Transcript Highlights:

• the Electoral College. his meeting date to the first Tuesday after the second Wednesday in December. code
• code was in compliance with federal law before federal law changed and so senator 688 fixes this by
• This bill relates to something that came to us from the district. Nitrous oxide, laughing gas.
• Under current law, only the type.
• explicit authority to defend a district attorney for the enforcement of a state statute.

Bills: SB18, SB19, SB666, SB688, SB707, SB888, SB 18, SB 19

Keywords: municipal libraries, state funding, gender identity, public events, children's literature, SB 19, Texas, political subdivision, local government, county, city, municipality, taxpayer-funded lobbying, lobbying ban, public funds, registered lobbyist, Chapter 305, Government Code, Local Government Code, county association dues

Transcript Highlights:

• utility districts and water supply companies that are also under local controls.
• Well, the, the muds and the special utility districts are not correct.
• Uh, special utility districts are, uh, rural districts that were created by the Texas legislature to
• Uh, unlike most other water districts, however, special utility districts have no taxing authority.
• District local laws code.

Bills: HB 1520, HB 1525, HB 1530, HB 1535, HB 2068, HB 2091, HB 2347, HB 2372, HB 2805, HB 2815, HB 2867, HB 3154, HB 3482, HB 3483, HB 3663, HB 3781, HB 3901, HB 3915, HB 4135, HB 4153, HB 4158, HB 4329, HB 4331

Keywords: Angelina and Neches River Authority, river authority, Sunset Advisory Commission, Texas Sunset Act, Special District Local Laws Code, local government, natural resources, board of directors, director training, board governance, public testimony, open meetings, public information, conflict of interest, ethics, complaint system, general manager, board president, staggered terms, removal of director

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, the MUDs and the special utility districts are not. Correct.
• Please proceed I'm clay Hodges and general manager of cash special utility district We're utility district
• Special Utility District districts are rural districts that were created by the Texas legislature. to
• Unlike most other water districts, however, Special Utility Districts have no taxing authority.
• They're in 35 separate chapters of the special district local laws code.

Bills: HB1520, HB1525, HB1530, HB1535, HB2068, HB2091, HB2347, HB2372, HB2805, HB2815, HB2867, HB3154, HB3482, HB3483, HB3663, HB3781, HB3901, HB3915, HB4135, HB4153, HB4158, HB4329, HB4331

Keywords: Angelina and Neches River Authority, river authority, Sunset Advisory Commission, Texas Sunset Act, Special District Local Laws Code, local government, natural resources, board of directors, director training, board governance, public testimony, open meetings, public information, conflict of interest, ethics, complaint system, general manager, board president, staggered terms, removal of director

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• In addition to securing the powers of a water improvement district, as noted in Chapter 56, the district
• District number one, I'm just here as a resource witness.
• This bill and groundwater management districts, or conservation districts, excuse me, they already .
• Chapter 232-003 of the local government. code, specifically sub-5 and sub-8, gives them stormwater powers
• district or something like that.

Bills: HB1520, HB1525, HB1530, HB1535, HB2068, HB2091, HB2347, HB2372, HB2805, HB2815, HB2867, HB3154, HB3482, HB3483, HB3663, HB3781, HB3901, HB3915, HB4135, HB4153, HB4158, HB4329, HB4331

Keywords: Angelina and Neches River Authority, river authority, Sunset Advisory Commission, Texas Sunset Act, Special District Local Laws Code, local government, natural resources, board of directors, director training, board governance, public testimony, open meetings, public information, conflict of interest, ethics, complaint system, general manager, board president, staggered terms, removal of director

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, we had up in our district, uh, special utility district and a mud came together, uh, and created
• Senate Bill 1965 closes a loophole in current law that allows special purpose districts to annex noncontiguous
• Does this section of of code apply or does not apply to industrial districts?
• and give the district more standard groundwater conservation district authority.
• That's in general law anyway. There's, there's nothing special happening there.

