Jun 22, 2023 CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION

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IT IS 5 32.

[ CITY OF BAYTOWN NOTICE OF MEETING CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION THURSDAY, JUNE 22, 2023 5:30 P.M. COUNCIL CHAMBER, CITY HALL 2401 MARKET STREET, BAYTOWN, TEXAS 77520 AGENDA CALL TO ORDER AND ANNOUNCEMENT OF QUORUM ]

IT IS THURSDAY, JUNE 22ND.

WE ARE IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS, AND WE DO HAVE A QUORUM.

SO WE WILL, UH, START WITH AGENDA

[a. Receive a Legislative Update upon the End of the State's 88th Legislative Session.]

MR. REEVES, GOOD AFTERNOON, MY FRIENDS.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE THIS EVENING.

AND, UH, I HAVE SOME GUESTS WITH ME THAT I'LL INTRODUCE IN JUST A FEW MINUTES, BUT I FIRST WANTED TO GIVE AN OUTLINE OF WHAT WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT OVER THE NEXT, UH, 45 MINUTES OR SO.

FIRST, I WILL TAKE A STAB AT GIVING YOU JUST A BROAD OVERVIEW OF WHAT HAPPENED IN AUSTIN.

OF COURSE, THERE'S REALLY NO UNDERSTANDING WHAT HAPPENS IN AUSTIN, BUT WE TRY AND, UH, SO I'LL, I'LL GIVE THE FIRST STAB AT IT, AND THEN I'M GONNA INTRODUCE THE SCHLATER GROUP TO YOU.

THESE ARE OUR ADVOCATES THAT ARE LOCATED IN AUSTIN AND HELP US REALLY, UH, WALK THE HALLS.

AND SO, UH, THE SCHLATER GROUP WILL COME UP AND GIVE, UH, SOME MORE SPECIFICITY TO THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

AND THEN WE WILL HAND IT OVER TO OUR CITY MANAGER WHO WILL ROUND US OUT WITH A LITTLE BIT OF OUR NEXT STEPS.

WHAT, NOW THAT THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION IS OVER, NOW WHAT? AND SO, UM, I WILL HAND IT OVER TO HIM AT THE END.

SO THAT'LL BE THE THREE PARTS TO THIS PRESENTATION.

AND, UH, JUST AS AN OVERVIEW, I'M SURE SOME OF YOU ALREADY KNOW THIS, BUT I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY'S ON A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD IN TERMS OF THE SESSION, 140 DAYS OF THIS REGULAR SESSION.

AND IT JUST WRAPPED UP ON MAY 29TH.

AND OF COURSE, AS YOU PROBABLY HEARD, THE HOUSE WAS IMMEDIATELY CALLED IN, CALLED INTO SPECIAL SESSION WHERE THEY WILL TACKLE A SERIES OF ISSUES.

A RECORD, 8,344 BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS WERE FILED.

1,880, UH, OF THOSE WAS CITY RELATED.

SO CITY RELATED BILLS OVER 1800 IN TOTAL.

OUT OF THOSE 8,000 BILLS, 1,258 BILLS PASSED.

THE PRIMARY FOCUS SEEMED TO BE ON THE BUDGET AND THE BUDGET SURPLUS, UH, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WAS A FOCUS.

AND SCHOOLS, AND OF COURSE, AS YOU KNOW, SCHOOLS WILL BE A MAJOR FOCUS OF THE CONTINUING SESSION AFTER THE, THE REGULAR SESSION ENDED.

THE MAJOR CITY RELATED ISSUES WERE WATER INFRASTRUCTURE, BROADBAND ACCESS, LOCAL LAND USE, AUTHORITY, AND PREEMPTION, AND SUPER PREEMPTION, WHICH WE WILL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT TONIGHT.

INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, PREEMPTION SEEMS TO BE POPULAR AROUND THE NATION, NOT JUST TEXAS RIGHT NOW.

SO, IN GOOD NEWS, HB FIVE WAS PASSED, WHICH IS THE NEW ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SCHOOL DISTRICT INCENTIVE PROGRAM.

AND THAT REPLACES THE THREE 13 PROGRAM, WHICH ENDED, UH, TWO YEARS AGO.

ALSO, SB 360 9, THE AUTOMATIC DIS ANNEXATION BILL DIED, AND THAT BILL WOULD'VE BEEN DISASTROUS FOR THE CITY.

OTHERS ALSO FAILED, INCLUDING MINIMUM LOT SIZE ADUS BY RIGHT AND ETJ SIZE.

THOSE BILLS ALSO FAILED TO MOVE FORWARD, WHICH IS, UH, GOOD NEWS FOR THE CITY.

THERE IS SADLY PLENTY OF BAD NEWS.

