Legislative Blog
J.B. Williams, J.D.
SB 34, 1012, 2337, 2406, 2407
A Blog about 89th Legislative Session
A Bit of Background
The following backgrounds help summarize the author's views on both the general topic: Texas and more specifically 89th Legislative Session 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 89th Legislative Session
This subtopic contains a list of some of the "new" laws reviews. Total laws signed/voted into effect = 1,192. This will begin with an appropriations bill, and then go through a few that went into effect immediately. The following dates were when different laws took, or will take, effect: 7/1/25; 9/1/25; 9/5/25; 9/17/25; 10/1/25; 12/5/25; 1/1/26; 6/1/26; 8/1/26; 9/1/26; 1/1/27; 4/1/27; 9/1/27; 1/1/28
Blog Summary
SB 34 - Prevention, management of wildfires
SB 1012 - sale and lease of real property
SB 2337 - proxy advisory services
SB 2406 - Sabine River Authority of Texas
SB 2407 - Lower Neches Valley Authority
SB 34, 1012, 2337, 2406, 2407
Published: 2026-09-21
SB 34 - 6 pages
Creating a statewide database of firefighting equipment for volunteer fire departments or department of municipal, county or special district firefighting services. Texas A&M Forest Service is to maintain the database of equipment available for use when responding to wildfires. Each fire department will have access to update their inventory as it changes.
At least 10% of state appropriations to volunteer fire departments is to be allocated to areas at high risk for large wildfires. If the amount set aside is not requested, then those funds may be dispersed for other assistance requests. This is good to know because many small towns have volunteer fire departments that are severely underbudget. I know of one volunteer fire department that my community assisted in purchasing a foam truck and purchasing upgraded jackets/masks/etc. I also know of people in my community that wrote a check to the department to ensure the foam truck was re-filled when they had a fire break-out in their home.
SB 1012 - 4 pages
There was a sale pending and the revenue was to be placed in the bicentennial Texas State Library and Archives Commission fund. The proceeds of this fund are to be used for capital improvements to Sam Houston Regional Library and Research Center and the Lorenzo de Zavala State Archives and Library Building.
SB 2337 - 10 pages
Company is defined to include publicly traded, for-profit corporation, limited liability company, partnership, or other business entity. Company proposal is one included in the proxy statement. Proxy advisor is a person who provides advisory service to shareholders that have the authority to vote.
Proxy advisory services is not purely financial if part of the services is based upon nonfinancial factors. These include initiative, policy, target, or value-based standard based on environmental, social, or governance goal, factor, or investment principle; DEI; social credit or sustainability factor. It may include voting recommendations inconsistent with the boards voting recommendations. There are further details to delineate what they are calling materially different.
SB 2406 - 9 pages
The sunset is moved from September 1, 2025 to September 1, 2037.
The Governor designates a Director of the President of the Board. The training program must provide a person with information regarding the law governing district operations; program, function, rules and budget of the district; scope of and limitations on the rulemaking authority; results of a formal audit; and requirements of open meetings laws.
The Board shall develop and implement policies that clearly separate the policy-making responsibilities of the Board and management responsibilities of the manager and employees.
SB 2407 - 7 pages
The sunset is moved from September 1, 2025 to September 1, 2037.
The Board of Directors of the Lower Neches Valley Authority serves for 4 staggered terms. The Governor must designate a member of the board as president. There needs to be a training program, and all members of the board was take it. It must provide them with the law governing operations; the programs, functions, rules and budget authority; scope and limits of rulemaking for the board; the results of formal audit authority; requirements of open meetings, public information, administrative procedure, and disclosing contacts; and any other ethics policies that the Texas Ethics Commission adopts.
The general manager needs to create a training manual and provide it to each director.
The board must develop policies for reasonable public input. As well as, how to maintain and respond to complaints.
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