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Legal Calendar

JANUARY 2008

January	Term in which commissioners court may designate a new site at which terms are to be held during that calendar year. Seven days notice is required. TEX. LOC. GOV. CODE §81.005(d).
January	Month voter registrar to begin mailing confirmation notices to voters whose names appear on the suspense list. TEX. ELEC. CODE §14.023.
January 1	Effective date of valuation of property on tax rolls. TEX. TAX CODE §23.01.
January 2 6:00 p.m.	Deadline for candidate filing for place on the general primary election ballot. Actual receipt by 6:00 p.m. required. TEX. ELEC. CODE §172.023.
January 2	Deadline for Voter Registrar to file annual registration report with Secretary of State of number of persons whose registrations in the county and the county election precincts will be effective on January 1. TEX. ELEC. CODE, §18.041(d).
January 1-15	Reconstitution of jury wheel. TEX. GOV. CODE §62.001(h).
January 15 5:00 p.m.	Deadline for semi-annual report of political contributions and expenditures by candidates and certain officeholders. TEX. ELEC. CODE §§254.063(c) and 254.093(c) and 254.095. If delivered by mail or carrier, cancellation or receipt mark before the deadline is proof of timeliness of filing.
January 17 Counties with population 100,000 or greater Counties with population 125,000 or greater	Deadline for county clerk to mail two copies of personal financial statement forms to candidates for county judge, county commissioner, and county attorney in the general primary election. TEX. LOC. GOV’T.CODE §159.005. Deadline for county clerk to mail two copies of personal financial statement forms to candidates for justice of the peace in the general primary election. TEX. LOC. GOV’T.CODE §159.005.
January 30	Deadline for Road and bridge expenditure report due to State Comptroller. TEX. TRANS. CODE §256.009.

FEBRUARY 2008

February 1	Unpaid property taxes become delinquent if not paid before February 1 of the year after the taxes are imposed. TEX. TAX CODE §31.02(a).
February 1 Fiscal year counties	Fee basis officers required to file annual report with district court. TEX. LOC. GOV’T. CODE §114.046(a).
February 4 5:00 p.m.	Deadline for opposed candidates in general primary election to file pre- election report of political contributions and expenditures. TE X. ELEC. CODE §254.064. Actual receipt by deadline required. Deadline extended. TEX. ELEC. CODE §1.006.
February 11 5:00 p.m. Counties with population 100,000 or greater Counties with population 125,000 or greater	Deadline for candidates for county judge, county commissioner, and county attorney to file personal financial statements. TEX. LOC. GOV’T. CODE §159.004. Deadline for candidates for justice of the peace to file personal financial statement. TEX. LOC. GOV’T CODE §159.004.
February 19	First day of early voting by personal appearance for general primary election. TEX. ELEC. CODE §85.001.
February 25 5:00 p.m.	Deadline for opposed candidates in general primary election to file pre-election report of political contributions and expenditures. TEX. ELEC. CODE §254.064. Actual receipt by deadline required.
February 29	Last day of early voting by personal appearance for general primary election. TEX. ELEC. CODE §85.001.

MARCH 2008

March All counties	First month Commissioners Court may make determination on whether the county election precincts comply with law and make boundary changes (some exceptions apply). TEX. ELEC. CODE §42.031(a).
March 4	General Primary Election Day. TEX. ELEC. CODE §41.007.
March 30 Counties with population 100,000 or greater Counties with population 125,000 or greater	County Clerk required to mail financial disclosure forms to the County Judge, County Commissioners and County Attorney who are not candidates in the general primary election.. TEX. LOC. GOV’T. Code §159.005. Appointed officers and those filling vacancies are to be mailed the forms not later than the seventh day after the date of appointment. TEX. LOC. GOV’T. Code §159.005(b). County Clerk required to mail financial disclosure forms to the justices of the peace who are not candidates in the general primary election.. TEX. LOC. GOV’T. Code §159.005. Appointed officers and those filling vacancies are to be mailed the forms not later than the seventh day after the date of appointment. TEX. LOC. GOV’T. Code §159.005(b).
March 31	First day of early voting by personal appearance for the Runoff Primary Election. TEX. ELEC. CODE §85.001
March 31 5:00 p.m. All counties	Deadline for opposed candidates in general primary election to file pre-election report of political contributions and expenditures. TEX. ELEC.CODE §254.064. Actual receipt by deadline required.