HOWEVER, THE MOST OBVIOUS BEING, UH, LEGISLATION THAT WILL BE CHALLENGING FOR BAYTOWN.

AND THAT'S HB 2127.

IT'S NICKNAMED THE DEATH STAR BILL EXPRESSLY.

AND IT PREEMPTS HOME RULE CITY REGULATIONS IN NINE AREAS, AND A FEW OF THOSE AGRICULTURE, FINANCE, LABOR, LOCAL GOVERNMENT, NATURAL RESOURCES AND PROPERTY.

SO THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WE'RE GONNA BE LOOKING AT VERY, UH, INTENTLY.

AND OF COURSE, THE CITY MANAGER WILL TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT.

ALTHOUGH THIS WILL LIKELY BE IN LITIGATION FOR A WHILE, 21, 27 WILL AFFECT US, AND WE'RE NOT SITTING BY LETTING IT HAPPEN.

UH, JASON WILL TALK MORE ABOUT HOW WE ARE GETTING READY FOR THAT IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

BAYTOWN WAS REPRESENTED WELL IN AUSTIN THIS SESSION.

UH, SOME OF YOU ATTENDED THE BAYTOWN DAY AT THE CAPITOL, AND I BELIEVE WE HAD A STRONGER VOICE THAN EVER BEFORE THERE IN AUSTIN.

AND, UH, I'M, I'M QUITE EXCITED ABOUT THE, THE NAME BAYTOWN BEING MENTIONED ON THE LIPS OF MANY OVER THERE AT THE CAPITOL.

I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE.

I'M PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THAT ONE OF THE FOUR BILLS THAT WERE UP FOR CONSIDERATION SPECIFIC TO BAY TOWN'S NEEDS WAS SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR JUST TWO WEEKS AGO.

AND THAT WAS HB 30 13 81, WHICH CLARIFIES STATE LAW AND REQUIRES JUST ONE PLANNING AND ZONING HEARING FOR PRELIMINARY ZONING REPORTS.

AND TML ACTUALLY MENTIONED THAT IN THE RECENT CONFERENCE I WAS AT, UH, THAT, UH, THAT WAS A MAJOR WIN FOR CITIES.

AND SO I'M, I'M PRETTY EXCITED TO SAY THAT THAT ORIGINATED

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SO BEFORE I BRING UP THE SCHLATER GROUP, I WANTED TO MAKE, UH, A LITTLE BIT OF AN OUT, OUT OF ORDER COMMENT ABOUT NEXT STEPS.

AS YOU KNOW, THE LEGISLATURE WILL BE IN SPECIAL SESSION NOW FOR A LITTLE WHILE, AND THEN WON'T, UH, WE'LL BE IN RECESS UNTIL JANUARY OF 25.

SO WE'VE GOT SOME TIME AND WE CAN FINE TUNE A NEW LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM FOR THE NEXT SESSION.

AND, UH, OTHER WAYS THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT OUR PART-TIME LEGISLATURE STILL RECOGNIZES BAYTOWN AND HEARS FROM US AND, AND, AND WE ARE AT THEIR DOORSTEP.

AND CERTAINLY BEFORE THEN.

AND, UH, WE'LL DISCUSS THIS MORE.

WE'LL BE PREPARING FOR THE RAMIFICATIONS OF THE SESSION AND THOSE BILLS THAT WERE, UH, IDENTIFIED AS BEING HURTFUL TO THE CITY.

SO THAT'S IT FOR ME.

I'M GONNA TRANSITION OVER TO THE SCH THE SCHLATER GROUP AND RECOGNIZE BRAD AND SCOTT, WHO'S COMING UP FIRST.

SCOTT.

ALRIGHT, THANK YOU.

UH, GOOD EVENING, MR. MAYOR AND DISTINGUISHED MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL.

IT'S NICE TO BE HERE THIS EVENING IN FRONT OF YOU.

I DIDN'T REALIZE THOMAS WAS GONNA SAY ALL THAT.

SO THERE'S REALLY NOTHING FOR ME TO ADD , I'M JUST KIDDING.

UH, BUT THERE WAS A RECORD NUMBER OF BILLS THAT WERE FILED THIS PAST SESSION.

ONLY 15% OF THOSE BILLS PASSED, BY THE WAY.

SO IT WAS A VERY HARD SESSION TO PASS, UH, LEGISLATION OF THE SESSION.

AND THERE'S A REASON THAT THE LEGISLATURE ONLY MEETS FOR 140 DAYS EVERY TWO YEARS.

THAT'S 'CAUSE THEY DON'T WANNA PASS TOO MANY BAD BILLS.

UH, AND THAT'S WHY THEY ONLY GET PAID $600 A MONTH.

