2017

December 22, 2017, Number 48

TML Legislative Update Number 48 (PDF)

  • TML Legislative Update Number 48
    • Texas Supreme Court Upholds General Law Sex Offender Residency Restrictions
    • Federal Tax Reform Passes
    • Don’t Forget: Mandatory Eminent Domain Reporting

December 8, 2017, Number 47

TML Legislative Update Number 47 (PDF)

  • TML Legislative Update Number 47
    • Tax Reform One Step Closer to the Finish Line
    • Texas Officials Hold Key NLC Leadership Positions
    • Don’t Forget: Mandatory Eminent Domain Reporting
    • Don’t Forget: Curfew Ordinances Need Review
    • Don't Forget: Open Government Training

December 1, 2017, Number 46

TML Legislative Update Number 46 (PDF)

  • TML Legislative Update Number 46
    • Federal Tax Reform Down to the Wire
    • TDLR Adopts Rules for Transportation Network Companies
    • TWDB Seeks Input on Water Conservation Strategies

November 17, 2017, Number 45

TML Legislative Update Number 45 (PDF)

November 10, 2017, Number 44

TML Legislative Update Number 44 (PDF)

  • TML Legislative Update Number 44
    • Tax Reform Plan Could Increase Taxpayer Costs for Infrastructure Projects
    • House Committee Hears City Officials’ Harvey-Related Concern

November 3, 2017, Number 43

TML Legislative Update Number 43 (PDF)

  • TML Legislative Update Number 43
    • Senate Business and Commerce Committee: Hurricane Harvey Interim Charges
    • U.S. Senate Takes Up Federal Broadband Preemption
    • City-Related Constitutional Amendment Propositions

October 27, 2017, Number 42

TML Legislative Update Number 42 (PDF)

  • TML Legislative Update Number 42
    • Lt. Governor and Speaker Release Interim Charges
    • NLC Asks for Help to Oppose Federal Broadband Preemption
    • Post Session Update: Procurement

October 20, 2017, Number 41

TML Legislative Update Number 41 (PDF)

October 13, 2017, Number 40

TML Legislative Update Number 40 (PDF)

October 6, 2017, Number 39

TML Legislative Update Number 39 (PDF)

September 29, 2017, Number 38

TML Legislative Update Number 38 (PDF)

  • TML Legislative Update Number 38
    • Appellate Court Reinstates Portion of “Sanctuary City” Bill
    • Post Session Update: Annexation
    • Post Session Update: Purchasing Bills Require Contract Changes and Reporting
    • Payday Lending Clearinghouse Updates
    • Extension of Budget and Tax Deadlines Possible

September 22, 2017, Number 37

TML Legislative Update Number 37 (PDF)

September 15, 2017, Number 36

TML Legislative Update Number 36 (PDF)

  • TML Legislative Update Number 36
    • Harvey Recovery Continues: More Information
    • City-Related Constitutional Amendment Propositions
    • Cities Can’t Adopt Resolutions in Support of State Constitutional Amendments
    • Post Session Update: Vexatious PIA Requestors
    • Last Call for Feedback on DOL Overtime Exemption
    • Extension of Budget and Tax Deadlines Possible

September 8, 2017, Number 35

TML Legislative Update Number 35 (PDF)

  • TML Legislative Update Number 35
    • City of McAllen Coalition Files Small Cell Lawsuit
    • “Sanctuary City” Law Temporarily Blocked
    • New Voter ID Law in Effect for November Elections

September 1, 2017, Number 34

TML Legislative Update Number 34 (PDF)

August 25, 2017, Number 33

TML Legislative Update Number 33 (PDF)

  • TML Legislative Update Number 33
    • Home Rule Cities Take Heed: Annexation Reform Effective December 1
    • Small Cell Lawsuits Begin; Group Seeks Elimination of Right-of-Way Compensation
    • Small Cell Implementation: More Information
    • Post-Session Update: Texting while Driving
    • Some State Leaders Just “Get It”
    • TCEQ Seeks Input on Public Water System Monitoring Plans

