cross-examination is the greatest locomotive.
• And so, having come freshly out of law school back then, twenty...
• Supreme Court has held that state train length laws violate the U.S.
• Supreme Court... has held that state train length laws violate the U.S.

Bills: HB341, HB791, HB1564, HB1695, HB1722, HB1729, HB1772, HB2003, HB2954, HB2989, HB3084, HB3134, HB3135, HB3309, HB3611, HB3679, HB3727, HB3832

Keywords: affordable housing, zoning, development, community support, local regulations, bicycle lanes, traffic collisions, Texas Department of Transportation, study, public safety, bicycles, electric bicycles, scooters, road safety, transportation study, HB 791, Central Catholic High School, San Antonio, specialty license plate, specialty plates

Transcript Highlights:

• :52.080><c> government</c> other laws governing local government other laws governing local government
• Democrat-led local government, met and worked with local law enforcement.
• </c><01:28:57.840><c> law</c> best if we work with our local law best if we work with our local law enforcement
• And it is a violation when local law enforcement, um, uh, we are trying to protect local law enforcement
• of law enforcement local when uh impact of law enforcement local when things<01:40:22.719><c> step</c

Bills: HF4077, HF3798, HF3886

Keywords: municipal nondisclosure agreement, NDA, public records, transparency, local government, county, city, town, school district, housing and redevelopment authority, economic development authority, port authority, economic development, land development, public financing, tax increment financing, TIF, abatement, municipal bonds, debt obligations