SO , THAT'S WHY THEY DO WHAT THEY DO.

BUT ANYWAY, LET ME START OUT AND TALK ABOUT, UH, THE $33 BILLION SURPLUS THAT WE HAD THIS PAST SESSION.

UH, IT WAS ABLE TO, UH, UH, THE HOUSE SENATE AND THE GOVERNOR SIGNED A BILL TO ALLOW FOR, UH, A PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE, UH, BILL, SENATE BILL 28, AND, UH, SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 75, WHICH WOULD PROVIDE UP TO $1 BILLION IN INFRASTRUCTURE WATER FUNDING, UH, WHICH WILL HELP WATER SUPPLY PROJECTS THAT WILL BE ADMINISTERED, UH, THROUGH THE, UH, UH, TEXAS, UH, WATER ASSOCIATION TO, UH, FIGURE OUT WHERE THAT MONEY IS SPENT AND WHO GETS THOSE MONEY.

SO THERE, FOR A LOT OF SMALLER CITIES LIKE BAYTOWN, THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES THERE OVER THE NEXT TWO, THREE YEARS TO ACCESS THIS BILLION DOLLARS IN FUNDING.

AND REALLY, YOU LOOK AT LARGER CITIES, IT DIDN'T REALLY GO TOWARDS THE LARGER CITIES.

IT'S PRETTY MUCH GEARED TOWARDS THE SMALLER CITIES.

SO BAYTOWN HAS AN EXCELLENT CHANCE TO HELP WITH THAT, AND WE CAN HELP YOU WITH THAT PROCESS ALSO.

UM, LET'S SEE.

UH, THERE'S ALSO A HB NINE AND A HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 1 25, WHICH WOULD PROVIDE $1.5 BILLION TO THE BROADBAND BROADBAND INFRASTRUCTURE FUND TO HELP BROADBAND THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

AND THOSE, ESPECIALLY THOSE AREAS THAT DON'T HAVE BROADBAND.

UM, SO THE CITY OF RESIDENTS WILL, WILL DEFINITELY BE ABLE TO BENEFIT FROM THAT BROADBAND PROGRAM.

AND THEN ALSO THERE WAS $3 BILLION IN ENDOWMENT FOR PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES AND $650 MILLION FOR COMMUNITY COLLEGES.

UH, NOW THEY DID NOT WORK ON ANY, ANY PARTICULAR, UH, AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE ON PROPERTY TAX CUTS AND HOW TO REFUND THAT TO, UH, RESIDENTIAL, YOU KNOW, RATE PAYERS.

UH, THE HOUSE HAS ONE VERSION THAT THEY WANNA DO, AND THEY WANT TO CUT THE, UH, APPRAISAL CAPS FROM 10% A YEAR TO 5%.

AND, UH, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR DAN PATRICK WANTS TO ACTUALLY INCREASE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION EXEMPTION FROM 40,000 TO A HUNDRED THOUSAND.

AND OF COURSE, THE GOVERNOR WANTS TO BUY DOWN, UH, SCHOOL DISTRICTS, UM, PROPERTY AND MAINTENANCE TAXES.

AND SO THERE THE THREE CANNOT GET ALONG AND AGREE.

AND SO THE HOUSE ASIDE, DURING THE SPA SPECIAL SESSION THAT WAS CALLED IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE SESSION ADJOURNED ON MAY 29TH, THAT, UM, THEY WOULD PASS THE GOVERNOR'S VERSION OF, WHAT DO YOU WANNA DO WITH BIND DOWN THE, THE OM FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS? AND THEN DAN PATRICK IS STILL ON THIS A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION.

AND, UH, HE'S JUST RECENTLY FILED ANOTHER BILL THAT TRIES TO, YOU KNOW, GET CLOSER TO WHERE THE HOUSE IS AT AND WHERE THE GOVERNOR'S AT.

BUT FOR RIGHT NOW, I DON'T THINK THEY'RE NEED A DEAL DONE.

AND THEY HAVE LESS THAN A WEEK TO FINISH THAT.

I IMAGINE THE GOVERNOR'S GONNA CALL ANOTHER SPECIAL SESSION IF THEY CAN'T RESOLVE THIS PROPER TAX ISSUE THIS SESSION.

AND IN THE MEANTIME, HE VETOED OVER 70 BILLS, WHICH WAS A LOT OF BILLS THAT HE VETOED BECAUSE HE WANTED TO PUT PRESSURE ON THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE TO NEGOTIATE A PROPERTY TAX COMPROMISE.

AND THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN.

AND SO THE VETO PERIOD EXPIRED AT MIDNIGHT LAST SUNDAY.

SO THE GOVERNOR'S LOST HIS TOOL AS FAR AS TRYING TO FORCE THESE TWO TO GET TOGETHER.

