Legislative Services

The Texas Association of Counties has highlighted recent Attorney General opinions and requests for opinions of interest to counties. Summaries below are republished directly from opinion letters issued by the Office of the Attorney General without substantive editing.

Attorney General Opinions

KP-0501: Questions whether judges or court security committees may prohibit the carrying of concealed firearms in courtrooms by the District Attorney and Assistant District Attorneys under Texas Penal Code § 46.15(a)(6) and (a)(7) (RQ-0598-KP). The opinion provides, while the judiciary possesses broad authority over courtrooms, that authority does not license a categorical prohibition on lawful forms of concealed carry by individuals — like district attorneys and their assistants — who are expressly exempted from Texas Penal Code sections 46.02 and 46.03.

Requests for an Attorney General Opinion

RQ-0618-KP: Kinney County Auditor, Bracketville. Asks several questions related to the authority of the commissioners court to approve and make purchases without approval of the county auditor.

RQ-0619-KP: House Committee on Public Education. Asks whether a school district trustee must resign upon announcing candidacy for justice of the peace and other related compatibility questions.

RQ-0620-KP: Newton County Criminal District Attorney. Questions the ability of the commissioners court to accept a monetary donation from an anonymous donor and whether there is a potential conflict with the Texas Public Information Act.

RQ-0622-KP: House Committee on Corrections. Asks questions related to whether the compensation parity requirements in 89R HB 4205 apply to elected constables in Harris County.

RQ-0623-KP: 18th Judicial District Attorney, Cleburne. Asks whether the suspension of an elected sheriff’s TCOLE license disqualifies them from serving and how disqualification affects their deputies.