https://houstontx.gov/legislative-report-2021/ Recent content in City of Houston 2021 Legislative Report on City of Houston Legislative Report 2021 Hugo -- gohugo.io en-us City of Houston, Texas Mon, 21 Jun 2021 19:38:23 -0500 https://houstontx.gov/legislative-report-2021/bills/unfinished-business-sb-355-bandit-sign-penalties/ Mon, 21 Jun 2021 19:38:23 -0500 https://houstontx.gov/legislative-report-2021/bills/unfinished-business-sb-355-bandit-sign-penalties/ Illegally placed “bandit signs” clutter the public right of way, affecting the aesthetics of an area and diminish the quality of life for residents in Texas communities. Currently, the maximum civil violation is a seen as a “cost of doing business” by these illegal bandit sign operators. In Houston, the City collects thousands of signs from the right of way each year. From January 1, 2019- August 26, 2020 the Department of Neighborhoods and Public Works issued over 500 citations for bandit signs in the City of Houston. https://houstontx.gov/legislative-report-2021/bills/unfinished-business-hb-503-parking-in-yards/ Mon, 21 Jun 2021 19:38:18 -0500 https://houstontx.gov/legislative-report-2021/bills/unfinished-business-hb-503-parking-in-yards/ Houston homeowners and law enforcement are often frustrated by enforcement of prohibited yard parking ordinances in Houston. Current law does not allow police to assume the resident of a home in violation of parking in a yard is at fault. Law enforcement must issue a criminal citation face-to-face with the accused instead of leaving the citation on the windshield. Once again, Rep. Gene Wu proposed legislation to fix this situation, filing House Bill 503 that would have amended the Transportation Code to allow enforcement of yard parking ordinances in the same manner that it enforces parking ordinances in public no-parking zones, including the impoundment of offending vehicles. https://houstontx.gov/legislative-report-2021/bills/unfinished-business-hb-2811-tier-ii-reporting-reform/ Mon, 21 Jun 2021 19:38:15 -0500 https://houstontx.gov/legislative-report-2021/bills/unfinished-business-hb-2811-tier-ii-reporting-reform/ In 1986, the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) was signed into law. The purpose of the act was to better prepare communities for chemical incidents. EPCRA set standards for reporting chemical incidents to local officials and made Tier II reporting a requirement of facilities storing chemicals at a specific limit. On March 1 of each year, all facilities in the country that store non-hazardous and hazardous chemicals at a specific limit must compile any inventory they have maintained over the last year into a Tier II report. https://houstontx.gov/legislative-report-2021/bills/unfinished-business-hb-1627-concrete-batch-regulation/ Mon, 21 Jun 2021 19:38:11 -0500 https://houstontx.gov/legislative-report-2021/bills/unfinished-business-hb-1627-concrete-batch-regulation/ Particulate Matter 2.5 (PM2.5) is pervasive in Houston and poses serious threats to human health in Houston. The underlying health issues caused by inhalation of PM2.5 increases the risk of complications and death due to COVID-19. PM2.5 emissions in Houston are strongly associated with concrete batch plants. Residents of Houston are particularly at-risk. Increased frequency of asthma and heart attacks in some neighborhoods are indicative of more pervasive air quality issues beyond PM2. https://houstontx.gov/legislative-report-2021/bills/unfinished-business-hb-1200-preservation-of-historic-districts/ Mon, 21 Jun 2021 19:38:08 -0500 https://houstontx.gov/legislative-report-2021/bills/unfinished-business-hb-1200-preservation-of-historic-districts/ The City of Houston stood in full support of State Rep. Christina Morales and House Bill 1200 during the 87th Legislative session. HB 1200 bill sought to clarify that cities like Houston, which operate without zoning ordinances but have rich historical resources that its citizens want to preserve through local historic preservation programs, may do so. A lawsuit filed against the City suggested that state law does not permit historic preservation programs if a city has not implemented comprehensive zoning. https://houstontx.gov/legislative-report-2021/bills/unfinished-business-hb-1157-lpr-as-law-enforcement/ Mon, 21 Jun 2021 19:37:56 -0500 https://houstontx.gov/legislative-report-2021/bills/unfinished-business-hb-1157-lpr-as-law-enforcement/ Some Texas cities, including Houston, are experiencing