UM, SO HOPEFULLY WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS, BUT I THINK IT'S GONNA KEEP HIM COMING BACK TO BEST SESSION UNTIL THEY WORK OUT SOME TYPE OF DEAL.

UH, LET'S SEE.

THERE WERE A LOT OF CITY, UH, RELATED BILLS THAT WERE GOOD AND BAD.

UH, MOST DIDN'T MAKE IT THROUGH THE LEGISL, THEY PROCESS.

AND SOME WERE ACTUALLY CASUALTIES OF THE SYSTEM, UH, THE MORE WERE DEFEATED AS A RESULT OF, YOU KNOW, LOBBYING AND HARD WORK OF CITY OFFICIALS

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UH, SOME OF THOSE BILLS THAT, UH, DIDN'T MAKE IT WAS A BILL PROVIDING FOR THE AUTOMATIC DISIN DIS ANNEXATION OF AN AREA IN THE CITY NOT RECEIVING FULL MUNICIPAL SERVICES.

THAT WAS A HOUSE BILL OF 1246.

UH, ALSO BILLS THAT WOULD PREVENT CITIES FROM ADOPTING REGULATIONS GOVERNING SHORT-TERM RENTALS DIDN'T MAKE IT AS WELL.

UH, BILLS THAT WOULD IMPOSE STATEWIDE NEIGHBORHOOD DENSITY STANDARDS BY AUTHORIZING ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS BY RIGHT.

PREVENTING CITY REGULATION OF SMALL LOTS AND AUTHORIZING CERTAIN MANUFACTURED HOMES IN ANY ZONING DISTRICT, LIKEWISE, DID NOT MAKE IT, UH, BILLS THAT WOULD ELIMINATE THE USE OF CERTAIN DEBT INSTRUMENTS IN A CITY, INCLUDING ATE OF OBLIGATION, DID NOT MAKE IT A BILL THAT WOULD ELIMINATE THE SO-CALLED FIRETRUCK PROVISION OF THE PROPERTY TAX RATE SETTING PROCESS, GIVING SMALL CITIES FLEXIBILITY WHEN ADOPTING THEIR TAX RATES, UH, LIKEWISE DIDN'T MAKE IT.

AND A BILL THAT WOULD, UH, UH, SOURCE ALL CITY SALES TAXES TO THE LOCATION WHERE GOODS ARE RECEIVED BY THE CONSUMER, UH, DID NOT PASS AS WELL.

NOW I'M GONNA TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, UH, HOUSE BILL FIVE THAT THOMAS TOUCHED ON.

AND THIS BILL, LIKE I SAID, REPLACED, UH, CHAPTER THREE 13, WHICH IS NO LONGER THERE IT IS, IT IS DEAD AND GONE.

AND HOUSE BILL FIVE REPLACED ALL THAT AND IT REPLACED THE FORMER TAX DISCOUNT PROGRAM, UH, WITH AND HOUSE BILL FIVE BASICALLY IS A PLAN THAT STILL ALLOWS COMPANIES TO ENTER IN AGREEMENTS WITH SCHOOL DISTRICTS, BUT RESTRICTS RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECTS FROM BEING ABLE TO EASILY ACCESS THE INCENTIVES.

UH, BECAUSE WHILE THEY HAD THREE 13, A LOT OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS WERE, WERE WORKING OUT DEALS FOR, UH, WINDMILLS AND SOLAR POWER AND SO ON, AND THEY DECIDE THEY WANT TO CUT THAT OUT OF HOUSE BILL FIVE.

SO CITIES OR SCHOOL DISTRICTS WILL BE DISCOURAGED FROM DOING THAT IN THE FUTURE.

UM, THE LEGISLATION WOULD ALSO ALLOW SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO OFFER LIMITED TEMPORARY PROPERTY TAX DISCOUNTS TO ELIGIBLE COMPANIES FOR PROJECTS THAT BRING JOBS INVESTMENT INTO THE DISTRICT.

AND THE STATE PAYS THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS THE DIFFERENCE.

AND THE DISTRICT ALSO GETS TO COLLECT EXTRA MONEY FROM THE COMPANY AS PART OF ANY TAX DISCOUNT DEAL THEY STRIKE.

UH, ELIGIBLE PROJECTS, UH, WOULD INCLUDE A MANUFACTURING PROJECT OR A PROJECT THAT WOULD REQUIRE INVESTMENT IN A TEXAS SCHOOL DISTRICT OF MORE THAN $1 BILLION.

