Below you'll find our latest news articles. To view specific categories, please select a category to the right.
October 13, 2020|
Legislative News
As the Nov. 3 general election approaches, there is no shortage of litigation in federal and state courts over voting. The most recent lawsuit came in response to the Oct. 1 proclamation issued by Gov. Gregg Abbott reducing the number of drop boxes for early voting mail-in-ballots to one location per county and requiring that poll watchers have access to the main early voting location to observe activities.
October 13, 2020|
Legislative News
Effective Oct. 14, the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) is updating the criteria for a county to be exempt from the face covering requirement of executive order GA-29.
October 13, 2020|
Legislative News
After an exhaustive search, TAC Legislative Services Director Noe Barrios recently filled three empty positions.
October 13, 2020|
Legislative News
On Sept. 23, Sen. Judith Zaffirini (D-Laredo) co-hosted an informational session via Zoom with the Hispanic Issues Section of the State Bar of Texas to discuss the COVID-19 pandemic’s permanent impact on Texas courtrooms.
October 13, 2020|
Legislative News
On Sept. 1, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a moratorium order under Section 361 of the U.S. Public Health Service Act. The order temporarily halts residential evictions for nonpayment of rent by a declared “covered person,” as defined by the order.
October 13, 2020|
Legislative News
As they say on Broadway, the show must go on! With no clear indication of what the 87th legislative session might look like, county officials and your TAC Legislative Services staff still must be prepared to share the county message with lawmakers.
October 13, 2020|
Legislative News
After months of negotiations between Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin over a new round of COVID-19 stimulus aid, President Donald Trump instructed Republicans to cease negotiations until after Election Day. Earlier talks between the parties yielded an agreement to fund the government through Dec. 11, staving off a shutdown, which would have occurred on Oct. 1.
October 13, 2020|
Legislative News
TAC has highlighted recent attorney general opinions and requests for opinions of interest to counties.
September 14, 2020|
Legislative News
In 2017, the 85th Legislature passed House Bill 25 by Rep. Ron Simmons (R-Carrollton) eliminating straight party voting, beginning on Sept. 1, 2020.
September 14, 2020|
Legislative News
The Legislative Appropriations Request (LAR) instructions for the 2022-23 biennial budget are available on the Governor's and Legislative Budget Board’s websites. No additional reductions in funding, beyond the 5% reduction plans required by state leaders in May 2020, are required.
September 14, 2020|
Legislative News
The Unfunded Mandates (UFM) Survey is important to all 254 counties. The ability to show legislators the impact that their decisions continue to have on county finances is critical.
September 14, 2020|
Legislative News
Senate Bill 325, passed during the 86th Legislature and sponsored by Sen. Joan Huffman (R-Houston) and Rep. Brooks Landgraf (R-Odessa), launched a state Protective Order Registry.
September 14, 2020|
Legislative News
On Aug. 27, the Texas Indigent Defense Commission (TIDC) awarded more than $5 million in grants for fiscal year 2021 to Kerr, Atascosa, Galveston, McLennan and Nueces counties.
September 14, 2020|
Legislative News
The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) recently held a webinar to clarify the process for accessing the County Transportation Infrastructure Fund (CTIF) Grant Program funds.
September 14, 2020|
Legislative News
Effective September 1, 2020, the civil jurisdiction limit (amount in controversy) for justice courts has increased from $10,000 to $20,000.
September 14, 2020|
Legislative News
The University of Texas at Austin’s Center for Transportation Research (CTR) has completed its study and released its findings and recommendations regarding the future of the driver licensing program in Texas. Last session, the Legislature passed Senate Bill 616 by Sen. Brian Birdwell (R-Granbury), requiring the Department of Public Safety (DPS) to contract with a third-party vendor to study the program and the problems that have plagued it for many years.
September 14, 2020|
Legislative News
The Texas Association of Counties' (TAC) regional Legislative Exchange events provide an opportunity for county officials to come together and discuss legislative issues of importance to county government with their legislators and the TAC Legislative staff.
September 14, 2020|
Legislative News
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected everyone in unbelievable ways. A year ago, we couldn’t have imagined that we’d be where we are today. And we certainly all grieve over the cost in lives and livelihoods lost in getting to this point.
September 14, 2020|
Legislative News
TAC has highlighted recent attorney general opinions and requests for opinions of interest to counties.
July 27, 2020|
Legislative News
County officials should prepare for a difficult legislative session as the state grapples with a looming budget crisis. With so many unknowns such as the evolving COVID-19 pandemic, declining sales tax revenue and doubts regarding the future of oil and gas prices, budget writers will have their hands full.
July 27, 2020|
Legislative News
As of July 21, 15 counties had completed the 2020 Unfunded Mandates Survey.
July 27, 2020|
Legislative News
To protect the health and safety of attendees, the Justices of the Peace & Constables Association of Texas (JPCA) took its 76th annual conference online last month. The association was one of the first organizations to move to a virtual platform, and the conference proved to be a success.
July 27, 2020|
Legislative News
Since June, Texas has continued to see an increase in the number of daily coronavirus cases, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS). The department tracks confirmed case counts by county, and the information is available on the DSHS dashboard.
July 27, 2020|
Legislative News
TAC staff continues to monitor the 5% reduction plan laid out by state leadership that directs state agencies and institutions of higher education to identify savings to offset state revenue losses due to the pandemic and declining oil prices.
July 27, 2020|
Legislative News
As Texas began to shut down, tax offices were faced with tough decisions about how to operate safely during the COVID-19 pandemic. Tax assessor-collectors quickly examined the situation and made decisions based on the needs in their counties. Some tax offices closed completely to the public, continuing to process mail-in and online submissions, and others offered drive-through options where possible.
Previous 25
26 - 50
Next 25
26 - 50 of about 543 results