Bills: HB 5208, SB 863, SB 1243, SB 1624, SB 1965, SB 2660, SB 2702, SB 2885

Keywords: water filtration, public drinking water, health and safety, well maintenance, water quality, Edwards Aquifer, water conservation, reclaimed water, aquifer storage, environmental protection, public utility agency, dissolution, local government, regulatory framework, municipal authority, Texas Water Bank, Texas Water Trust, water rights, water banking, instream flow

Transcript Highlights:

• We had, up in our district, a special utility district, and a MUD came together and created a public
• Bill 1965 closes a loophole in current law that allows special purpose districts to annex non-contiguous
• Does this section of code apply or does it not apply to industrial districts?
• the needs of this district.
• like every other district.

Bills: HB5208, SB863, SB1243, SB1624, SB1965, SB2660, SB2702, SB2885

Keywords: water filtration, public drinking water, health and safety, well maintenance, water quality, Edwards Aquifer, water conservation, reclaimed water, aquifer storage, environmental protection, public utility agency, dissolution, local government, regulatory framework, municipal authority, Texas Water Bank, Texas Water Trust, water rights, water banking, instream flow

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• Three new codes: the elections code, the penal code, and the health and safety code.
• and believe that state law protects them from a scenario that is occurring under local governance, they
• District Court.
• other examples of where local governments are not observing the law. ...such as SB2038, which was the
• We make sure our local governments are following the law as they ought to.

Bills: HB5691, SB427, SB2623, SB2858

Keywords: municipal management district, bonds, assessments, property taxes, economic development, eminent domain, special district, SB 427, local government, political subdivision, state loan, state grant, financial reporting, annual financial statement, annual report, county report, municipal finance, water district, municipality, county auditor

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• My district, District 127, suffered greatly.
• The special district is immediately south of the Cole Ranch development.
• And these two special districts I will close. Thank you, Reverend Hayes.
• Senate Bill 2145 current law allows for the creation of public improvement districts and tax increment
• House Bill 5694 is a local bill creating the Fannin Improvement District No. 1 in unincorporated Fannin

Bills: HB293, HB 1173, HB3753, HB4999, HB5696, SB2145, HB5689, HB5690, HB5694, HB5698, HB293

Keywords: HB 293, Texas housing tax credits, low-income housing, affordable housing, private activity bonds, PAB, qualified allocation plan, TDHCA, Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, state representative objection, housing development approval, municipal notice, county commissioners court, extraterritorial jurisdiction, LIHTC, bond-financed housing, homelessness, housing services, Texas Department of Housing, municipal programs

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• I would assume that you all have contact with those school district law enforcement communities.
• , much less state law or local ordinance.
• It creates a system where only districts with local access, large staff, or personal legal teams can
• According to our report, which you're now receiving, School districts and special districts spent as
• Six months when you have a local district attorney who won't jump on the ball when it's obvious that

Bills: SB5, SB11, SB12, SB 5, SB 11, SB 12

Keywords: hemp regulation, consumable products, cannabinoids, occupational licenses, criminal offenses, SB 11, Texas attorney general, election crimes, election law enforcement, criminal prosecution, Election Code, Government Code Chapter 402, local prosecutors, county attorney, district attorney, grand jury, probable cause reports, state election offenses, voter fraud, election integrity

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• The Senate Local Government Committee will come to order.
• Impact fee statutes first took effect in 1987, Chapter 395, Local Government Code.
• I am vice chairman of East Alden Management District and a company within the district, Beasley Tire
• We spend a lot of money on law enforcement and public safety that comes out of the district budget, where
• district.