THEY ALSO INCLUDE PROJECTS THAT ADD ON, UH, ADD, ADD MORE ON DEMAND ELECTRICITY TO THE POWER GRID, SUCH AS A NATURAL GAS FUEL GENERATOR OR BATTERIES, OR A PROJECT TO PRODUCE HYDROGEN FUEL OR A SEA WATER, UH, DESALINIZATION PROJECT.

SO THAT'S HB FIVE IN A NUTSHELL.

AND THERE WERE SOME ADVER ADVERSE BILLS THAT DID PASS.

AND ONE OF THOSE THAT THOMAS TOUCHED ON WAS HOUSE BILL 2127.

THAT WAS PROBABLY THE BIGGEST ANTI CITY BILL OF THE SESSION.

AND A LOT OF CITIES WERE AGAINST IT.

A LOT OF DEMOCRATS WERE AGAINST IT.

BUT UNFORTUNATELY THIS WAS ONE OF THE TOP PRIORITIES FOR GOVERNOR ABBOTT, UH, WHICH IS WHY I PASSED OUTTA THE HOUSE IN THE SENATE.

AND HE JUST RECENTLY SIGNED THAT BILL INTO LAW.

BUT IT WOULD, UH, PREEMPT CERTAIN PRESENT AND FUTURE HOME RULE CITY ORDINANCES IN WAYS THAT AREN'T READILY APPARENT FROM THE PLAIN LANGUAGE OF THE BILL.

I MEAN, THE BILL IS SO POORLY DRAFTED.

UH, ONE OF THE MAIN ARGUMENTS BY THE PEOPLE WHO OPPOSED THIS BILL DURING SESSION WAS THAT BECAUSE IT WAS DRAFTED SO POORLY AND IT WAS VAGUE, IT'S GONNA RESULT IN A LOT OF LAWSUITS.

SO A LOT OF ATTORNEYS AROUND THE STATE ARE GONNA BE VERY HAPPY 'CAUSE CITIES ARE GONNA BE FOLLOWING LAWSUITS LEFT AND RIGHT TO CONTEST.

THIS PARTICULAR BILL THAT PASSED IN HB 2127, UH, AS THOMAS TOUCHED ON IT, UH, BARS, CITIES AND COUNTIES FROM CREATING LOCAL ORDINANCES THAT GO FURTHER THAN WHAT'S ALLOWED UNDER, UH, BROAD SWATS OF STATE LAW, INCLUDING LABOR, NATURAL RESOURCES AND FINANCE.

UH, UH, AND THE REASON THAT THEY WERE REALLY BEHIND THIS, BETWEEN THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF INDEPENDENT BUSINESSES, UH, AND THE GOVERNOR ABBOTT AND, AND THE REPUBLICANS, THEY'VE LONG PURSUED SUCH A LAW ARGUING THAT IT'S NECESSARY TO UNTANGLE A GROWING PR PATCHWORK OF LOCAL REGULATIONS THAT BURDEN BUSINESS OWNERS AND HAM HAMPER THE STATE'S ECONOMIC GROWTH.

THAT'S WHY THEY PASSED THIS BILL IN A NUTSHELL, WHICH IS THE BIGGEST ANTI CITY BILL THAT THEY PASSED.

UH, ALSO THEY PASSED SENATE BILL 2 0 3 8, WHICH WOULD FRAGMENT SOME CITIES EXTRA TER UH, EXTRA TER TERRITORIAL JURISDICTIONS RESTRICTING CITY GROWTH AND LIMITING CITY'S ABILITY TO MANAGE DEVELOPMENT.

UH, AND THAT WAS ABOUT IT.

BUT HOUSE BILL 2127 IS, IS THE MAIN ONE, UH, THAT EVERY, ALL THE CITIES INCLUDING, UH, TEX MUNICIPAL LEAGUE AND EVERYBODY WAS AGAINST, BUT BECAUSE THAT WAS A REPUBLICAN PRIORITY, AND

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AND IT WAS GOVERNOR ABBOTT'S, YOU KNOW, PRIORITY.

THAT'S WHY THIS BILL PASSED.

THERE WAS NO STOPPING THIS BILL DURING SESSION.

AND WITH THAT, I'M GONNA TURN OVER TO, TO BRAD TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE, UH, BAYTOWN BILLS THAT WERE FILED ALONG WITH SOME OF THE BILLS THAT, UH, THE CITY MANAGER INDICATED THAT, THAT, UH, BAYTOWN WAS INTERESTED IN DURING THE SESSION.

MR. MAYOR PRO TEM COUNCIL MEMBERS, I'M BRAD SLEETER, AND IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE WITH YOU ALL TONIGHT.

I'M GONNA TALK, UH, TOUCH ON THE BILLS THAT WERE FILED ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF BAYTOWN.

