Legislative Services

Wintry weather prompted the Texas Association of Counties to shift this week's Tuesday Morning Breakfast legislative briefing entirely online. TAC Legislative Services Director Caroline Love thanked everyone for their flexibility and provided a recap of the Legislature's opening week, including the election of Rep. Dustin Burrows (R-Lubbock) as House Speaker and Senate committee assignments announced by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick.

Sen. Charles Perry (R-Lubbock) was named chair of the Committee on Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs. Perry has listed water as a focus this session.

"We will leave this session with a significant sum to jump-start water supply development and have a constitutional vote in November for perpetual funding going forward," Perry said in a recent interview with the Austin American-Statesman.

Perry is scheduled to speak at TAC's Counties at the Capitol event on Jan. 28, along with Rep. Todd Hunter (R-Corpus Christi).

Another notable committee assignment is the appointment of Sen. Paul Bettencourt (R-Houston) as chair of the Committee on Local Government. Sen. Mayes Middleton (R-Galveston) is vice chair.

House committee assignments will be announced in the next few weeks. The Legislature's pace will pick up once both chambers' committee rosters are set.

Attendees also heard updates from county officials and TAC staff monitoring legislative developments. The early weeks of each session are a time for planning and discussion – a period for monitoring bills that have been filed and scanning the horizon for new ones.

More than 2,700 bills have been introduced thus far. TAC is tracking all bills that affect county government, as well as bills affecting specific county offices. Explore these bills here.

Next week's Tuesday Morning Breakfast will be wrapped into Counties at the Capitol. Regular meetings resume Feb. 4. Register here.