The original item was published from January 7, 2021 3:46 PM to January 12, 2021 12:21 PM
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Urgent Updates
What is the status of the suspended Open Meetings Act
provisions?
On Tuesday (January 5), the governor’s office extended the
Open Meetings Act suspensions for another 30 days. Previously, on March 16,
the governor granted the office of the attorney general’s request for
suspension of certain open meeting statutes.
The temporary suspension allows, among other things, for telephonic or
videoconference meetings of governmental bodies that are accessible to the
public in an effort to reduce in-person meetings that assemble large groups
of people. The guidance associated
with the suspension provides that: “These suspensions are in effect until
terminated by the office of the governor, or until the March 13, 2020,
disaster declaration is lifted or expires.” The March 13 declaration has been
extended for successive 30-day periods, including Monday’s extension. That means the relevant open
meetings laws remain suspended for at least another 30 days (or until
affirmatively rescinded).
We still can’t be certain, but it is highly likely that the
governor will continue to repeatedly extend his declarations. We’ve heard
from his staff that they have no immediate plans to rescind the suspensions,
which are sensible and seem to be working well, but that can’t be guaranteed.
How are city sales taxes doing during Coronavirus?
Actually well, recently. Yesterday, Comptroller Glenn
Hegar announced that January city sales taxes were up 3.4% over
January 2020.
Further Updates
Where can I find archived issues of the TML Coronavirus
Updates?
TML Coronavirus Updates are archived by date here and by subject here.
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