August 18, 2017, Number 32

TML Legislative Update Number 32 (PDF)

  • TML Legislative Update Number 32
  • Special Session Ends: Divide-and-Conquer Is Name of the Game Against Cities
  • First Special Session – City-Related Bills
    • Elections
    • Other Finance and Administration
    • Community and Economic Development
  • City Officials Testify

August 11, 2017, Number 31

TML Legislative Update Number 31 (PDF)

  • TML Legislative Update Number 31
  • Five Days Left: Where We Stand
  • Post Session Update: Small Cell Implementation
  • First Special Session – City-Related Bills Filed
    • Property Tax
    • Other Finance and Administration
    • Community and Economic Development
    • Public Safety
  • City Officials Testify

August 4, 2017, Number 30

TML Legislative Update Number 30 (PDF)

  • TML Legislative Update Number 30
    • Annexation Reformers Ignore U.S. Military
    • Why No Compromise on a Revenue Cap?
    • Real Property Tax Relief and the Problem with Arbitrary Starting Points
    • DPS Crime Lab and the State Budget: Governor Puts a Stop to Unfunded Mandate
    • Resolutions for the 2017 TML Annual Conference
    • Post-Session Update: Golf Carts on City Streets
    • Post-Session Update: Open Meetings Act and Candidate Forums
    • Significant Committee Actions
    • Significant Floor Actions
    • First Special Session – City-Related Bills Filed
      • Property Tax
      • Elections 
      • Other Finance and Administration
      • Community and Economic Development
      • Public Safety
    • City Officials Testify

July 28, 2017, Number 29

TML Legislative Update Number 29 (PDF)

  • TML Legislative Update Number 29
    • Round One – Cities down but Not out: TML Speaks Forcefully Against Assault on Cities
    • 2017 Public Sector Lobby Organization Rankings
    • TML Names Legislator of the Week for Special Session
    • Significant Committee Actions
    • Significant Floor Actions
    • First Special Session – City-Related Bills Filed
      • Property Tax
      • Sales Tax
      • Elections 
      • Other Finance and Administration
      • Community and Economic Development
      • Personnel
      • Public Safety
      • Transportation
      • Utilities and Environment
    • City Officials Testify

July 21, 2017, Number 28

TML Legislative Update Number 28 (PDF)

  • TML Legislative Update Number 28
    • The Onslaught Begins THIS WEEKEND: Senate Committees Begin Attack on City Residents City Testimony Needed
    • TML Names First Legislator of the Week for Special Session
    • The Smoking Gun: State Budget Language Exposes True Motivation for City Revenue Cap Bills
    • Mayors Seek Abbott Meeting on City Issues
    • Post-Session Update: Electrician Registration
    • Legislature Takes Step to Eliminate Publication Requirements
    • Cities Wanted: McAllen to Lead City Coalition Against Small Cell Subsidies
    • Resolutions for the 2017 TML Annual Conference
    • First Special Session – City-Related Bills Filed
      • Property Tax
      • Sales Tax
      • Purchasing
      • Elections 
      • Open Government
      • Other Finance and Administration
      • Community and Economic Development
      • Personnel
      • Public Safety
      • Transportation
      • Utilities and Environment

July 14, 2017, Number 27

TML Legislative Update Number 27 (PDF)

  • TML Legislative Update Number 27
    • Cities Wanted: McAllen to Lead City Coalition Against Small Cell Subsidies
    • Governor Issues Special Session Proclamation: Is the Capitol the New “City Hall of Texas?”
    • Resolutions for the 2017 TML Annual Conference
    • Barking About Tree Ordinances Continues Amidst Nationwide Preemption Efforts
    • Post-Session Update: Cybersecurity
    • NLC Calls on FCC to Preserve Municipal Authority
    • First Special Session – City-Related Bills Filed
      • Property Tax
      • Sales Tax
      • Elections
      • Other Finance and Administration
      • Community and Economic Development
      • Personnel
      • Public Safety
      • Transportation
      • Utilities and Environment

July 7, 2017, Number 26

TML Legislative Update Number 26 (PDF)