shortages of peace officers. In Houston, the nation’s most diverse city, the need is especially great for officers that speak multiple languages and come from different backgrounds. House Bill 1157 by Rep. Hubert Vo sought to provide a solution to both problems by making honorably discharged veterans who are permanent U.S. residents eligible for employment as peace officers. HB 1157 would have amended the Local Government Code to authorize a city that commissions and employs peace officers to hire legal permanent residents of the United States who are honorably discharged veterans of the U. https://houstontx.gov/legislative-report-2021/bills/legislative-priorities-sb-900-above-ground-storage-tanks/ Mon, 21 Jun 2021 19:37:36 -0500 https://houstontx.gov/legislative-report-2021/bills/legislative-priorities-sb-900-above-ground-storage-tanks/ In March 2019, a fire ignited at the Intercontinental Terminals Company (ITC) in the Houston area. Due to the size and the chemicals involved, the fire was difficult to extinguish and burned for several days. The fire produced harmful air pollution, groundwater and surface water contamination, and millions of gallons of hazardous waste. This fire and other fires at similar facilities underscore the insufficiency of state safety measures to protect public health and safety, groundwater and surface water, and the environment. https://houstontx.gov/legislative-report-2021/bills/legislative-priorities-sb-73-medicaid-mco-billing/ Mon, 21 Jun 2021 19:37:24 -0500 https://houstontx.gov/legislative-report-2021/bills/legislative-priorities-sb-73-medicaid-mco-billing/ Under the current Managed Care environment, local health departments (LHDs) are not listed as a provider type. Senator Borris Miles, who authored Senate Bill 2021 in the 2019 Legislative Session, was determined to help fund the preventative health programs provided by the Houston Health Department. Services include the following Local Health Department (LHD) services: Immunization (Clinical Services/Administration) Sexually Transmitted Diseases identification, diagnosis, and treatment School and community-based programming (Vision services, etc. https://houstontx.gov/legislative-report-2021/bills/legislative-priorities-sb-30-royce-west-act/ Mon, 21 Jun 2021 19:37:17 -0500 https://houstontx.gov/legislative-report-2021/bills/legislative-priorities-sb-30-royce-west-act/ At the request of State Senator John Whitmire, the City of Houston was proud to join in the advocacy for the passage of SB 30 during the 87th Legislative session. State Senator Royce West passed Senate Bill 3, which would create an easier process for removing racist restrictions from real estate deeds. Prohibiting property ownership based on race, color, religion, or national origin in deeds was made illegal by the 1968 federal Fair Housing Act, and that discriminatory language was voided by the 1983 Texas Legislature. https://houstontx.gov/legislative-report-2021/bills/legislative-priorities-sb-1679-houston-land-bank/ Mon, 21 Jun 2021 19:37:02 -0500 https://houstontx.gov/legislative-report-2021/bills/legislative-priorities-sb-1679-houston-land-bank/ The Houston Land Bank (HLB) works closely with the City of Houston, Houston Community Land Trust, and private and non-profit developers to help residents transform their neighborhoods and create more affordable homes. This is vital in the Mayor’s mission to create an affordable home for every Houstonian. The Houston Land Bank, including HLB-generated sales and construction activity, has created over 600 new affordable homes for income-limited Houstonians since 2004. The Houston Land Bank’s mission is to acquire vacant, tax-delinquent, and other deteriorated property in the City of Houston and assure its redevelopment into productive use. https://houstontx.gov/legislative-report-2021/bills/legislative-priorities-hb-954-tdcj-home-code-enforcement/ Mon, 21 Jun 2021 19:36:54 -0500 https://houstontx.gov/legislative-report-2021/bills/legislative-priorities-hb-954-tdcj-home-code-enforcement/ House Bill 954 by Rep. Dutton provides for transparency of communication between the state and local jurisdiction. State law authorizes the board of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) to contract for temporary or permanent housing of inmates for public or private jails or operators of alternate housing facilities. This bill requires the TDCJ Board to instruct the Pardons and Patrol Division to provide detailed information about these