TAC Legislative Services staff has highlighted some recently filed bills of interest to county officials.
HB 88 by S. Thompson – Creates the George Floyd Act, a state cause of action for deprivation of rights under color of law. Requires new and amended duties for law enforcement; narrows use-of-force rules; ends arrests for non-jailable fine-only offenses; creates a disciplinary matrix for police. See also SB 161 by West.
HB 228 by Murr – Allows a commissioners court by order to allow a court to use an electronic recording device instead of an official court reporter.
HB 289 by Collier – Allows representatives of schools, places of worship, hospitals and other defined entities to request a public hearing from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality related to the construction of a concrete plant.
HB 339 by P. King – Redistricts the intermediate appellate courts. See also SB 11 by Huffman.
HB 472 by White – Prevents freestanding emergency medical care facilities from charging emergency facility fees for providing acute care services such as non-emergency physician services.
HB 884 by Harris – Prohibits political subdivisions that issue building permits from specifying that a certain type of utility service be employed. Responds to some 40 California municipalities and counties that have enacted electric-only utility service requirements or otherwise restricted the use of natural gas in new construction. Also prohibits the implementation of higher fees or more stringent requirements based on utility service type.
HB 1159 by Murr – Cleans up language from SB 2342 (86R) by increasing the maximum judgment amount awarded by a justice court in cases regarding the repair of residential rental property from $10,000 to $20,000.
SB 41 by Zaffirini – Consolidates certain state civil court costs and reallocates costs and fees.