Legislative Services

A few hours before the 88th Texas Legislature was gaveled in at noon on Tuesday, the Texas Association of Counties held the first of the weekly working breakfasts it hosts during each legislative session. Two years ago, the pandemic forced TAC to move the meetings online. They're back in person this year, but with an option to participate remotely. TAC has put the lessons learned during the pandemic to work for its members' benefit.

About 80 participants joined this first-ever hybrid Tuesday Morning Breakfast either in person or online. TAC Executive Director Susan M. Redford welcomed them with a reminder that TAC stands ready to help them navigate this year's session. Noe Barrios, director of TAC's Legislative Services, followed by presenting an overview of the 140-day session, which ends May 29.

TAC's legislative consultants and analysts, county officials and leaders of county official associations offered glimpses of the work ahead. More than 1,600 bills have been filed already, with thousands more to come before the filing deadline arrives on March 10. As Jim Allison, general counsel for the County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas, told attendees, anywhere from a third to a half of the bills filed during the session will have some effect on county government.

And TAC will be tracking them all. "For our part, we will rest only when the gavel falls at sine die," Barrios said.

Through it all, TAC's Tuesday Morning Breakfasts will keep you on top of the Capitol's ever-changing legislative landscape. Join us and your colleagues either in person or online from 7 to 8 a.m. each Tuesday throughout the session.

Register here for the Jan. 17 meeting.

You'll need to register anew each week. Virtual registrants will receive a Webex link in advance of the meeting.

The TAC building is located at 1210 San Antonio St. Free parking is available in TAC's parking garage. The entrance is on 13th Street between San Antonio and Nueces streets.

Please contact Amy Ruedas at (800) 456-5974 with any questions about the breakfast meetings. And stay up to date with the latest from TAC's Legislative Services by visiting www.county.org/legislative.