June 30, 2017, Number 25

TML Legislative Update Number 25 (PDF)

  • TML Legislative Update Number 25
    • MAN YOUR SPECIAL SESSION BATTLE STATIONS: Contact Your Legislators Now
    • Support Caps on City Revenue While Cutting Funding?
    • Post Session Update: General Law City Sex Offender Regulation
    • Post Session Update: Volunteer Emergency Services Personnel and Licensed Carry
    • TCEQ Workshops on Total Coliform Rules

June 23, 2017, Number 24

TML Legislative Update Number 24 (PDF)

June 9, 2017, Number 23

TML Legislative Update Number 23 (PDF)

June 2, 2017, Number 22

TML Legislative Update Number 22 (PDF)

  • TML Legislative Update Number 22
    • Eighty-Fifth Legislature Adjourns: Respect for Local Control is Officially Yesterday’s News
    • City-Related Bills
      • Property Tax
      • Sales Tax
      • Purchasing
      • Elections
      • Open Government
      • Other Finance and Administration
      • Municipal Courts
      • Community and Economic Development
      • Personnel
      • Public Safety
      • Transportation
      • Utilities and Environment

May 26, 2017, Number 21

TML Legislative Update Number 21 (PDF)

  • TML Legislative Update Number 21
    • Four Days Left: Down to the Wire
    • “Ridiculous” Numbers on Revenue Caps
    • General Law Sex Offender Regulation Update
    • City Officials Testify

May 19, 2017, Number 20

TML Legislative Update Number 20 (PDF)

  • TML Legislative Update Number 20
    • Eleven Days to Go: Where Cities Stand
    • Building Permits in the ETJ Part III: Home Rule Authority?
    • TML Names Legislator of the Month for April
    • City Officials Testify

May 12, 2017, Number 19

TML Legislative Update Number 19 (PDF)

  • TML Legislative Update Number 19
    • The End Is Near: Marching Orders for the Last 18 Days
    • All Fronts Attack on City Right-of-Way Authority Continues
    • How Not to Get Sued by The State
    • City Officials Testify

May 5, 2017, Number 18

TML Legislative Update Number 18 (PDF)

  • TML Legislative Update Number 18
    • This Is It: United We Stand, Divided We Fall
    • Executive Sessions and Videotape?
    • Revenue Caps Harmful to Credit Ratings
    • City Officials Testify

April 28, 2017, Number 17

TML Legislative Update Number 17 (PDF)

  • TML Legislative Update Number 17
    • Contacting Your Legislators Works: Keep it Up!
    • Permit Vesting on Steroids?
    • Significant Committee Actions
    • Significant Floor Actions
    • City Officials Testify

April 21, 2017, Number 16

TML Legislative Update Number 16 (PDF)

  • TML Legislative Update Number 16
    • Capitol Crunch Time: Here’s How to Make a Difference for Your City Next Week
    • DON’T FORGET: Mandatory Local Debt Reporting
    • Significant Committee Actions
    • Significant Floor Actions
    • City Officials Testify

April 14, 2017, Number 15

TML Legislative Update Number 15 (PDF)

  • TML Legislative Update Number 15
    • Bad Senate Bills: Time to Visit with House Committee Members
    • State Budget Takes Next Step
    • Small Cell Node Bill Advances: This Is What Urban Cities Can Expect
    • Rural Redlining: This Is What Rural Cities Can Expect from the Bad Small Cell Node Bill
    • Eminent Domain Reform Moving Through Process
    • Federal Bill by Marchant Gives Voice to Municipal Health Pools
    • TCEQ Adopts Revised Total Coliform Rules
    • Significant Committee Actions
    • Significant Floor Actions
    • City Officials Testify

April 7, 2017, Number 14

TML Legislative Update Number 14 (PDF)

  • TML Legislative Update Number 14
    • Senate Budget Designed to Raise Property Taxes
    • House and Senate Committee Hearings: The End of Annexation?
    • Open Meetings Act: Court Declares Criminal Conspiracy Provision Unconstitutional
    • FCC Seeks More Right-of-Way Preemption
    • Payday Lending Clearinghouse Updates
    • TML Names Legislator of the Month for March
    • Significant Committee Actions
    • Significant Floor Actions
    • City-Related Bills Filed
      • Property Tax
      • Other Finance and Administration
      • Public Safety
    • City Officials Testify

