BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 2585

By: Crockett

Urban Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

There are concerns over reports of members elected to municipal governing bodies from single-member districts being recalled in at-large elections. It is suggested that this practice dilutes the voice of the member's constituency and curtails their ability to pick their own representation. H.B. 2585 seeks to address these concerns by ensuring that any recall election for such a member elected in a home-rule municipality is only open to voters of the district in question.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

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

H.B. 2585 amends the Local Government Code to prohibit a home-rule municipality whose governing body has a single-member district form of representation from adopting or enforcing an ordinance or charter provision authorizing an election by the municipality at large for the recall of a member of the governing body who was elected from a single-member district. The bill authorizes only voters of a single-member district to vote in an election to recall a member of the governing body who was elected from the district.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2021.