March 5

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

March 05, 2021| Legislative News

Both Texas legislative chambers spent part of the week referring bills to committees. Now that many committees, though not all, have completed their organizational meetings, the session’s pace should pick up as they begin hearing bills.

Broadband Leadership Bills Filed

March 05, 2021| Legislative News

Broadband continues to be a leadership priority, as pointed out by Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan (R-Beaumont) and state Sen. Bryan Hughes (R-Minneola) at the Counties at the Capitol Day program last month. Since the interviews, two bills filed are presumed to be the preferred vehicles to address broadband development.

Texas House Begins Organizational Committee Hearings

March 05, 2021| Legislative News

The Texas House kicked off its organizational hearings this week, with committees holding meetings to lay the groundwork for upcoming substantive meetings on legislation. Committee chairs gaveled in, took care of housekeeping items, laid out committee rules and invited witnesses to testify to give background on issues that will likely come before the committees this session.

Bills of Interest

March 05, 2021| Legislative News

TAC Legislative Services staff has highlighted some recently filed bills of interest to county officials.

U.S. House Passes George Floyd Act

March 05, 2021| Legislative News

Late Wednesday evening, the U.S. House passed the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2021 by a vote of 220-212. The act bans neck restraints and chokeholds and no-knock warrants in drug cases. It also eliminates qualified immunity for federal, state and county law enforcement officers.

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

March 05, 2021| Legislative News

TAC's virtual Tuesday Morning Breakfasts resumed this week, picking up where they left off after February's winter storm and TAC's Counties at the Capitol Legislative Day. With the Legislature showing signs to hitting an accelerated pace after a sluggish start, TAC has decided to push the start of our weekly breakfast meetings up a half hour to 7:30 a.m. starting March 9.

What We’re Reading

March 05, 2021| Legislative News

The activities of the 87th Texas Legislature continued this week with committee hearings and both chambers convening for a short period. Gov. Greg Abbott celebrated Texas Independence Day by making an announcement about COVID-19 safety protocols. Here are a few news articles on the week’s happenings.


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