March 31, 2017, Number 13

TML Legislative Update Number 13 (PDF)

  • TML Legislative Update Number 13
    • More Hypocrisy: Fingerprints for Driver Ed Instructors but Not TNC Drivers
    • Big Businesses Bite the Hand that Feeds Them
    • Significant Committee Actions
    • Significant Floor Actions
    • City Officials Testify

March 24, 2017, Number 12

TML Legislative Update Number 12 (PDF)

  • TML Legislative Update Number 12
    • Some State Leaders Plan to Ruin Your City
    • Senate Passes Revenue Cap
    • Hypocrisy Surfaces in Senate Hearing
    • Small Cell Nodes: What They Are And Why You Should Care
    • Significant Committee Actions
    • Significant Floor Actions
    • City-Related Bills Filed
      • Property Tax
      • Sales Tax
      • Purchasing
      • Elections
      • Open Government
      • Other Finance and Administration
      • Municipal Courts
      • Community and Economic Development
      • Personnel
      • Public Safety
      • Transportation
      • Utilities and Environment
    • City Officials Testify

March 17, 2017, Number 11

TML Legislative Update Number 11 (PDF)

  • TML Legislative Update Number 11
    • Senate Committee Ignores City Testimony on Revenue Caps
    • Bill Filing Deadline Comes and Goes
    • Texas City Officials Take Bond Exemption Message to D.C.
    • City Officials Testify on Revenue Caps
    • Significant Committee Actions
    • Significant Floor Actions
    • City-Related Bills Filed
    • Property Tax
      • Sales Tax
      • Purchasing
      • Elections
      • Open Government
      • Other Finance and Administration
      • Municipal Courts
      • Community and Economic Development
      • Personnel
      • Public Safety
      • Transportation
      • Utilities and Environment

March 10, 2017, Number 10

TML Legislative Update Number 10 (PDF)

  • TML Legislative Update Number 10
    • Call to Action: S.B. 2 (Revenue Cap Bill) Will be Heard on Tuesday in Austin
    • Public Information Act: Dates of Birth
    • TCEQ Phase II Stormwater Permit Renewal
    • Payday Lending Clearinghouse Updates
    • Significant Committee Actions
    • City-Related Bills Filed
      • Property Tax
      • Sales Tax
      • Purchasing
      • Elections
      • Open Government
      • Other Finance and Administration
      • Municipal Courts
      • Community and Economic Development
      • Personnel
      • Public Safety
      • Transportation
      • Utilities and Environment

March 3, 2017, Number 9

TML Legislative Update Number 9 (PDF)

  • TML Legislative Update Number 9
    • The PUC's Sustained Bombardment of City Authority: Private Profit from Free Use of City Rights-of-Way?
    • FCC Announces Broadband Committee
    • Voter ID Update: DOJ Changes Sides
    • TML Names Legislator of the Month for February
    • Significant Committee Actions
    • City-Related Bills Filed
      • Property Tax
      • Sales Tax
      • Purchasing
      • Elections
      • Open Government
      • Other Finance and Administration
      • Municipal Courts
      • Community and Economic Development
      • Personnel
      • Public Safety
      • Transportation
      • Utilities and Environment

February 24, 2017, Number 8

TML Legislative Update Number 8 (PDF)

  • TML Legislative Update Number 8
    • PUC Asserts Jurisdiction over In-City Water Rates
    • Significant Committee Actions
    • City-Related Bills Filed
      • Property Tax
      • Sales Tax
      • Purchasing
      • Elections
      • Open Government
      • Other Finance and Administration
      • Municipal Courts
      • Community and Economic Development
      • Personnel
      • Public Safety
      • Transportation
      • Utilities and Environment

February 17, 2017, Number 7

TML Legislative Update Number 7 (PDF)

