Legislative Blog

J.B. Williams, J.D.


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A Bit of Background

The following backgrounds help summarize the author's views on both the general topic: Texas and more specifically 88th Legislature Laws as it relates to that topic.

Brief Summary of Texas

Texas is truly a Republic. There are a multitude of items that to modify the state constitution must be modified. So there are times when Constitutional amendments are on the voting ballots. While I sometimes abhor the wording, the concept that all of those legally able to vote in Texas must vote on the change is a good one. And bills in Texas are generally short, making it easier for everyone to understand.

Summary of 88th Legislature Laws

The blogs here will discuss the laws passed by Congress and signed into law, as well as those, passed by Congress and approved by the voters to become law. There are a multitude of laws and each time I post blogs I will notate here the current effective date if it is different from prior blogs. I am currently posting bills that took effect immediately - those bills total 336. I am currently posting regarding larger bills, so each blog covers a single bill.

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Blog Summary

It further creates permissible connections with non-profits and guidance for doing so. And it provides terms for training to help ensure those serving on the Board are informed prior to receiving or participating in Board activities.



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San Antonio River Authority

Published: 2024-02-20

This bill relates to the San Antonio River Authority and modifies portions of law related to it. Relevant penalties are modified to comply with the Water Code rather than general laws. It further requires that any contracts for sale, purchase, procurement, distribution, and/or suppy of water or conservation be noticed by publications in a newspaper of general circulation once a week for two weeks.

It modifies voting approval from seven members to a majority of the membership of the Board. And ensures that their bidding procedures are in line with those in the Water Code. And it removes the condemning of land used or dedicated for cemetery purposes.

It permits partnering with nonprofits and provides rules for doing so. And it ensures that the Board members do not constitute a majority of any nonprofits they are working with. There are guidelines for fund-raising activities of any nonprofit. They need to entail acceptable and prohibited fund-raising activities; specify how the fund-raising is conducted; and include criteria for selecting corporate sponsors to ensure the sponsorships serve the public interest and are consistent with the purposes of the District.

All Board members must complete a training program prior to becoming a voting or deliberating member. The training program must provide the following:

  1. law governing the District's operation;
  2. programs, functions, rules, and budget of the District;
  3. scope of and limitations of the rulingmaking authority of the Board;
  4. results of the most recent formal audit;
  5. requirements of:
    • laws relating to open meetings, public information, administrative procedures, and disclosing of conflicts of interest;
    • other laws applicable to members in performing their duties; and
  6. any applicable ethics policies adopted to the Texas Ethics Commission.

Members of the Board are entitled to travel expense reimbursement they incur to attend the training program.

 


J.B. Williams, J.D.

4,312 federal laws were passed from 1995 through December 2016.
Along with 88,819 federal rules and regulations.


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