FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Texas City Leaders Meet to Determine Legislative Priorities for 87th Texas Legislature
The League’s members recommended supporting issues such as local options and pay as you go financing for critical infrastructure projects, bridging the digital divide and increasing rural broadband connectivity, and the importance of community advocacy before the legislature.
Leaders from cities across Texas gathered virtually this week to discuss legislative priorities for the 87th Texas Legislative Session. The Texas Municipal League (TML) Policy Summit met for two full days to discuss priorities for cities which included preserving the tools to meet the needs of Texas taxpayers, bridging the digital divide and increasing rural broadband connectivity, pay as you go financing options for critical infrastructure projects, and the importance of community advocacy before the legislature.
“This is the time of year when all of our members come together and tell us what they want TML to be focused on,” said Bennett Sandlin, executive director of TML. “Our goal is to help city leaders better serve the diverse communities they represent. The League is looking forward to advocating on behalf of our members and working with the legislature during the session as we continue positioning our great state for success moving forward.”
Robin Mouton, chair of the TML Municipal Policy Summit and councilwoman from Beaumont said, “I was proud to chair this two-day policy conversation with leaders representing Texas cities of all sizes. It is encouraging to see that no matter the size of city, our members, from small communities like Daisetta to large metropolitan areas like Dallas, all have an equal voice in this process. This is an important statewide conversation and each city has an equal vote in creating the agenda that TML will help us advance during the next legislative session.”
“Each of the League’s 1,160 member cities get to vote on TML priorities and it is encouraging to see a unified and pro-recovery focus as we lead into this important session year. Issues such as broadband connectivity, support for critical infrastructure, and lessened reliance on debt issuance will assist in each city’s ability to aid in overall state recovery. With TML’s legislative agenda, it is evident that city leaders are looking forward to helping restart and continue the Texas miracle,” said TML President-Elect Karen Hunt, mayor of Coppell. “Texans elect local leaders to represent them on the issues that impact their daily lives. In addition to the work in our communities, locally elected officials have a responsibility to remain an active part of the state and federal legislative process and must work with experts to advance the issues important to the individual needs of their community."
###
The Texas Municipal League is a voluntary, non-profit association of 1,160 member cities founded in 1913 to help city leaders better serve Texans who live in cities.