Legislative Services

Speaker's Race Crowds
House Speaker Dade Phelan was the first speaker in 52 years to be pushed to a runoff election. After fending off his challenger by 366 votes, his next battle is to retain the gavel. In addition to three earlier entrants, last week saw another three candidates throw their hats into the ring.

On Sept. 10, Rep. James Frank (R-Wichita Falls) announced his run in a letter posted to his Facebook page. Next into the fray were Reps. John Smithee (R-Amarillo) on Sept. 13, followed a day later by Ana-Maria Ramos (D-Richardson). The three representatives will vie with Phelan and earlier entrants Reps. Tom Oliverson (R-Cypress), Shelby Slawson (R-Stephenville) and David Cook (R-Mansfield).

The 150-member House of Representatives will elect their next speaker soon after the 89th Legislature convenes on Jan. 14, 2025.

Senate Committees Issued Second Round of Study Topics
In April, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick directed Senate standing and special committees to conduct public hearings on specified subjects and report on their findings. The directive is a standard order issued each interim, referred to as interim charges. In something of a departure from standard practice, Patrick issued a second round of interim charges on Sept. 10. The charges call on senators to study masked protesters, organized retail theft, rape evidence kit backlogs, film incentives, runoff election thresholds and homelessness, among other topics.

Completed hearings on April's interim charges may be viewed here. Information and webcast hyperlinks for scheduled upcoming public hearings are available here.

County Officials Testify at House and Senate Committees
The House Elections Committee met Aug. 26 to hear invited testimony on adherence to election laws and monitor the agencies and programs under the committee's jurisdiction. Chambers County Clerk Heather Hawthorne testified on behalf of the County and District Clerks' Association. Liberty County Clerk Lee Chambers and Hays County Election Administrator Jennifer Doinoff provided testimony on emerging priority issues and on the storage and management processes for voter registration data on behalf of the Texas Association of County Election Officials.

Video of the hearing is archived online.

The Senate Finance Committee met Sept. 5 to hear invited and public testimony on mental health services and inpatient facilities and to monitor infrastructure funds. Brazoria County Sheriff Bo Stallman testified on the state's investment in local mental health resources. His testimony may be viewed starting at the 3:40:40 mark of the archived video.

The Senate Local Government Committee met Sept. 5 to hear invited and public testimony on local government spending of directly distributed federal funds and extra-territorial jurisdictions. Williamson County Auditor Julie Kiley testified on Williamson County's use of federal grant funds under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security and American Rescue Plan Acts. Her testimony begins at the 4:15 mark and may be viewed here.

The House Youth Health & Safety Select Committee met Sept. 18 to hear invited and public testimony on last session's House Bill 3 by Rep. Dustin Burrows (R-Lubbock) regarding public school safety. Chambers County Sheriff Brian Hawthorne's testimony may be viewed at the 1:23 mark here.

September Is Disaster Preparedness Month
Texas has the unfortunate distinction of leading the nation in extreme weather events and cost of recovery. September marks the peak of hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to Nov. 30. Preparation and planning speed recovery and mitigate damages. Best practices are detailed on TAC's and the National Association of Counties' websites.

Comptroller Local Government Recognition Program
The Office of the Comptroller of Public Accounts recognizes units of local government for financial transparency. The Transparency Stars program accepts applications from public entities for their transparency efforts in traditional finances, contracts and procurement, economic development, public pensions, debt obligations and open government and compliance. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis. Visit the Transparency Stars website for details.

Congratulations to Chambers, Collin, Comal, El Paso, Fort Bend, Guadalupe, Galveston, Harris, Kendall, Lubbock, Tarrant, Travis, Val Verde and Victoria counties for receiving Transparency Stars!

For more information about this article, please contact Pete Winckler.