Highlights 77th Texas Legislature - Senate

_____________________ L OCAL
OCAL GOVERNMENT
77 th Texas Legislature
projects may not be clearly defined. In addition, campaigns for elections for venue projects are not subject
to the same requirements as political campaigns, especially for campaign materials.
Includes in the definition of "venue" certain economic development projects in municipalities regarding
venue projects, establishes campaign material guidelines for elections related to such projects, and
provides penalties for a violation of campaign material guidelines.
Authorizes a municipality to use revenue to acquire, construct, improve, and equip a venue that is a
convention center facility or related infrastructure. Authorizes the municipality to pledge the revenue to the
payment of bonds or other obligations the municipality issues to finance the convention center facility
infrastructure. Provides that these authorizations apply only to a municipality that:
• is located in three counties;
• has a population of less than 120,000; and
• acquires by purchase or lease with a term of not less than 20 years an interest in real property that
is required to be maintained as a park.
Requires each bill or other receipt for a hotel charge subject to the tax to contain a statement in a
conspicuous location stating: "___________ (insert name of taxing municipality or county) requires that an
additional tax of _____ percent (insert rate of tax) be imposed on each hotel charge for the purpose of
financing a venue project. In addition to the tax imposed to finance a venue project, the State of Texas
requires that a tax of six percent be imposed on each hotel charge."
Provides that the authority of a municipality to call an election to levy a sales and use tax for any authorized
purpose after the sales and use tax is no longer collected is not affected.
Maximum Work Week for Police Officers in Big Cities - H.B. 2273
by Representative Yvonne Davis
Senate Sponsor: Senator Cain
Establishes that a police officer may not be required to work more than 40 hours in a calendar week in a
city that is over one million in population and has not adopted the Fire and Police Employee Relations Act,
Chapter 174, Local Government Code.
Provides criteria to determine whether a police officer is considered to have been required to work
overtime.
Enforcement of Deed Restrictions by a Municipality - H.B. 2580
by Representative Bosse
Senate Sponsor: Senator Whitmire
Many Texas cities rely on zoning to plan and control land use, while others, such as the city of Houston,
rely on recorded covenants or deed restrictions. Zoning is listed in the Texas Tort Claims Act as a
governmental function, while deed restriction enforcement is not mentioned. A recent appellate court case,
Oldfield v. City of Houston, held that the enforcement of deed restrictions is a proprietary rather than a
Senate Research Center 205