Senate Committee on Intergovernmental Relations
NOTE: This is archived committee information from the 84th Legislative Session.
Committee Information
CHAIR
Eddie Lucio, Jr.
VICE-CHAIR
Paul Bettencourt
MEMBERS
Donna Campbell
Sylvia Garcia
José Menéndez
Robert Nichols
Larry Taylor
CLERK:
Dilip Kanuga
TEL:
(512) 463-2527
LOCATION:
Sam Houston Building, 475
Video/Audio — Archives
84th Session Interim
- August 15, 2016
- May 19, 2016
- February 3, 2016 — Road Meeting: Brownsville (audio only).
- December 2, 2015
84th Regular Session
- May 26, 2015
- May 25, 2015 (Part II)
- May 25, 2015 (Part I)
- May 21, 2015 (Part II) — Audio only.
- May 21, 2015 (Part I)
- May 19, 2015 — Audio only.
- May 18, 2015
- May 14, 2015
- May 11, 2015
- May 7, 2015
- May 4, 2015
- April 30, 2015 (Part II)
- April 30, 2015 (Part I)
- April 29, 2015 — Audio only.
- April 27, 2015 (Part II) — Audio only.
- April 27, 2015 (Part I)
- April 22, 2015 (Part II)
- April 22, 2015 (Part I)
- April 20, 2015
Interim Charges
- Identify areas of concern in regards to statutory extraterritorial jurisdiction expansion and the processes used by municipalities for annexation, specifically reviewing whether existing statute strikes the appropriate balance between safeguarding private property rights and encouraging orderly growth and economic development. Make recommendations for legislative action, if necessary.
- Examine the processes used by home rule municipalities to adopt ordinances, rules, and regulations, including those initiated by petition and voter referendum. Determine if additional statutory safeguards are necessary to ensure that ballot language accurately describes proposed initiatives. Identify ways to improve transparency and make recommendations, if needed, to ensure that local propositions and the means by which they are put forth to voters, conform with existing state law.
- Review natural disaster preparedness planning and coordination in the wake of a growing range of threats. Evaluate whether existing processes maximize regional cooperation to rebuild housing and infrastructure, and allow for the timely dissemination of funds to units of local governments for reconstruction following a federal declaration. Develop recommendations, if necessary, to improve the efficiency of disaster recovery efforts, incorporating best practices identified from other states, as well as lessons-learned from past reconstruction efforts in Texas.
- Study the means by which the Texas Legislature reviews the creation of municipal management districts (MMDs) by special law to determine if different processes should be used to evaluate new MMDs created within populated or developed areas from those created over undeveloped areas. Identify ways to better assess how the services and improvements of a proposed MMD within populated or developed areas will supplement and enhance those provided by other local governments, as well as if the territory of the proposed MMD encompasses or overlaps area that is already within other assessment or taxing entities. Make recommendations, if necessary, to improve the notice provided to individuals and businesses within populated or developed areas proposed for inclusion in an MMD.
- Review existing statute and rules that govern the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs in light of the recent Supreme Court decision in Inclusive Communities Project, Inc. vs. TDHCA, et al. and recommend if any modifications are necessary to conform to the decision.
- Examine ways to improve government accountability in elections regarding the issuance of public debt. Include a review of the information that is currently provided to individuals in the voting booth and provide statutory recommendations, if necessary, to improve transparency.
