June 10, 2022, Number 23


Download the full .pdf version here: TML Legislative Update Number 23


resolutions for 2022 tml annual conference

Resolutions for consideration at the 2022 Annual Conference are due no later than 5:00 p.m. on August 22, 2022. The TML Constitution provides that resolutions must be submitted by any member city, TML region, or TML affiliate to the TML headquarters 45 calendar days prior to the first day of the Annual Conference. 

The League’s advocacy efforts are based on a legislative program that is developed by member city officials in two ways. 

First, a member city, TML region, or TML affiliate may submit a resolution for consideration at the business meeting of each year’s annual conference. Each city is asked to provide one delegate to serve as its liaison at the meeting. The representatives will be briefed on the content of the resolutions and given a chance to discuss and vote on whether they merit inclusion in the legislative program. The resolutions form the basis of a fixed legislative program, under which – each session – modifications to the program will be made only if needed. 

Second, member city officials can participate in the League’s Municipal Policy Summit during the summer of 2022. The report of the Summit takes the form of a resolution that is submitted to the Annual Conference in interim years. The summit participants will be appointed by the TML President based on volunteers and others chosen to balance the demographics of the TML membership at large. 

Details on the submission process can be found here.


speaker forms investigative committee, issues new interim charges and appoints additional members to committee

Speaker Phelan announced the House Investigative Committee on the Robb Elementary Shooting to conduct an examination into the circumstances surrounding the shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde. The committee comes after Governor Abbott requested that the House and Senate create special committees to make recommendations to the legislature and executive branch.  The following individuals have been appointed to the committee:

  • Rep. Dustin Burrows (R – Lubbock), Chair
  • Rep. Joe Moody (D – El Paso), Vice Chair
  • The Honorable Eva Guzman, Member

The investigative committee, which possesses the power of subpoena and is authorized to conduct depositions and initiate discovery, has been tasked with collecting and analyzing evidence from law enforcement, making comprehensive findings, and reporting its conclusions as soon as possible to help inform the work of the House. The committee met for the first time on June 9 and examined witnesses in executive session.

The speaker also issued joint charges to the House Select Committee on Youth Health & Safety and House Homeland Security & Public Safety including:

  • Evaluate the preparedness of and coordination between state and local agencies, nongovernmental entities, and law enforcement for the prevention of and response to mass violence, including the content and efficacy of active shooter response training.

Lastly, the speaker added seven additional members to the House Select Committee on Youth & Safety, all of whom represent areas where mass shootings have taken place in recent years.

  • Rep. Greg Bonnen (R – Friendswood)
  • Rep. Drew Darby (R – San Angelo)
  • Rep. Charlie Geren (R – Fort Worth)
  • Rep. Mary Gonzalez (D – El Paso)
  • Rep. Tracy King (D – Uvalde)
  • Rep. John Kuempel (R – Seguin)
  • Rep. Brooks Landgraf (R – Odessa)


sunset advisory commission issues reports for texas water development board and texas commission on environmental quality

The Sunset Advisory Commission (Commission) is tasked with reviewing state agency functions and making recommendations to the legislature to streamline and improve the agency’s operations. The Commission recently issued staff reports for the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).

The TWDB staff report focuses on improving the agency’s review process to prevent project delays and enhancing outreach efforts to entities eligible for financial assistance. The full report, including Sunset recommendations, can be found here.

The TCEQ staff report makes recommendations to create additional transparency and to provide opportunities for meaningful public input. The full report, including Sunset recommendations, can be found here.

The Commission will meet on June 22, 2022, to make decisions on the TWDB report and take public testimony on the staff recommendations for TCEQ. The hearing notice can be found here.


house and senate committee interim hearings

The Texas House and Senate Committees are underway studying interim charges outlined by Speaker Phelan and Lt. Governor Dan Patrick.

Below is a full list of committee hearings set to hear certain city-related charges. All hearings will be held at the Texas Capitol unless otherwise indicated. If a committee has newly posted notice and was not included in last week’s edition of the Legislative Update, it is indicated as such.

*NEW* Senate Natural Resources and Economic Development Committee

The committee will meet on June 13 at 10:00 a.m. to hear invited and public testimony on the following charge:

Wildfire and Prescribed Burns: Examine ways to reduce the risk of and destructive impact of wildfires. Monitor the role the Prescribed Burning Board plays in controlled burns. Recommend practices and improvements that public and private landowners may use to reduce fire risks.

Information on the hearing, including how to register and testify at the committee hearing, can be found here.

House Committee on County Affairs

The committee will meet on June 14 at 10:00 a.m. to hear invited and public testimony on the following charge:

Monitor the agencies and programs under the Committee’s jurisdiction and oversee the implementation of relevant legislation passed by the 87th Legislature. Conduct active oversight of all associated rulemaking and other governmental actions taken to ensure the intended legislative outcome of all legislation including the following:

  • H.B. 2073, relating to quarantine leave for firefighters, peace officers, detention officers, and emergency medical technicians employed by, appointed by, or elected for a political subdivision.

Information on the hearing, including how to testify or submit electronic comment, can be found here.

*NEW* House Committee on State Affairs

The committee will meet on June 22 at 9:00 a.m. to hear invited and public testimony to consider the following:

Update on continued progress of the proposed changes to the ERCOT market design.

Information on the hearing, including how to register or submit electronic comment, can be found here.

House Committee on State Affairs

The committee will meet on June 23 at 10:00 a.m. to hear invited and public testimony to consider the following interim charges:

Monitor the agencies and programs under the Committee’s jurisdiction and oversee the implementation of relevant legislation passed by the 87th Legislature. Conduct oversight of all associated rulemaking and other governmental actions taken to ensure the intended legislative outcome of all legislation, including the following:

  • Senate Bill 2, relating to the governance of the Public Utility Commission  of Texas, the Office of Public Utility Counsel, and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas.
  • Examine the efforts of power generation facilities to weatherize their facilities.
  • Review the status of projects intended to reduce transmission congestion within the electrical grid.

Information on the hearing, including how to register and testify at the committee hearing, can be found here.

Senate Health and Human Services Committee

The committee will meet on June 27 at 10:00 a.m. to hear invited and public testimony on the following interim charge:

Public Health Data: Review the processes for public health data collection and coordination by local and state entities as well as regional trauma centers. Identify any continuing barriers to the real-time dissemination of data concerning health care facility capacity – inducing data that can expedite timely care – and morbidity rates, as well as other information that can assist in public policy decisions.

Information on the hearing, including how to register and testify at the committee hearing, can be found here.


disclaimer

TML member cities may use the material herein for any purpose. No other person or entity may reproduce, distribute, or duplicate any part of this document without the written authorization of the Texas Municipal League.