UM, SOME OF THE BILLS THAT THE CITY SUPPORTED AND OPPOSED DIRECTLY, AND THEN SOME OF THE OTHER BILLS THAT THE CITY, UH, WAS TRACKING AND WORKING ON IN THE BACKGROUND.

AS WE'VE TOUCHED ON, UH, OF THE OVER 8,000 BILLS THAT WERE FILED, UH, ALMOST 2000 OF THEM DEALT WITH CITIES, AND THE SCH LEADER GROUP WAS TRACKING ALMOST 200 OF THEM FAIRLY CLOSELY.

UH, OF THE, AS SCOTT TOUCHED ON, ONLY 15% OF THE BILLS PASSED.

51% OF HOUSE BILLS DIED IN COMMITTEE WITHOUT EVER GETTING A HEARING.

61% OF SENATE BILLS DIED IN COMMITTEE WITHOUT EVER GETTING A HEARING.

AND THE REASON I SAY THIS IS THAT THE LEGISLATURE SET UP TO KILL BILLS NOT TO PASS THEM.

IT'S VERY DIFFICULT.

AND EVEN WHEN BILLS WERE PASSED, UM, THE GOVERNOR, UH, THIS LAST WEEKEND VETOED OVER 70 BILLS THAT, YOU KNOW, POLICY-WISE WERE VERY SOUND BILLS.

BUT, UH, THERE'S A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR COLLATERAL DAMAGE, IS WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY.

UH, THERE WAS FOUR BILLS FILED ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF BAYTOWN.

UH, ONE OF THEM PASSED.

SO WE HAD A 25% SUCCESS RATE BETTER THAN THE STATE AVERAGE.

UH, TWO OF THE FOUR GOT HEARINGS IN, UH, COMMITTEE AND YOUR DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS, UH, TESTIFIED ON BOTH OF THOSE.

SO THE FIRST, AS THOMAS SAID, UH, WAS HOUSE BILL 1381, WHICH, UH, SIMPLE BILL JUST REQUIRES ONLY ONE, UH, PUBLIC HEARING BEFORE THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION.

IF, IF THAT'S SUFFICIENT, YOU CAN HAVE MORE, BUT IT LITERALLY JUST ELIMINATED THE, UH, S IN THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE.

AND A, AS I'M TOUCHING ON THAT BILL, UH, FIRST WOULD LIKE TO SAY, UM, BAYTOWN IS VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE SIX VERY GOOD LEGISLATORS.

UM, AND THEY, THEY WERE ALL VERY HELPFUL AND, UH, VERY TUNED TO BAY TOWN'S NEEDS SESSION.

AND, UH, PARTICULAR, UH, SENATOR ALVARADO AND REPRESENTATIVE HERNANDEZ WHO CARRIED ALL FOUR OF BAY TOWN'S BILLS AND HELPED US CARRY, UH, 1381 OVER THE FINISH LINE.

SO, UM, THE OTHER BILL THAT GOT A HEARING WAS HOUSE BILL 1439.

THIS WAS A GRAFFITI ABATEMENT BILL.

UH, IT WAS HEARD IN HOUSE COUNTY AFFAIRS, AND UNFORTUNATELY THERE WAS SOME, UH, NEGATIVE FEEDBACK IN COMMITTEE ABOUT PRIVATE PROPERTY RIGHTS, UM, FAIRNESS AND FREEDOM ISSUES.

THERE WAS TALK OF SHOULDN'T WE INCREASE THE, THE PENALTIES ON, UH, THE PERPETRATORS OF THE GRAFFITI.

AND IT GOT, OUR MESSAGE WAS SOMEWHAT LOST.

WHEN YOU'RE EXPLAINING YOU'RE LOSING.

SO, UH, WE WORKED ON BRACKETING THE BILL TO JUST BAYTOWN, UH, IN A COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE BILL, BUT UNFORTUNATELY WE WEREN'T ABLE TO GET THE VOTES TO GET IT OUT OF COMMITTEE.

THE THIRD OF THE BILLS FILED FOR BAYTOWN WAS SENATE BILL 360 7.

THIS IS THE EMINENT DOMAIN RELOCATION BILL.

UH, THIS WAS REFERRED TO SENATE STATE AFFAIRS, WHICH UNFORTUNATELY, UH, IS A VERY JAM PACKED, UH, COMMITTEE DEALING WITH THE BIGGEST STATE ISSUES.

AND SO THAT BILL GOT LOST IN THE SHUFFLE BEHIND, UM, UH, ELECTRIC GRID BILLS, UH, ELECTIONS, BILLS, FIREARMS BILLS, AND IT NEVER GOT A HEARING.

HOUSE BILL 48 0 6, UH, DEALT WITH DEALS WITH THE BAYTOWN AREA WATER AUTHORITY, UH, ABILITY TO, UM, UH, ASSESS IMPACT FEES.

