With thousands of new coronavirus cases being reported daily in Texas, cities across the state are bracing for more drops in tax revenues. That revenue is needed, of course, to fund city services that include police, fire, education, libraries, street repairs,...
Texas Municipal Law Blog
Locals need to understand the Open Meetings Act, too
Not long ago, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton wrote that “the inherent right of Texans to govern themselves depends on their ability to observe how public officials are conducting the people’s business.” That right is what makes it crucial for state-level...
Texas community college accused of racial discrimination
The Houston Community College system has campuses and about 70,000 students sprawled across the city’s metro area. More than 90 years old, the system faces a new challenge in the form of a $100 million lawsuit alleging racial discrimination. The suit was filed in the...
Police union lawsuit roils Edinburg
In the Rio Grande Valley, a lawsuit filed against the city of Edinburg has been moved from state court to federal court. In the legal action, the Edinburg United Police Officers Association (EUPOA) alleges discrimination by the city against police officers based on...
Part II: How virtual meetings could forever change Texas governments
Regular readers of our Texas Municipal Law Blog will undoubtedly recall that we recently wrote about how some social distancing changes that have come to public hearings and meetings could stick around and reshape politics and decision-making at state and local...
Part I: How virtual meetings could forever change Texas governments
While no one knows what the post-pandemic world will look like, it seems likely that some of the changes implemented during stay-at-home orders might stick around for the foreseeable future. For instance, there are undoubtedly Texas businesses that have had their eyes...
National unrest raises questions about police misconduct
Protests over the death of Texas native George Floyd while he was in police custody in Minneapolis have roiled cities across the nation. As some of the protests have turned violent, many cities have imposed curfews enforced by their police agencies. The unrest has...
Governor suspends in-person visitations in city, county jails
Regular readers of our Texas Municipal Law Blog know that we recently wrote about Gov. Abbott’s Disaster Declaration issued in March for all Texas counties in response to the coronavirus pandemic. The governor has twice issued 30-day extensions of the declaration. If...
What entities must follow Texas’ Public Information Act?
In a democracy, citizens need to be informed about what actions their public officials take. This concept applies not only at the national and state level, but in local governments, school boards and even other entities. Several are required to abide by Texas’ Public...
Requirements for creating a Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone
Municipalities survive on development and redevelopment. To attract developers, cities may need to utilize Tax Increment Financing (TIF). TIF is a financial incentive for private businesses to participate in projects designed to help the community. Local governments...
