Interim Legislative Hearings
Jul 1, 2026 · 2 min · 3 segments
Texas legislative interim committees are beginning hearings on key policy issues that could shape future legislation. County officials are encouraged to participate and provide input. \…
Jul 1, 2026 · 2 min · 3 segments
Texas legislative interim committees are beginning hearings on key policy issues that could shape future legislation. County officials are encouraged to participate and provide input. \…
This article is from the July issue of County Progress.
With the completion of the primary elections, the legislature begins its interim studies.
Senate and House committees will conduct hearings on subjects assigned by the Lieutenant Governor and Speaker.
These committees will file reports in November and recommend draft legislation on their assigned topics.
Many of the 8,000 bills introduced during the next session will originate in these interim studies.
The committee hearings provide an opportunity to present testimony on these issues.
The CJCAT will monitor the hearings and the subsequent reports.
Commissioners' court members can participate in these hearings and provide valuable information on the potential effects of legislation.
Legislative Director Rick Thompson will post the schedule of the most important hearings on the TAC listserv as they are announced.
A few of the significant issues include rural law enforcement grants, rural health care, and water infrastructure issues.
In fact, our legislative chairman, Victoria County Judge Ben Zeller, has already testified at an interim hearing on the scarcity of water in the state of Texas.
You may be called to submit written testimony or offer invited live testimony on other vital topics including elections, subdivision regulations, and the use of certificates of obligation.
Last week, a number of our county officials waited up to nine hours to testify on data center concerns.
During the last legislative session, senators and representatives passed a rural ambulance grant.
The House Committee on Public Health is studying this grant and possible changes that need to be made to this program.
So stay tuned.
Unfortunately, the last legislature did not appropriate any money for the County Transportation Infrastructure Fund grant program, which was well used by many of our counties during the last few years.
The House Transportation Committee will be examining the grant program, and we will be calling on our commissioners court members to highlight the need for full funding.
Our August issue will include an in-depth look at these and other interim study topics.
To read more, please visit our website at countyprogress.com.
This article is from the July issue of County Progress.
With the completion of the primary elections, the legislature begins its interim studies.
Senate and House committees will conduct hearings on subjects assigned by the Lieutenant Governor and Speaker.
These committees will file reports in November and recommend draft legislation on their assigned topics.
Many of the 8,000 bills introduced during the next session will originate in these interim studies.
The committee hearings provide an opportunity to present testimony on these issues.
The CJCAT will monitor the hearings and the subsequent reports.
Commissioners' court members can participate in these hearings and provide valuable information on the potential effects of legislation.
Legislative Director Rick Thompson will post the schedule of the most important hearings on the TAC listserv as they are announced.
A few of the significant issues include rural law enforcement grants, rural health care, and water infrastructure issues.
In fact, our legislative chairman, Victoria County Judge Ben Zeller, has already testified at an interim hearing on the scarcity of water in the state of Texas.
You may be called to submit written testimony or offer invited live testimony on other vital topics including elections, subdivision regulations, and the use of certificates of obligation.
Last week, a number of our county officials waited up to nine hours to testify on data center concerns.
During the last legislative session, senators and representatives passed a rural ambulance grant.
The House Committee on Public Health is studying this grant and possible changes that need to be made to this program.
So stay tuned.
Unfortunately, the last legislature did not appropriate any money for the County Transportation Infrastructure Fund grant program, which was well used by many of our counties during the last few years.
The House Transportation Committee will be examining the grant program, and we will be calling on our commissioners court members to highlight the need for full funding.
Our August issue will include an in-depth look at these and other interim study topics.
To read more, please visit our website at countyprogress.com.
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