BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1745

By: Coleman

Urban Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

In 1991, voters in Houston passed a proposition amending the Houston City Charter that limits members of city government to three two-year terms. This proposition may not allow the mayor or members of city council to acquire legislative or executive experience in their offices and may also discourage citizens from running for office if they know at most they’ll only serve for six years.

H.B.1745 allows the voters of Houston to reconsider term limits at an election, which would expand term limits on city government from six years to twelve years.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

This bill amends Subchapter C, Chapter 26 of the Local Government Code to require the mayor of a municipality with a population of 1.8 million or more to order an election on the first November uniform election date that occurs in an even-numbered year after this bill becomes law on the question of imposing term limits on the governing body of the municipality. The governing body of the municipality must decide whether the election will authorize term limits of three four-year terms or six two-year terms. 

A term (or partial term) to which a member of the city government was appointed or elected is only counted under the above-mentioned election if the member has served one-half or more of the term. The law expires on January 1, 2013.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2011.