MINUTES

SENATE COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Tuesday, September 13, 2022

1:30 PM

Capitol Extension, Room E1.016

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Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule 11.10 and 11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Local Government was held on Tuesday, September 13, 2022, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.016, at Austin, Texas.

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MEMBERS PRESENT:	MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Paul Bettencourt, Chair	Senator Roland Gutierrez
Senator José Menéndez, Vice Chair	Senator Robert Nichols
Senator Sarah Eckhardt	Senator Angela Paxton
Senator Bob Hall
Senator Drew Springer
Senator Judith Zaffirini

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The chair called the meeting to order at 1:38 PM. There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted:

The Chair laid out the following interim charge on Affordable Housing: Study issues related to affordable housing, homelessness, and methods of providing and financing affordable housing. Make recommendations to improve transparency and accountability, as well as to better utilize existing federal, state, and local programs.

Witnesses providing invited and public testimony are shown on the attached list.

At 4:29 PM Senator Menéndez assumed the chair.

At 4:49 PM Senator Bettencourt resumed the chair.

The Chair laid out the following interim charge on Taxpayer Funded Lobbying: Study how governmental entities use public funds for political lobbying purposes. Examine what types of governmental entities use public funds for lobbying purposes and what level of transparency is available to the public. Make recommendations to protect taxpayers from paying for lobbyists who may not represent the taxpayers' interests.

Witnesses providing invited and public testimony are shown on the attached list.

The Chair laid out the following interim charge on Extraterritorial Jurisdictions: Study issues related to municipal extraterritorial jurisdictions and annexation powers, including examining possible disannexation authority. Determine whether extraterritorial jurisdictions continue to provide value to their residents and make recommendations on equitable methods for disannexation.

Witnesses providing invited and public testimony are shown on the attached list.

The Chair laid out the following interim charge on Special Purpose Districts: Perform a comprehensive study on the powers and purposes of various special purpose districts and their associated legislative templates. Make recommendations to improve public transparency in operations of special purpose districts and associated legislative templates.

Witnesses providing invited and public testimony are shown on the attached list.

There being no further business, at 8:07 PM Senator Menéndez moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.

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Senator Paul Bettencourt, Chair

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Bradley Hurt, Clerk