facilities to cities that are 2. https://houstontx.gov/legislative-report-2021/bills/legislative-priorities-hb-914-towing/ Mon, 21 Jun 2021 19:36:46 -0500 https://houstontx.gov/legislative-report-2021/bills/legislative-priorities-hb-914-towing/ In Texas, only peace officers can tow vehicles that are abandoned or illegally parked in the right of way. Providing parking compliance officers the authority to tow will allow the police officers to be available to address more serious public safety concerns. Parking compliance officers can write citations to these vehicles, but do not have the ability to tow the vehicle from the public right of way. The vehicle must be parked for at least 48 hours in order to be considered abandoned. https://houstontx.gov/legislative-report-2021/bills/legislative-priorities-hb-390-human-trafficking/ Mon, 21 Jun 2021 19:36:30 -0500 https://houstontx.gov/legislative-report-2021/bills/legislative-priorities-hb-390-human-trafficking/ As the Director of the Mayor’s Office of Human Trafficking and Domestic Violence, Minal Davis has overseen anti-trafficking policies and initiatives over the last six years for the City of Houston. One such example is the Hotel Ordinance advanced by Mayor Turner that was passed unanimously by City Council in April 2020, which serves as the foundation for HB 390. As per reports from Polaris, the national anti-trafficking organization, both sex and labor trafficking are prevalent in hotels across Texas. https://houstontx.gov/legislative-report-2021/bills/legislative-priorities-hb-3897-tabc-permit-fees/ Mon, 21 Jun 2021 19:36:24 -0500 https://houstontx.gov/legislative-report-2021/bills/legislative-priorities-hb-3897-tabc-permit-fees/ The Sunset of the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) left some local permits expiring on September 1 without a clear answer on how local governments could charge for two permits. House Bill 3897, by Chairwoman Senfronia Thompson, clarifies the maximum fee local governments may levy now and after September 1, 2021. Sections 11.38 and 61.36 of the Alcoholic Beverage Code (Code) authorize cities and counties to levy a fee for each license/permit issued by TABC for premises within the city/county. https://houstontx.gov/legislative-report-2021/bills/legislative-priorities-hb-1693-municipal-courts/ Mon, 21 Jun 2021 19:36:15 -0500 https://houstontx.gov/legislative-report-2021/bills/legislative-priorities-hb-1693-municipal-courts/ In 2005, the Legislature passed the Texas Motor Vehicle Safety Responsibility Act, which established a financial responsibility verification program implemented by the Texas Department of Insurance for the verification of whether owners of motor vehicles have established financial responsibility.  Section 601.193(b) provides a defense wherein after the court verifies a document produced, the court shall dismiss the charge.  Municipal Courts encounter increased difficulty when attempting to verify motor vehicle liability insurance coverage through directly calling insurance companies. https://houstontx.gov/legislative-report-2021/bills/legislative-battles-sb-7-voter-suppression/ Mon, 21 Jun 2021 19:35:52 -0500 https://houstontx.gov/legislative-report-2021/bills/legislative-battles-sb-7-voter-suppression/ In 2021, there were over 400 bills filed this session that restricted voting rights. The most significant of these was Senate Bill 7 by Senator Bryan Hughes. This legislation targeted Harris County’s drive-through voting by prohibiting tents, parking garages, parking lots or any “similar facility designed primarily for motor vehicles” for voting. The measure also prohibited ballot drop boxes. The bill completely banned voting from cars unless the voter is “physically unable to enter the polling place” and only allows the voter and someone assisting the voter in the car. https://houstontx.gov/legislative-report-2021/bills/legislative-battles-sb-29-anti-transgender-discrimination/ Mon, 21 Jun 2021 19:35:49 -0500 https://houstontx.gov/legislative-report-2021/bills/legislative-battles-sb-29-anti-transgender-discrimination/ Senate Bill 29 and its companion, House Bill 4042, would have required public school students to compete in interscholastic athletic competitions based on biological sex. It would enshrine discrimination against transgender youth into law. Houston is often recognized as the most diverse city in America. A significant element of that diversity includes our LGBTQ+ community. They are valued