WE, UH, THAT ONE WAS REFERRED TO HOUSE NATURAL RESOURCES.

THERE WAS SOME, UM, CONCERN THAT THIS WAS A STATEWIDE BILL.

SO WE WORKED WITH, UH, ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES TO AGAIN, BRACKET IT JUST TO BAYTOWN.

BUT UNFORTUNATELY, IN YOUR 140 DAYS, UH, IT KIND OF GOT PUSHED UP AGAINST THE, THE TIDE DEADLINE AND, AND IT NEVER GOT A HEARING EITHER.

UH, TH THOSE WERE THE FOUR THAT WERE FILED ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF BAYTOWN.

THERE WERE SOME OTHER BILLS THAT AFFECTED BAYTOWN, UH, NAMELY THE TOLL CESSATION BILLS THAT WE DIDN'T ASK FOR THEM TO BE FILED, BUT THEY WERE, UH, ONE OF THE THREE GOT A HEARING.

AND, UH, THE, THE OTHER TWO NEVER DID.

AND I, I'LL JUST SAY THAT THERE WAS SEVERAL OTHER TOLL CESSATION BILLS FILED FOR, UH, OTHER AREAS OF THE STATE AND NONE OF THEM PASSED.

IT'S, THERE ARE SOME ISSUES.

THE, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE TRANSPORTATION SENATE AND HOUSE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEES, UH, ARE NOT FANS OF THAT APPROACH.

AND SO WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO SPEND SOME TIME DURING THE INTERIM WORKING ON SOME OTHER SOLUTIONS, WORKING WITH TXDOT TO SEE HOW WE CAN DIVERT THAT TRAFFIC TO 99.

UH, BUT THE FIRST OF THOSE THAT WAS HEARD IN COMMITTEE, UH, HOUSE BILL 5 75 BAR REPRESENTATIVE LEO WILSON, UH, DID GET A HEARING, BUT IT, IT WAS LEFT IN COMMITTEE AND NEVER VOTED OUT.

HOUSE BILL NINE, UH,

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AND THAT BILL WOULD'VE, UH, CEASED TOLLS ON THE CHAMBERS COUNTY PORTION.

REPRESENTATIVE KANE FILED SORT OF THE COMPANION THAT WOULD'VE, UH, CEASED TOLLS ON THE HARRIS COUNTY PORTION OF THE TOLLWAY.

IT NEVER GOT A HEARING AND COMMITTEE.

AND THEN SENATE BILL 24 96 BY SENATOR MIDDLETON, UH, ALSO NEVER GOT A HEARING IN COMMITTEE.

I'M GOING TO TOUCH ON, UH, A FEW BILLS THAT SCH LEADER GROUP, UH, SUBMITTED A POSITION CARD FOR OR AGAINST THE BILL, UH, WHEN IT WAS HEARD IN COMMITTEE.

YOU DO THIS NOT ONLY TO SHOW THE CITY'S POSITION, BUT IT'S ALSO SOMETHING THAT LEGISLATORS, UH, CONSIDER WHEN THEY ARE MAKING THEIR, MAKING THEIR VOTES.

THEY SEE WHO, WHO, WHICH, UH, WHICH ENTITIES ARE SUPPORTING OR OPPOSING, AND ALSO THE VOLUME.

UH, THEY CAN, IF THERE'S EVERYBODY'S OPPOSED TO A BILL, IT CAN SERIOUSLY IMPACT THEIR THOUGHTS ON HOW TO VOTE.

UH, IN ADDITION TO THE FOUR BILLS AND THE THREE TOLL CESSATION BILLS THAT WE SUPPORTED, UH, WE ALSO SUPPORTED A FEW OTHERS, UH, REGARDING ONLINE PUBLIC NOTICES.

AND ONE DID PASS.

SENATE BILL 9 43 BY SENATOR HORS, UH, ALLOWS, UH, INTERNET PUBLICATION OF NOTICES ONLY IF THE TEXAS PRESS ASSOCIATION MAINTAINS A WEBSITE.

SO IT DOESN'T HAVE A LOT OF TEETH YET, BUT IT'S A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

HOUSE BILL 29 70, UH, SCOTT, TOUCH ON REAL QUICK WOULD ALLOW MANUFACTURED HOMES IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS THAT THAT BILL DIED.

HOUSE BILL 1279, WHICH WE ALSO OPPOSE WAS THE, UM, WOULD SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE THE EXTENT OF A MUNICIPALITIES, UH, EXTRATERRITORIAL JURISDICTION.

AND JUST AS A, UH, REFERENCE FOR, FOR A CITY OF 50,000 TO 99,000 PEOPLE, WHICH WOULD INCLUDE BAYTOWN, IT WOULD SHRINK THE ETJ FROM 3.5 MILES TO JUST A QUARTER OF A MILE.