Bills: SB32, SB464, SB996, SB1163, SB1173, SB1277, SB1452, SB1453, SB1548, SB1882, SB1883, SB2016

Keywords: ad valorem taxation, tax exemption, franchise tax credit, income production, personal property, SB 464, school buffer zone, tobacco retailer, vape shop, e-cigarette, vaping, nicotine, tobacco products, retail permit, comptroller, Class A misdemeanor, school proximity, youth access, public school, private school

Summary: The Senate Local Government Committee heard several bills by Senator Bettencourt focused on property tax and local government accountability. SB 32 would provide about $700 million in business tax relief by raising the business personal property exemption from $2,500 to $25,000 and continuing a 20% franchise tax credit for inventory taxes paid. Witnesses from NFIB, the Texas Retailers Association, and Texas Realtors supported the bill, saying business personal property and inventory taxes are burdensome and especially hard on small businesses. After no opposition testimony, SB 32 was left pending. The committee also heard SB 1453, which would change how interest and sinking tax rates are calculated by using only the minimum debt service required under bond schedules, while still allowing a higher rate with a 60% governing body vote and a public explanation. A witness from the Texas Taxpayers and Research Association supported the bill as a way to keep debt rates from rising as property values increase and to preserve tax relief. The bill was left pending after testimony. SB 1883 would tighten rules on local impact fees by requiring 60 days of public availability for capital improvement plans and land use assumptions, raising the approval threshold for adopting impact fees from a simple majority to two-thirds, limiting how often fees can be increased, and expanding notice requirements. Builders and developers testified in support, arguing that impact fees are often poorly reviewed, lack accountability, and are passed on to homebuyers, worsening housing affordability. Committee members discussed adding audit provisions and questioned the lack of city testimony. The bill was left pending with subcommittee action. SB 1452 would require a voter election to decide whether a municipal management district continues to exist, with dissolution if voters reject it; supporters said it would add accountability, while others noted some districts provide essential services and infrastructure. The committee heard testimony from district representatives and builders, then left SB 1452 pending before recessing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, local government procurement simply Senate Bill 1173 raises the local government competitive
• ordinary city code.
• , and they can always see change through local elections.
• Local. No, OK, alright, no local. Hard to mend it. Yeah, that's right.
• The street maintenance tax, or SMR is, a special sales tax in the tax code used by some cities to repair

Bills: SB 32, SB 464, SB 996, SB 1163, SB 1173, SB 1277, SB 1452, SB 1453, SB 1548, SB 1882, SB 1883, SB 2016

Keywords: ad valorem taxation, tax exemption, franchise tax credit, income production, personal property, SB 464, school buffer zone, tobacco retailer, vape shop, e-cigarette, vaping, nicotine, tobacco products, retail permit, comptroller, Class A misdemeanor, school proximity, youth access, public school, private school

Transcript Highlights:

• Gervin-Hawkins because of important business in the district. On motion of Ms.
• Jones of Dallas because of important business in the district. On motion of Ms.
• And I am fine with doctors doing off-label use as they are allowed to under current law.
• Oliverson: ...giving neighborhoods and school districts the ability to access law enforcement resources
• If a local law enforcement agency can provide contracted law enforcement services and bill... Ms.

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:

• The current property tax code places local taxing districts like ours in a potentially devastating financial
• Contained in another part of the Local Government Code beyond their intended scopes.
• However, some appraisal districts have misinterpreted tax code section.
• Our firm represents appraisal districts and other units of local government.
• Department of Housing, Community Affairs, and the Chief Appraiser of the Local Appraisal District.

Bills: SB467, SB325, SB867, SB994, SB1052, SB1237, SB1449, SB1531, SB2063, SB2172, SB2173, SB2520, SB2529, SB2538, SB2541, SJR46, SJR84

Keywords: SB 467, Texas property tax, ad valorem tax, homestead exemption, residence homestead, fire damage, house fire, destroyed home, temporary tax relief, appraisal district, chief appraiser, local taxing unit, tax rollback, tax refund, Tax Code Chapter 11, prorated exemption, homestead improvement, disaster relief, property tax exemption, residential property

Transcript Highlights:

• Right now, there's 5 people that say, hey, we want you to meet in district, and the law says thou shall
• They are districts, they're non-taxing, they're river authorities, they're special utility districts.
• districts, municipal utility districts, water improvement districts, drainage districts, levee improvement
• districts, irrigation districts, regional districts, uh, navigation districts of a couple of kinds.
• Self-liquidating navigation districts, special utility districts, stormwater control districts, and I'm