members of our community and contribute economically, socially and culturally. Discrimination against this community, especially the vulnerable transgender student community, is just wrong. https://houstontx.gov/legislative-report-2021/bills/legislative-battles-sb-1438-disaster-tax-cap-reform/ Mon, 21 Jun 2021 19:35:46 -0500 https://houstontx.gov/legislative-report-2021/bills/legislative-battles-sb-1438-disaster-tax-cap-reform/ Senate Bill 1438 by Senator Bettencourt modifies the tax rate calculation provision for taxing units during a disaster to restrict a city from opting into an 8 percent voter-approval rate calculation during a pandemic or other disaster in which property is not physically damaged. Over the interim and during the early parts of this session, there had been some confusion regarding the City of Houston’s adopted tax rate and the 3. https://houstontx.gov/legislative-report-2021/bills/legislative-battles-sb-10-lobby-restriction/ Mon, 21 Jun 2021 19:35:43 -0500 https://houstontx.gov/legislative-report-2021/bills/legislative-battles-sb-10-lobby-restriction/ Senator Bettencourt authored Senate Bill 10, which would have banned the use of taxpayer dollars for lobbying on behalf of a city or county. The House version, HB 749, was carried by Rep. Mayes Middleton. With Senator Lucio off the Senate floor to attend a funeral, Senator Bettencourt was able to pass SB 10 by a vote of 17 to 13 (usually it would require 18 votes, but Lucio’s absence allowed for the lower threshold). https://houstontx.gov/legislative-report-2021/bills/legislative-battles-hb-753-garbage-franchise-fees/ Mon, 21 Jun 2021 19:35:38 -0500 https://houstontx.gov/legislative-report-2021/bills/legislative-battles-hb-753-garbage-franchise-fees/ House Bill 753 was an effort to restrict the payment of certain fees to municipalities by entities that hold municipal solid waste management service contracts. The legislation would have capped the City’s solid waste franchise fees at 2 percent, cutting the City’s current 4 percent franchise fee revenue in half. Waste management operators, who provide services in Houston, have profited from the use of the public right-of-way since 2003. The passage of this bill would have resulted in a $4 million annual loss for the City of Houston. https://houstontx.gov/legislative-report-2021/bills/legislative-battles-hb-1927-permitless-carry/ Mon, 21 Jun 2021 19:35:28 -0500 https://houstontx.gov/legislative-report-2021/bills/legislative-battles-hb-1927-permitless-carry/ House Bill 1927 by Rep. Matt Schaefer is referred to as “constitutional carry” by its proponents. “Permitless carry” is a better descriptor of the policy. Essentially, it will allow Texans 21 and over (or at least 18 for those in the military) to carry handguns, openly or concealed, without a license. Texans will no longer be required to obtain a Concealed Handgun License, and will no longer require any safety training, to carry a firearm. https://houstontx.gov/legislative-report-2021/bills/legislative-battles-hb-1925-public-camping-ban/ Mon, 21 Jun 2021 19:35:18 -0500 https://houstontx.gov/legislative-report-2021/bills/legislative-battles-hb-1925-public-camping-ban/ The City of Houston stood in opposition to House Bill 1925 as political subdivisions will likely be targeted by the provisions of this legislation. The Governor and the Legislature were angered at the City of Austin’s policy on public camping. In the course of this Legislative Session, the voters of Austin overwhelming repealed this local ordinance and are in the planning stages of implementing new housing policies. House Bill 1925 did not recognize this reality. https://houstontx.gov/legislative-report-2021/bills/legislative-battles-hb-1900-defunding-police-mandates/ Mon, 21 Jun 2021 19:35:15 -0500 https://houstontx.gov/legislative-report-2021/bills/legislative-battles-hb-1900-defunding-police-mandates/ For Houston, House Bill 1900 is a solution in search of a problem that simply does not exist. The intention of the bill seeks to secure public safety funding, which is not irrational. Yet the enforcement mechanisms are nothing short of central state planning that will break up communities to enforce its will. On June 2, City Council approved by a 16-1 vote a $5.1 billion budget for the fiscal year 2022. https://houstontx.gov/legislative-report-2021/bills/legislative-battles-hb-1219-management-district-dissolution/ Mon, 21 Jun 2021 19:35:11 -0500 