Yearly Archives: 2018
Texas Legislature to Begin 86th Legislative Session with 900 Bills Already on Deck
This blog is my last for 2018; 2019 is merely days away, and federal government is shut down. Not so for Texas, where the Legislature is gearing up for a busy session. In one of my previous blogs prior to election day, I wrote about Texas property taxes, the re-election of Governor Greg Abbott,… Read More »
Fulshear Growth Gets Notice from Katy
The Katy Times recently posted a news article regarding the City of Fulshear, which we are republishing here with permission: Katy Adapts to Fulshear Growth (Katy Times) Katy Times subscribers can read the article on its website as well: Katy Adapts to Fulshear Growth Fulshear Mayor Aaron Groff
Is Santa Claus Breaking Laws?
Santa Claus is coming to town. He’ll also be coming down your chimney, which may cause you to wonder, as I often have, whether Santa commits a crime by entering your home through the chimney. Let’s discuss. The Texas Penal Code defines the crime of burglary as when a person, “without the effective consent… Read More »
Citizens of Home Rule Cities in Texas Possess the Power to Push for Changes
Residents of home rule cities in Texas are afforded some ability, under certain circumstances, to force their city government to act on measures the government might not have undertaken on its own. This form of self-determination is not available in other Lone Star state locales and manifests itself in four particular democratic procedures applicable… Read More »
Preparing for City Budget Planning in Texas
Texas cities have already passed their operating budgets, but it is never too early to start taking the necessary steps for adopting the next annual budget. The tax-rate setting process takes place at the same time municipalities are performing all steps towards budget approval, passage and adoption. The fiscal year for Texas cities generally… Read More »
Fire Regulation in Texas on the State and Local Levels
With several deadly wildfires currently raging in California, I thought it would be pertinent to discuss some Texas fire laws at this time. First, did you know that cigarettes sold in Texas must undergo testing and certification for ignition propensity? Essentially, this testing is intended to determine whether a discarded cigarette is likely to… Read More »
City Confidential: What Exemptions to Texas’s Public Information Act Allow a City to Protect a Private Company’s Confidential Information?
Cities in Texas and elsewhere conduct business with private entities, such as real estate developers, and in some circumstances, may be asked to keep certain details out of the public’s eye. Here, we examine to what extent that is allowed in the Lone Star State. The Texas Public Information Act (“TPIA”) allows a city… Read More »
City Ordinances Facing Societal, Technological Changes: Robot Brothels and SOBs
The City of Houston was recently in the news for a rather unusual reason. A robot brothel was set to open its doors in the heart of the city. A Canadian company which already operates an “adult love dolls rent before you buy service” in Toronto attempted to open a Houston location. Even a… Read More »
Robots are Rolling into Cities in Texas for a Variety of Purposes, including Security
The Robots are coming to a city near you. We all knew the day was coming in light of living in the age of computers, and the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence. Robots have been used by law enforcement for a few decades to aid with explosive devices. For some time, the U.S. military… Read More »
A Grave Matter: The Law of the Texas Cemetery
I visited an historical cemetery once for a school project in sixth grade. Our class was studying a local historical figure — sadly, I cannot remember who — and the teacher offered extra credit for any student who visited the historical figure’s gravesite and made a rubbing of the headstone to turn in as… Read More »