Legislative Services

Texas County Voice, the podcast of the Texas Association of Counties, recently earned three awards of excellence from the National Association of County Information Officers. Notably, the podcast secured the best in category award for an episode centered on the topic of mental health and county jails.

The podcast's latest episode features an engaging conversation between TAC Legislative Consultant Kelsey Bernstein and Jefferson County Pct. 2 Constable Christopher Bates, the current president of the Justices of the Peace and Constables Association of Texas. This summer, Bates was named the 2023 United States Constable of the Year by the National Constables and Marshals Association. Adding to his accolades, his hometown of Port Arthur honored him with a key to the city in September.

Bates is a talented singer, and he shares his vocal talents with Texas County Voice by singing a verse of "God Bless America." It's a moment you won't want to miss.

Other recent podcast episodes include:

• A question-and-answer discussion of the proposed rules governing Senate Bill 22, the rural law enforcement salary assistance grant program.
• Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson on elections and more, part of a selection of remarks from TAC's 2023 Legislative Conference.
• An exploration of the potential benefits and risks posed by artificial intelligence for counties.

Tune in here for these and other insightful conversations about the issues shaping Texas counties.