City sets priorities for upcoming Texas Leg. session
The city of Dripping Springs is expected to discuss and consider approval of a resolution establishing priorities for the upcoming legislative session in Texas and authorizing representation of the municipality.
The resolution will be considered at the city council meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 3 — a week before the Texas state legislature returns for its 88th regular session on Tuesday Jan. 10. The legislature last met for three called sessions in the fall of 2021 after the regular session ended in May 2021. Bills passed in the Texas legislature can have a large impact on the local level of government, the authority it possesses and the businesses within its limits. As a result, many cities choose to address their own priorities for the upcoming session as a means of proactivity and preparation — Dripping Springs included.
According to staff documents released by Dripping Springs, city priorities were divided into three sections: support, opposition and administration. These sections were then further subdivided into various categories.
In the support section, the city listed nine categories: local control, funding, infrastructure, land use, lighting, property tax, sales tax, signs and transportation. For the most part, the listed priorities maintained an overall theme: strengthening municipal authority and supporting legislation that provides the city with additional tools and resources.
Conversely, in the opposition section, the city listed 12 categories: local control, appraisal and revenue caps, elections, ETJ (extraterritorial jurisdiction), impervious cover, infrastructure, land use, lighting, municipal courts, signs, trees and vesting. These generally opposed any lessening of city authority, especially in situations relating to environmental protections (lighting ordinances, tree ordinances, impervious cover, etc.).
In the administration section, the resolution authorized Dripping Springs’ city officials “to advocate and otherwise convey positions expressed … in accordance with the city’s Legislative Policy.” It also directed city staff to send copies of the resolution itself to local and state representatives, including State Senator Donna Campbell (District 25), State Representative Erin Zwiener (District 45), State Representative Carrie Isaac (District 73) and the Hays County Commissioners Court. For more information on Dripping Springs, its City Council and its legislative priorities, visit cityofdrippingsprings. com.