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Garcia, a former Harris County Commissioner, issued words of caution to some 200 officials gathered in Galveston County’s Moody Gardens. In October 2016 on the opening day of the CJCAT State Conference, then-Sen. Perhaps the best way to paint a picture of the last legislative session is to remember what several state lawmakers said both before and after the gavel fell. The Legislature enacted a further 12 bills during the special session held in the summer. Jim Allison offers testimony on House Bill 4117 relating to the creation of a county jail telemental health fund in April 2017.ĭuring its 2017 regular session, the 85th Texas Legislature enacted 1,211 bills and adopted nine joint resolutions after considering 6,631 measures filed. “However, there is no substitute for a personal visit, a phone call, or a letter from a county official,” Allison emphasized. These resolutions can be adapted for local consideration and submitted to legislators (see page ?). One educational tool available to Commissioners Court members is the slate of resolutions passed by the CJCAT at the annual conference in October 2018. “County Judges and Commissioners need to contact their state legislators before the start of the session to inform them of the effects of proposed legislation, especially revenue caps and unfunded mandates,” Allison urged. “Whether the Senate will consider this proposal to limit the unfunded cost of state legislative actions remains to be seen,” he noted.Īs indicated by the recap of previous sessions below, members of Commissioners Court who become engaged in the legislative process can make a difference. “While school property taxes remain the greatest cost to local taxpayers, the state continues to shift more of the cost of education onto local property taxes.”įor the first time, a proposed constitutional amendment to prohibit future unfunded mandates passed the House of Representatives last session, Allison added. While there is no justification for this proposed intrusion into local decision-making, it appears that the state leadership will continue to use this issue to blame local officials for rising property taxes,” Allison continued.

“Revenue caps have been proposed for each of the past nine sessions. “Based upon current information, revenue caps and unfunded mandates will again be the issues of primary concern,” reported Jim Allison, CJCAT general counsel. If early indications ring true, County Judges and Commissioners will need to rally once more. Consequently, multiple regular and special sessions adjourned without imposing these restrictions and cuts, due in large part to the heightened presence and significant voice of county officials and their supporters. For example, during the past few legislative sessions, local government officials and associations such as the CJCAT voiced spirited opposition to revenue caps. As has been pointed out by lawmakers in the past, this Association and its Legislative Committee have a reputation for approaching every session of the Texas Legislature with resolve. Lawmakers will be asked to consider thousands of bills throughout the 86th Session, and the CJCAT will closely monitor all proceedings to champion and protect county government. “In taking this oath comes the responsibility of not only upholding the laws of our great state, but also to help guide lawmakers in the process of creating new laws,” shared Anderson County Judge Robert Johnston, president of the County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas (CJCAT) and chairman of the CJCAT Legislative Committee. Garnet Coleman during the 85th Legislative Session.īarely a week after taking their oaths of office, a slate of newly elected officials will join their veteran counterparts in exercising the county’s role as partner to the State of Texas. 12, 2018, filing 428 bills on the first day alone.įrom left: TAC legislative liaison Rick Thompson, CJCAT general counsel Jim Allison, and Wichita County Judge Woody Gossom, then president of the CJCAT, make their way to the Capitol building to visit with Rep. Texas legislators began pre-filing bills on Nov.

The 86th Texas Legislature is set to meet Jan. The governor is authorized to call additional special sessions as necessary, which cannot exceed 30 days. These biennial sessions are limited to 140 days. The Texas Legislature meets in a regular session every two years, convening on the second Tuesday in January of every odd-numbered year.