APRIL 2008

April 4	Last day of early voting by personal appearance for runoff primary election. TEX ELEC. CODE §85.001
April 8	Runoff Primary Election Day TEX. ELEC. CODE §41.007(b)
No later than April 24	If drought conditions exist (determined by the Texas Forest Service), Commissioners Court in counties located not more than 100 miles from Texas-Mexico border may adopt an order regulating the use of certain fireworks for the Cinco de Mayo fireworks season. TEX. LOC. GOV’T. Code, §352.051.
April 30	Deadline for commissioners court to order county election precinct boundary changes to comply with its March or April determination. TEX. ELEC. CODE §42.031.
April 30 5:00 p.m.	Judge of a statutory county court or statutory probate court is required to file a verified financial statement with county clerk or State Ethics Commission. TEX. LOC. GOV. CODE §159.052.
April 30, 5:00 p.m. Counties with population 100,000 or greater Counties with population 125,000 or greater	The County Judge, County Commissioners and County Attorney are required to file a verified financial statement with County Clerk in the county in which the person resides. TEX. LOC. GOV’T. CODE §159.001, and 159.003 and 159.004(a). Failure to file is a Class B Misdemeanor. TEX. LOC. GOV’T. CODE §159.008(b). A $1000 civil penalty may also be assessed. TEX. LOC. GOV’T. CODE §159.010(c). If delivered by mail or carrier, cancellation or receipt mark before the deadline is proof of timeliness of filing. The Justices of the Peace are required to file a verified financial statement with County Clerk in the county in which the person resides. TEX. LOC. GOV’T. CODE §159.001, and 159.003 and 159.004(a). Failure to file is a Class B Misdemeanor. TEX. LOC. GOV’T. CODE §159.008(b). A $1000 civil penalty may also be assessed. TEX. LOC. GOV’T. CODE §159.010(c). If delivered by mail or carrier, cancellation or receipt mark before the deadline is proof of timeliness of filing.

MAY 2008

May 10	Uniform Election Date. TEX. ELEC. CODE §41.001
Before May 15	Voter Registrar to submit to comptroller of public accounts a statement of registration information for previous voting year. TEX. ELEC. CODE §19.001.
May 15 By this date or as soon thereafter as possible	Chief appraiser required to prepare list of property and appraised values. Tex. Tax Code §25.01(a). Chief appraiser to mail written notice of appraised values to property owners. TEX. TAX CODE §25.19(a).

JUNE 2008

No later than June 14	If drought conditions exist (determined by the Texas Forest Service), Commissioners Court may adopt an order regulating the use of certain fireworks for the July 4 fireworks season. TEX. LOC. GOV’T. CODE, §352.051.
Before June 15	Proposed budget for appraisal district due to Commissioners Court from Chief Appraiser. TEX. TAX CODE §6.06(a).

JULY 2008

July	Commissioners court to appoint election judges for county election precincts at July term. TEX. ELEC. CODE §32.002.
July 1	First day of 12-month period for collection of additional fees and costs for certain statutory county and probate courts if Commissioners Court resolution is filed with Comptroller on or before June 1. TEX. GOV. CODE §51.702.
July 15 5:00 p.m.	Deadline for semi-annual report of political contributions and expenditures by candidates and certain officeholders. TEX. ELEC. CODE §§ 254.063(b), 254.093(b), and 254.095. If delivered by mail or carrier, cancellation or receipt mark before the deadline is proof of timeliness of filing.
July 25	Certified appraisal roll due to Tax Assessor-Collector from the appraisal district. TEX. TAX CODE §26.01(a).

AUGUST 2008

August 1	Certified appraisal roll, collection rate, debt taxes, etc., due to Commissioners Court from Tax Assessor-Collector. TEX. TAX CODE §26.04(b).
August 7	Calculation and publication of tax rate, roll-back rate, etc., required unless governed by simplified notice procedure in TEX. TAX. CODE §26.052(c). TEX. TAX CODE §26.04(e).
August 26	Deadline for County Judge to order General Election. TEX. ELEC. CODE § 3.005.
August 31	District and County Attorneys’ deadline to file with comptroller of public accounts or county treasurer, as applicable, a sworn account of all monies received during preceding year. TEX. GOV. CODE §41.005(d).

SEPTEMBER 2008

September 1	District Court order increasing salary, if any, of official district court reporter due to Commissioners Court for next budget year. TEX. GOV. CODE §52.051(c).
Before September 15	Final budget of appraisal district due to Commissioners Court from Chief Appraiser. TEX. TAX CODE §6.06(b).
Before September 30	Or the 60th day after the certified appraisal roll is received, whichever is later, is the deadline for adoption of the tax rate by Commissioners Court. TEX. TAX CODE §26.05(a). The vote on the order setting the tax rate (levy) must be separate from the vote adopting the budget. TEX. TAX CODE §26.05(b). The tax rate adopted (levied) may not exceed last year’s levy unless the Commissioners Court has held two public hearings on the proposed tax rate and otherwise complied with TEX. TAX CODE §26.06 and §26.065, if applicable. TEX. TAX CODE §26.05(d).
Before October 1	Deadline for setting fees of the Sheriff and Constable to be effective January 1. TEX. LOC. GOV’T. CODE §118.131(d).