https://houstontx.gov/legislative-report-2021/bills/legislative-battles-hb-1219-management-district-dissolution/ The City of Houston stood in opposition to House Bill 1219, as the legislation sought to make it easier for property owners to dissolve Municipal Management Districts (MMD). The bill would lower the threshold for dissolution of a district from a petition signed by the owners of 66% of the real property value in the district to 55% for any district created prior to 2017, and keeping 66% for any district created after 2017. https://houstontx.gov/legislative-report-2021/bills/houston-support-sb-952-concrete-batch-plants/ Mon, 21 Jun 2021 19:34:57 -0500 https://houstontx.gov/legislative-report-2021/bills/houston-support-sb-952-concrete-batch-plants/ The economic and population growth of Texas has led to a proliferation of concrete batch plants, many of them near residential communities, affecting the health and quality life of citizens. The public is often left with insufficient information about facilities that will be established in their communities, and permits are approved without a detailed plot plan. Senate Bill 952 by Sen. Hinojosa and Rep. Walle addresses this issue by increasing requirements of an application for the issuance of a standard permit for a concrete plant that performs wet batching, dry batching, or central mixing as part of the permitting process. https://houstontx.gov/legislative-report-2021/bills/houston-support-sb-1160-gulf-coast-protection-district/ Mon, 21 Jun 2021 19:34:42 -0500 https://houstontx.gov/legislative-report-2021/bills/houston-support-sb-1160-gulf-coast-protection-district/ Senate Bill 1160 by Sen. Larry Taylor will create the Gulf Coast Protection District (GCPD) to manage projects identified in the Coastal Texas and Sabine Pass to Galveston studies in five counties: Harris, Chambers, Galveston, Orange and Jefferson. SB 1160 will provide the authority for the GCPD to issue bonds, impose fees, impose a tax and grant the power of eminent domain. This bill builds on SB 2212 passed during the 86th session which allowed the three existing drainage districts in the Sabine to Galveston study to become local partners on these projects. https://houstontx.gov/legislative-report-2021/bills/houston-support-hb-2911-next-gen-911-services/ Mon, 21 Jun 2021 19:34:29 -0500 https://houstontx.gov/legislative-report-2021/bills/houston-support-hb-2911-next-gen-911-services/ Houston City Council Member Abbie Kamin chairs the Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee. Council Member Kamin works closely with Houston Fire Chief Sam Peña and Director of the Mayor’s Office of Public Safety and Homeland Security, Chief George Buenik to ensure residents' calls for police, fire, and emergency medical services are received, processed, and dispatched as quickly and accurately as possible. An essential part of this service is the Houston Emergency Center (HEC). https://houstontx.gov/legislative-report-2021/bills/houston-support-hb-133-medicaid-mothers-extension/ Mon, 21 Jun 2021 19:34:16 -0500 https://houstontx.gov/legislative-report-2021/bills/houston-support-hb-133-medicaid-mothers-extension/ More than half of maternal deaths in Texas occur 60 days or more after delivery, or exactly when new mothers lose all Medicaid benefits. 68 percent of these deaths involved women who were enrolled in Medicaid at the time of delivery. Lamentably, the majority of these maternal deaths were preventable, with diseases like diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease among the leading causes of death. Presently, lack of access to care often results in health complications becoming increasingly severe, or worse, ending a new mother’s life. https://houstontx.gov/legislative-report-2021/bills/appropriations-50m-for-lake-houston/ Mon, 21 Jun 2021 19:33:01 -0500 https://houstontx.gov/legislative-report-2021/bills/appropriations-50m-for-lake-houston/ Located approximately 18 miles northeast of downtown Houston, constructed in 1954, Lake Houston is the primary surface water storage facility of untreated water. The San Jacinto River’s west and east forks drain into Lake Houston. Sediment from the river has been accumulating in the lake since its construction, especially during an extreme upstream rainfall event. This significant sediment accumulation has reduced the storage capacity of the lake. Based on bathymetric surveys, below water surface, by the Texas Water Development Board, the storage capacity has been reduced by approximately 22,000 acre feet