Retains current language - 1/4 page legal notice

Same as HB 31, HB 2841 and SB 263

Reid’s input: It looks like SB 985 does eliminate some newspaper notice regarding zoning changes. As Mike pointed out, this notice is currently required when a zoning change occurs within 200 feet of annexed property that doesn’t appear on a municipality’s tax roll. Instead of newspaper notice, a municipality could just send written notice to the most recent address on the tax roll. I’m not sure how often that comes into play.  

This bill does not change the underlying newspaper notice requirement for zoning regulations and district boundaries in Sec. 211.006(a): 

Sec. 211.006.  PROCEDURES GOVERNING ADOPTION OF ZONING REGULATIONS AND DISTRICT BOUNDARIES.  (a)  The governing body of a municipality wishing to exercise the authority relating to zoning regulations and zoning district boundaries shall establish procedures for adopting and enforcing the regulations and boundaries.  A regulation or boundary is not effective until after a public hearing on the matter at which parties in interest and citizens have an opportunity to be heard.  Before the 15th day before the date of the hearing, notice of the time and place of the hearing must be published in an official newspaper or a newspaper of general circulation in the municipality.

There is already some leeway given to municipalities in Sec. 211.007, regarding the manner of public notice when a zoning commission is involved:

(d)  The governing body of a home-rule municipality may, by a two-thirds vote, prescribe the type of notice to be given of the time and place of a public hearing held jointly by the governing body and the zoning commission.  If notice requirements are prescribed under this subsection, the notice requirements prescribed by Subsections (b) and (c) and by Section 211.006(a) do not apply.

Current language retains existing 1/4-page notice provision

Contains new newspaper notice language. Watch for amendments

Companion is HB 2805

Need to monitor. Companion is SB 1487 by Bettencourt

Donnis: On its face, it appears to be simply a measure to give individual taxpayers a right to choose electronic communications with the tax office rather than written communication. I wonder, though, if the wording is loose enough to encourage a rogue tax official to maintain that it provides cover for using e-notices rather than public notices in a newspaper. Reid's response: I see your concern here, but I think it would be very difficult to argue that public notice falls under these provisions. The bill defines “communication” as something “required or permitted to be delivered” to a property owner. That “delivered” language appears several times throughout the bill. I suppose a rogue official could argue that a newspaper (containing public notices) gets delivered, but I think that would be a real stretch, since public notice is typically discussed in the context of publication, not delivery. And certainly not in the context of delivery to an individual, who could choose to receive that delivery electronically.

Nondisclosure intoxication record

Local elections to legalize 8-liners, requires newspaper notice

Contains newspaper notice - monitor

Current language retains existing newspaper notice provisions

Per Reid Pillifant: HB 220 Tweaks the text of the notice that’s required, but doesn’t alter where notice appears. Worth monitoring

Per Reid Pillifant: HB 2221 just changes the percentage required to approve a tax rate (from a majority to 60 percent). Suggests we monitor. 

Current language retains existing 1/4-page notice provisions

Pro-transparency section, but for the most part this will be seen as an anti-law enforcement bill. We shouldn't be associated with it. Let's monitor. 

A Todd Hunter bill that ELIMINATES a newspaper notice in favor of placing a news release on a governmental agency’s website. Need to take up the issue with him - could be a drafting mistake. Companion is SB 1032 by Kolkhorst. Talk to her after Hunter.

2/28: Per Hunter’s suggestion Donnis spoke with David Eichler with TPWD and he’s fine with a committee sub on HB 2475 maintaining the existing newspaper notice requirement AND the press release they wanted to add on oyster bed closures. Eichler is going to notify Kolkhorst’s office. We will continue to monitor.

Go see author and see if we can add Newspaper Notice to the bill. Note that he is calling for a website notice with email notification which our statewide site can provide.

This bill would increase access to public information by eliminating some of the privileges that currently allow for withholding. The “basic information” piece would make clear that basic information about an incident (which the press has a right to) is not limited to just arrests and crimes, but would apply to incidents that don’t necessarily result in an arrest. The last section regarding “video” would ensure that audio recordings aren’t subject to the stricter standards for releasing body cams.

Companion is SB 1658 by Chuy Hinojosa

Refiled from last session (HB 4576). Adds a newspaper notice. 

Trying to get notices into the Eagle Pass newspaper. Amends Gov't Code 2051.0441, counties with no newspaper. Allows local government to name newspaper of record. Same bill was filed last session, but didn’t get a hearing.

3/15/23: Discussed HB 3117, a bill to fix the problem with Eagle Pass and Maverick County notices having to run in San Antonio Express-News, 140 miles away. The bill could present unintended consequences. We suggested they amend the bill to the language that Fannin County used to carve out an exception. Aaron will contact Leg. Council to see about amending. Yvonne will be our contact 512-463-2910.

3/21 Follow up with Yvonne, She is waiting on Leg. Council for committee substitute. Chief of Staff Aaron Gibson requested a carve out like Fannin County has.

3/5/23 We met with Saul Mendoza in Leo-Wilson’s office. Reminded him of our previous meeting regarding HB 2863 and that he was supposed to encourage Leo-Wilson to visit with Hunter about the statewide notice bill (HB 2178).

Retains current language - 1/4 page legal notice

Same as HB 31, HB 1376, and SB 263