March 19

Bills on the Move

March 19, 2021| Legislative News

TAC Legislative Services staff will highlight important county-related bills on the move that have had either committee or floor activity in the House and Senate during the week. While this list does not include every county-related bill, it does provide an overview of some recent significant legislative actions.

Week in Review: A Digest of What Happened This Week at the Capitol

March 19, 2021| Legislative News

The House Elections Committee met on Thursday and heard 12 bills on a variety of subjects. Of the bills heard in committee, House Bill 25 by Rep. Valoree Swanson (R-Spring), prohibits the distribution of official application forms for ballot-by-mail to a person by an official or employee of a state agency or a political subdivision. In addition, the committee heard House Bill 1382 by Rep. John Bucy (D-Austin), which requires the early voting clerk to establish an electronic system that would allow a voter to track an application for a ballot-by-mail and their voted ballot-by-mail.

Priority Bail Reform Legislation Is Underway

March 19, 2021| Legislative News

Bail reform is a top priority for both the House and Senate as Senate Bill 21 by Sen. Joan Huffman (R-Houston) and House Bill 20 by Rep. Andrew Murr (R-Junction) are on the move. On Thursday, the Senate Committee on Jurisprudence heard public testimony on SB 21.

Criminal Jurisprudence Meets to Discuss Asset Forfeiture

March 19, 2021| Legislative News

On Monday, the House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence met to hear testimony on 15 bills, including four which concern the state’s civil asset forfeiture system. Those four bills are House Bill 132 by Rep. Terry Canales (D-Edinburg), House Bill 251 by Rep. Senfronia Thompson (D-Houston), House Bill 667 by Rep. Harold Dutton (D-Houston), and House Bill 1441 by Rep. Matt Schaefer (R-Tyler).

Unable to Attend This Week's Tuesday Morning Breakfast? Here's What Happened

March 19, 2021| Legislative News

This week's Tuesday Morning Breakfast got underway a few minutes ahead of its scheduled 7:30 start time when several county officials began discussing the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. The exchange demonstrated a deep interest in the pandemic relief measure's $5.6 billion in direct, flexible aid for Texas counties.

AG Opinions and Requests

March 19, 2021| Legislative News

TAC has highlighted recent Attorney General Opinions and Requests for Opinions of interest to counties.

What We’re Reading

March 19, 2021| Legislative News

This week, the activities of the 87th Texas Legislature continued with committee hearings and both chambers convening. Here are a few news articles on the week’s happenings.


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