Monthly Archives: May 2018
Plastic Bags and Local Control: Laredo Ordinance Case Pitches State vs. Cities
A gradual and steady decline of local control by municipalities in Texas began in the last five years and this erosion continues. Our firm has written several blogs on this topic. I continually discover new areas of preemption by State law, such as fracking, oil and gas development, driving and texting, all of which… Read More »
Public Information Requests in Texas – That Information’s Gonna Cost You
The Texas Public Information Act governs the public’s access to information held by governmental bodies in Texas. It also governs the cost of obtaining such information. Specifically, the Act states that “[t]he charge for providing a copy of public information shall be an amount that reasonably includes all costs related to reproducing the public… Read More »
Making Sure Government Buildings Are ADA Compliant
The essence of Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance is removing barriers to accessibility that amount to discrimination. Essentially, state and local government facilities must follow Title II of the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design to be in full compliance. The standards for removing barriers to accessibility include four different priorities to be addressed, from most… Read More »
Make It Count, Texas: Participate in the U.S. Census
With the 2020 Census looming, the Census Bureau is currently working to make the process more efficient, but it’s important that Texans do their part. Here’s how the census works; the Census Bureau mails out forms to each household which are to be filled out and returned. Citizens can also opt to respond to… Read More »