BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 2185

By: Burns

County Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Currently, the authority for a county to appropriate money to a historical foundation or organization for the purpose of preserving items of historical value in the county is restricted to counties within a narrow population range. Since Johnson County falls outside of this range, the county's commissioners court is unable to make such an appropriation for the many historical sites within the county. The freedom to allocate money for this purpose should be given to all commissioners courts, as the commissioners court is the entity in the best position to determine the budgetary needs of the county and the areas of historical value. H.B. 2185 seeks to extend to all county commissioners courts the authority to appropriate money from the county general fund to a historical foundation or organization in the county for applicable historical preservation purposes.

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. 2185 amends the Local Government Code to expand from counties within a certain population range to all counties the authority for the commissioners court to appropriate money from the county general fund to a historical foundation or organization in the county for the purpose of purchasing, constructing, restoring, preserving, maintaining, or reconstructing historical landmarks, buildings, and furnishings that are of historical significance to the county.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2023.