  • TML Legislative Update Number 7
    • Texas Association of Realtors: Should Be Friend, Not Foe, on Revenue Caps
    • City-Related Bills Filed
      • Property Tax
      • Sales Tax
      • Purchasing
      • Elections
      • Open Government
      • Other Finance and Administration
      • Municipal Courts
      • Community and Economic Development
      • Personnel
      • Public Safety
      • Transportation
      • Utilities and Environment

February 10, 2017, Number 6

TML Legislative Update Number 6 (PDF)

  • TML Legislative Update Number 6
    • Revenue Cap Committee’s Math: “Worse than Meaningless”
    • Speaker Names House Committees
    • Texas Supreme Court: Attorney-Client Privilege Trumps Public Information Act
    • TCEQ Seeks Stakeholder Input on Revisions to Water Rights Application Forms
    • May 2017 Election Law Calendar
    • Officer-Involved Incident Reporting
    • Reminder: Be Sure to Check Committee and Floor Actions
    • Significant Floor Actions
    • City-Related Bills Filed
      • Property Tax
      • Sales Tax
      • Purchasing
      • Elections
      • Open Government
      • Other Finance and Administration
      • Municipal Courts
      • Community and Economic Development
      • Personnel
      • Public Safety
      • Transportation
      • Utilities and Environment

February 3, 2017, Number 5

TML Legislative Update Number 5 (PDF)

  • TML Legislative Update Number 5
    • No Sanctuary from Legislative Deluge
    • TML Names Legislator of the Month for January
    • City-Related Bills Filed
      • Property Tax
      • Sales Tax
      • Purchasing
      • Elections
      • Open Government
      • Other Finance and Administration
      • Municipal Courts
      • Community and Economic Development
      • Personnel
      • Public Safety
      • Transportation
      • Utilities and Environment

January 27, 2017, Number 4

TML Legislative Update Number 4 (PDF)

  • TML Legislative Update Number 4
    • Beware of Budget Writers Bearing Gifts
    • House Committee on Urban Affairs: Interim Report on Cybersecurity
    • FCC Threatens to Limit Right-of-Way Authority
    • Payday Lending Clearinghouse Updates
    • City-Related Bills Filed
      • Property Tax
      • Sales Tax
      • Purchasing
      • Elections
      • Open Government
      • Other Finance and Administration
      • Municipal Courts
      • Community and Economic Development
      • Personnel
      • Public Safety
      • Transportation
      • Utilities and Environment

January 20, 2017, Number 3

TML Legislative Update Number 3 (PDF)

  • TML Legislative Update Number 3
    • House and Senate Release Initial Budgets
    • Lt. Governor Names Senate Committees
    • Does your Representative Support Muni Bonds?
    • DON’T FORGET: Mandatory Local Debt Reporting
    • City-Related Bills Filed
      • Property Tax
      • Sales Tax
      • Purchasing
      • Elections
      • Open Government
      • Other Finance and Administration
      • Municipal Courts
      • Community and Economic Development
      • Personnel
      • Public Safety
      • Transportation
      • Utilities and Environment

January 13, 2017, Number 2

TML Legislative Update Number 2 (PDF)

  • TML Legislative Update Number 2
    • Legislative Session Begins: Property Tax Sleight of Hand Continues
    • DON'T FORGET: Mandatory Eminent Domain Reporting
    • City-Related Bills Filed
      • Property Tax
      • Sales Tax
      • Purchasing
      • Elections
      • Open Government
      • Other Finance and Administration
      • Municipal Courts
      • Community and Economic Development
      • Personnel
      • Public Safety
      • Transportation
      • Utilities and Environment

January 6, 2017, Number 1

TML Legislative Update Number 1 (PDF)

  • TML Legislative Update Number 1
  • House Committees Release Interim Reports
  • City-Related Bills Filed
    • Property Tax
    • Sales Tax
    • Purchasing
    • Elections
    • Open Government
    • Other Finance and Administration
    • Municipal Courts
    • Community and Economic Development
    • Personnel
    • Public Safety
    • Transportation
    • Utilities and Environment