OCTOBER 2008

October Fiscal year counties	Order designating day of week on which court will convene in a regular term. TEX. LOC. GOV’T. CODE §81.005(a).
October 1	Tax Assessor-Collector’s deadline for mailing tax bills. TEX. TAX CODE §31.01(a).
October 6 5:00 p.m.	Deadline for opposed candidates in general election to file pre-election report of political contributions and expenditures. TEX. ELEC. CODE §254.064. Actual receipt by deadline required.
October 5-27	Period during which County Judge to give notice of General Election by publication. TEX. ELEC. CODE § 4.003 (a).
October 14	County Judge to post notice of General Election. TEX. ELEC. CODE § 4.003(b).
Before October 15	Nominations for appraisal district directors due. TEX. TAX CODE §6.03(g).
October 15	Deadline for providing written notice of the fees of Sheriff and Constable (or changes) to the comptroller of public accounts. TEX. LOC. GOV’T. CODE §118.131(f).
October 20	First day of early voting by personal appearance for the General Election. TEX. ELEC. CODE § 85.001. Deadline for County Judge to deliver written notice of election to presiding election judges. TEX. ELEC.. CODE § 4.007.
October 27 5:00 p.m.	Deadline for opposed candidates in general election to file pre-election report of political contributions and expenditures. TEX. ELEC.. CODE §254.064. Actual receipt by deadline required.
Before October 30	Ballots for directors of appraisal district due to County Judge. TEX. TAX CODE §6.03(j).
October 31	Last day of early voting by personal appearance for the General Election. TEX. ELECT. CODE §85.001

NOVEMBER 2008

November 4	General Election Day. TEX. ELEC. CODE, §41.002.
November 12-17	Period during which Commissioners Court must meet to canvass election returns. TEX. ELEC. CODE, §67.003. [deadline extended]. After the canvass the County Judge shall promptly deliver a certificate of election to each candidate elected in the election, unless a recount petition has been filed for that office. TEX. ELEC. CODE §67.016 and §212.0331. Not later than 24 hours after the Commissioners Court canvasses the election, the county clerk must deliver county returns for statewide and district offices and statewide measures to the Secretary of State. TEX. ELEC. CODE, §67.007.
November 18	Complete jury wheel due to Secretary of State. TEX. GOV. CODE §62.001(c).

DECEMBER 2008

December 4	Deadline for county clerk to deliver an electronic report of precinct results to the Secretary of State. TEX. ELEC. CODE, § 67.017
No later than December 14	If drought conditions exist (determined by the Texas Forest Service), Commissioners Court may adopt order regulating the use of certain aerial fireworks. TEX. LOC. GOV’T. CODE §352.051(d).
Before December 15	Resolution determining vote for appraisal district directors due from Commissioners Court to Chief Appraiser. TEX. TAX CODE §6.03(k).
Before December 31	Results of appraisal district election due to Commissioners Court from Chief Appraiser. TEX. TAX CODE §6.03(k).
December Fiscal year counties	Order designating day of week on which court will convene in a regular term. TEX. LOC. GOV’T. Code §81.005(a).

MONTHLY REPORTS

The following is a partial list of required monthly reports:

Monthly report of expenses by officer compensated on a salary basis in counties of 190,000 or less. TEX. LOC. GOV’T. CODE §154.024.
Monthly report of fees, commissions, and other compensation collected and salaries paid by district, county, or precinct officers in counties of more than 190,000 population. (On or before the fifth day of each month). TEX. LOC. GOV’T. CODE §154.044.
County Clerk’s report of fines and jury fees to Judge for approval and filing in minutes. TEX. GOV. CODE §51.402.
County Auditor’s report. TEX. LOC. GOV’T. Code §§114.024 and 114.025. For populations over 225,000 see TEX. LOC. GOV’T. CODE §114.023.
County Treasurer’s report. TEX. LOC. GOV’T. Code §114.026(c). The report must be examined by the County Auditor and cancelled warrants must be verified. TEX. LOC. GOV’T. Code §115.002(c).
County Treasurer to report to the County Clerk at the end of each month, a claims report that shows the total amount of claims registered by the Treasurer during the month. TEX. LOC. GOV’T. Code §114.061.
Voter Registrar to request from Postal Service any available information indicating address reclassifications affecting registered voters. TEX. ELEC. CODE §15.022(b).

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