since 1994. https://houstontx.gov/legislative-report-2021/bills/appropriations-spaceport/ Mon, 21 Jun 2021 19:32:51 -0500 https://houstontx.gov/legislative-report-2021/bills/appropriations-spaceport/ In 2015, the Federal Aviation Administration granted a license to the Houston Airport System to operate a commercial spaceport at Ellington Field. The Houston Spaceport is the third licensed spaceport in Texas (Midland and Cameron County each have a spaceport) and will be used for astronaut training, zero gravity experimentation, spacecraft manufacturing, and launching microsatellites. Only spaceport development corporations created under the auspices of state law are eligible to receive funding from the Spaceport Trust Fund. https://houstontx.gov/legislative-report-2021/bills/appropriations-reentry/ Mon, 21 Jun 2021 19:32:43 -0500 https://houstontx.gov/legislative-report-2021/bills/appropriations-reentry/ Under Article V, Section 57 of the appropriations bill (Senate Bill 1), money from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice shall be provided in the following amount: $500,000 in fiscal year 2022 and $500,000 in fiscal year 2023 for the City of Houston Reentry Pilot Program Today, the Community Reentry Network Program (CRNP) provides in-reach and outreach to those involved in the criminal justice system, a structured system of holistic assessments, intensive case management support, evidence-based programming, and workforce support to more than 400 individuals annually. https://houstontx.gov/legislative-report-2021/bills/appropriations-parks-funding/ Mon, 21 Jun 2021 19:32:40 -0500 https://houstontx.gov/legislative-report-2021/bills/appropriations-parks-funding/ Under Article IX, Section 17.40 of the appropriations bill (Senate Bill 1), money from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department shall be provided for the following Houston recreational facilities in the following amounts: (1) $1,000,000 for Selena Quintanilla Perez Park; Adjacent to the community center building, Perez Selena Park offers a playground, lighted sports field, 0.87-mile hike and bike trail, swimming pool, indoor gym, weight room, meeting room, and volleyball court. https://houstontx.gov/legislative-report-2021/bills/appropriations-for-air-monitors/ Mon, 21 Jun 2021 19:32:27 -0500 https://houstontx.gov/legislative-report-2021/bills/appropriations-for-air-monitors/ In the 86th legislative session, the Texas Commission on Environmental Policy (TCEQ) was appropriated more than $1.5 million to improve real-time air monitoring following Hurricane Harvey and several chemical fires in the Houston area. Mobile units are needed to provide accurate air quality information to public health decision makers. For example, during the ITC fire it was important to know the outdoor air concentration of benzene in communities to inform local official decision-making (e. https://houstontx.gov/legislative-report-2021/bills/appropriations-medicaid-billing/ Sun, 06 Jun 2021 16:20:47 -0500 https://houstontx.gov/legislative-report-2021/bills/appropriations-medicaid-billing/ Senator Borris Miles passed Senate Bill 73, which requires Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) to update their contracts and panels to include local health departments as a provider type that can seek reimbursement. The provider type designation is the first step mitigating administrative burdens that local health departments experience when attempting to contract and complete the credentialing process as they do not for the most part function like primary care providers. https://houstontx.gov/legislative-report-2021/legislative-team/ Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000 https://houstontx.gov/legislative-report-2021/legislative-team/ The Government Relations team would like to thank the following city employees and team members for their work during the 87th Legislative Session. With only four people in our department and more than two thousand bills to analyze, we are dependent on the subject matter expertise from across the City of Houston departments. The following represents those individuals who dedicate much of their time to work with the Government Relations team, and without whom we would not be able to effectively represent the City. https://houstontx.gov/legislative-report-2021/special-sessions/ Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000 https://houstontx.gov/legislative-report-2021/special-sessions/ Coming soon!