Highlights 77th Texas Legislature - Senate

_____________________ L OCAL
Municipal Payroll Deductions - S.B. 846
by Senator Cain
House Sponsor: Representative Naishtat
OCAL GOVERNMENT
77 th Texas Legislature
Currently, municipalities with populations of 10,000 or greater may deduct employee association dues from
paychecks of municipal employees.
Requires the governing body of a municipality with a population greater than 50,000 to deduct from a
municipal employee's monthly wages an amount requested in writing from the employee in payment of
membership dues to a bona fide employees' association, not claiming the right to strike.
County Authority in the Development of Infrastructure of Subdivisions - S.B. 873
by Senator Lindsay
House Sponsor: Representative Betty Brown
Grants certain counties the authority to:
• adopt subdivision regulations, including lot size and set-back limitations;
• enforce a major thoroughfare plan and establish rights-of-way;
• require possession of a plat compliance certificate before utility hookups; and
• enact other regulations relevant to responsible development.
State Audits of Certain Commissions - S.B. 1016
by Senator Madla
House Sponsor: Representative Junell
Currently, no single entity is designated to review a regional planning commission’s or council of
governments' financial reports and audits in their entirety.
Requires the state auditor to review each audit and, if the auditor finds significant issues involving the
administration or operation of a commission or its programs, to report its findings and related
recommendations to the legislative audit committee, the governor, and the commission.
Authorizes the governor and the legislative audit committee to direct the commission to state corrective
action or the state auditor to do an additional audit or investigative work.
Parking on a Sidewalk - H.B. 674
by Representatives Elkins and Solis
Senate Sponsor: Senator Lindsay
Under current law, vehicles are prohibited from parking on a sidewalk. Some houses are situated such that
there is not enough room to park in the driveway without blocking the sidewalk. H.B. 674 authorizes the
governing body of a municipality or county to adopt an ordinance or order authorizing a driver to stop,
stand, or park a vehicle on the portion of sidewalk that extends across a driveway, if the driveway is not
long enough to permit an alternative solution.
Senate Research Center 203