The Legislative Session and New Initiatives Kick Off 2019

This year holds exciting challenges and new initiatives for the Texas Association of Counties.

First and foremost, it’s a legislative session year. We are working alongside you to ensure the county voice is heard at the Capitol during the 86^th Legislative Session. Thank you to all the officials who have come to Austin to testify at committee hearings and who have visited with their legislators on issues that matter most to counties. Please stay informed and continue to engage as we move through this session. I urge you to visit the Legislative section of our website for county issue briefs and a list of bills by office and read our weekly County Issues e-newsletter for timely legislative updates.

In addition to staying on top of the legislative session, we are undertaking new initiatives. The TAC management team and Board are focusing on strategic planning to ensure that we continue to better serve you as we move into TAC’s next 50 years. I will update you here as this effort progresses.

Now, to focus on more immediate events — April 1 is the deadline to register you and your staff for our online Cybersecurity Awareness Training. I urge you to take advantage of this free online training, which will run from May 2019-April 2020 and help you protect your county networks and constituents’ information. Sign up at www.county.org/countycyber.

We also hope to see you at the County Management and Risk Conference, April 10-12 in San Marcos. Topics covered will offer the tools and resources counties need to better manage their risk. Check the Calendar of Events on our website for the full agenda and to register today.

Before this fast-paced year flies by, I want to recognize TAC President and Hidalgo County Constable Larry Gallardo, who is serving the second year of his two-year presidency. He is TAC’s first Hispanic president and the first president from Texas’ Lower Rio Grande Valley. Thank you, Constable Gallardo, for your continued leadership and congratulations upon marking these milestones.

Keep an eye out for your March-April issue of County magazine. In it, you’ll find Constable Gallardo’s President’s Report, as well as another installment of our series about TAC’s history as we celebrate 50 years of serving Texas counties. The issue features the communications and technology services we have provided to county government over the decades.

In a new effort to highlight TAC staff working to serve members all across the Association, this issue also includes a feature on TAC Receptionist Gaylene Jensen. Gaylene joined the TAC staff in 1998 and is an amazing asset to our Association, going above and beyond to help all who call and visit our building. We all know her as “The Voice of TAC” for good reason.

So much is underway this year and we are excited about the opportunities that lie ahead. I look forward to hearing your thoughts, and learning what you need from us as we take on 2019!