Bills: HB 279, HB 310, HB 365, HB 391, HB 420, HB 422, HB 638

Keywords: HB 279, uranium mining, uranium permit, production area authorization, production zone, Texas Water Code, TCEQ, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, contested case hearing, administrative hearing, groundwater restoration, groundwater baseline, water quality, mining permit, restoration values, natural resources, environmental regulation, in-situ uranium mining, permit amendment, public hearing

Bills: SB 3038, SB 3045, SB 3065, SB 3069, SB 3071, HB 2025, HB 2149, HB 3370, HB 4205, HB 4506, HB 5424, HB 5652, HB 24, HB 3687

Keywords: Montgomery County, management district, special district, bond issuance, assessments, taxation, public welfare, economic development, nonconforming uses, zoning regulations, land use, property rights, municipal authority, municipal utility district, eminent domain, bonds, taxes, public infrastructure, water supply, zoning

Transcript Highlights:

• I served in the Austin Independent School District as a special education teacher assistant.
• They are currently authorized to enforce local and federal laws and statutes, but not state.
• be used for a local nursing scholarship, typically for a hospital district.
• districts, and special districts are legally authorized to work in the United States.
• And so forth, but here at the local level, sometimes we've got some really dumb laws.

Bills: HB21, HB211, HB223, HB323, HB524, HB530, HB636, HB762, HB21, HB211, HB223

Keywords: housing finance, multifamily residential, low income, tax exemption, audit requirements, affordable housing, local government, development bonds, housing assistance, financial assistance, low income housing, community support, affordability, veterans housing, community involvement, air conditioning, tenant support, healthcare, elderly, taxation

Bills: HB21, HB211, HB223, HB323, HB524, HB530, HB636, HB762, HB21, HB211, HB223

Keywords: housing finance, multifamily residential, low income, tax exemption, audit requirements, affordable housing, local government, development bonds, housing assistance, financial assistance, low income housing, community support, affordability, veterans housing, community involvement, air conditioning, tenant support, healthcare, elderly, taxation

Transcript Highlights:

• It’s really going to make it from a local to a statewide...
• Local government procurement.
• ordinary city code.
• Under current laws, the city has the power to institute.
• of New York. of Coppell, the Street Maintenance Tax, or SMT, is a special sales tax in the tax code

Bills: SB32, SB464, SB996, SB1163, SB1173, SB1277, SB1452, SB1453, SB1548, SB1882, SB1883, SB2016, SB 32

Keywords: ad valorem taxation, tax exemption, franchise tax credit, income production, personal property, SB 464, school buffer zone, tobacco retailer, vape shop, e-cigarette, vaping, nicotine, tobacco products, retail permit, comptroller, Class A misdemeanor, school proximity, youth access, public school, private school

Transcript Highlights:

• Currently, there is a little bit of a disconnect between Chapter 55 of the Occupations Code and this
• federal law. ...and it's led some state agencies to kind of scratch their chins and say, I don't know
• In this instance, the federal law provided more benefits and more efficiency and ease to the service
• great thing about this bill is that it will catch Texas up with some of the advancements in federal law

Bills: HB102, HB300, SB2255, HB102, HB300

Keywords: military education, early registration, ROTC, corps of cadets, higher education, military academy, scholarship, military, Texas Armed Services, military spouses, occupational licensing, state agency, license requirements, reciprocity, training and education, debt obligation, voter information, ballot, elections, transparency

Transcript Highlights:

• Local entities across the state and some $1.9 billion at the state level.
• jurisdictions that are authorized to levy a local hotel occupancy tax.
• These are then going to be remitted by the hotel to those localities.
• With VRBO and Airbnb, the local portion will depend on if they have an agreement with those localities
• That's old law. That language has been in the tax code for many, many years.

Bills: SB209, SB529, SB1265, SB1592, SB1728, SCR37, SCR38

Keywords: SB 529, Texas Tax Code, municipality, hotel and convention center, hotel convention center project, tourism development, economic development, tax revenue pledge, revenue commitment, qualified project, municipal finance, local government, special district, hotel occupancy tax, nearby establishments, convention center financing, city population 130000, Section 351.155, Section 351.157, child care