THAT BILL DID NOT MAKE IT.

UH, THERE WAS A HANDFUL OF OTHER BILLS THAT I KNOW THE CITY WAS INTERESTED IN.

I'M GONNA TOUCH ON THESE REAL BRIEFLY.

UM, AND THEY WERE ALMOST UNIVERSALLY OPPOSED BY ALL THE CITIES.

HOUSE BILL 36 99, UH, WAS THE PLATTING SHOT CLOCK BILL THAT BASICALLY DEFINES WHEN A PLAT IS CONSIDERED FILED FOR, UH, PURPOSES OF APPROVAL.

TIMELINES.

THAT BILL IS EFFECTIVE SEPTEMBER 1ST, SENATE BILL 2038, UH, WHICH SCOTT ALSO TOUCHED ON, UH, DEALS WITH THE RELEASE OF, UH, AREA OF A MUNICIPALITY'S ETJ BY PETITION OR OR ELECTION THAT WILL ALSO BE EFFECTIVE SEPTEMBER 1ST.

AND THE BILL AUTHORIZES THE RELEASE FROM A MUNICIPALITY'S ETJ BY PETITION WITH 50% OF THE VOTERS, OR THE MAJORITY OF, UH, IN VALUE OF THE HOLDERS OF THE LAND OR BY ELECTION, WHICH REQUIRES 5% OF THE, UH, VOTERS SIGNING THE PETITION.

A HANDFUL OF OTHERS THAT DID NOT PASS SENATE BILL 9 77, SCOTT TOUCHED ON DEALING WITH THE DEFINITION OF DEBT FOR THE PURPOSES OF CALCULATING ADVIL TAX RATES.

SENATE BILL 9 78, UH, DEALS WITH THE REPEAL OF PROVISIONS PROVIDING FOR THE CALCULATION AND EFFECT, UH, OF A DI MINIMIS AVALOR TAX RATE, ALSO DIED IN COMMITTEE.

SENATE BILL OF 9 76, UH, DEALS WITH THE PROCEDURE FOR THE ADOPTION OF AN AD VALOR TAX RATE BY A TAXING UNIT ALSO DIED IN COMMITTEE, UH, HOUSE BILL 31 35 DEALS WITH REVIEW AND ADOPTION OF LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS BY MUNICIPALITIES, COUNTIES, AND CERTAIN SPECIAL DISTRICTS DIET AND COMMITTEE.

THESE, THESE LAST TWO DID MAKE IT ONTO THE CALENDAR, BUT EVENTUALLY DID DIE.

UM, HOUSE BILL 2266 UH, DEALS WITH THE JUDICIAL REVIEW OF CERTAIN LOCAL LAWS APPLICABLE TO STATE LICENSE HOLDERS, AND THAT ONE DID MAKE IT OVER TO THE SENATE, BUT THEN DIED ON THE, UH, THEIR INTENT CALENDAR.

AND THEN LASTLY, THE ONE THAT SCOTT ALSO TOUCHED ON WAS THE, UM, HOUSE BILL 1246, UH, DEALING WITH DIS ANNEXATION OF AREAS THAT DO NOT RECEIVE FULL MUNICIPAL SERVICES.

THIS BILL, UH, THE SENATE BILL MADE IT OVER TO THE HOUSE AND DID MAKE IT ON THE CALENDAR AND WAS SLATED TO BE HEARD ON THE LAST NIGHT OF THE DEADLINE.

AND THEN TIME RAN OUT.

SO THAT ONE CAME CLOSE.

AND THEN THERE WAS A HANDFUL OF BILLS THAT THE CITY SUPPORTED AS WELL.

UM, I KNOW, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALVARADO THE, UH, CATALYTIC CONVERTER THEFT IS A BIG ISSUE TO YOU.

UH, ONE BILL DID PASS SENATE BILL 2 24 BY OUR SENATOR ALVARADO, WHICH CREATES A PRESUMPTION OF GUILT FOR POSSESSION OF TWO OR MORE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS WITHOUT THE PROOF OF, UH, OWNERSHIP OF THE VEHICLE FROM WHICH THEY WERE TAKEN.

AND IT, AND IT INCREASED THE PENALTY TO A FELONY.

SO THAT WAS A BIG WIN.

UM, HOUSE BILL 5 86, UH, DEALS WITH MUNICIPAL ANNEXATION OF CERTAIN RIGHTS OF WAY THAT WENT INTO EFFECT LAST MONTH WHEN THE GOVERNOR SIGNED IT.

AND IT, IT ALLOWS A MUNICIPALITY TO ANNEX A ROAD RIGHT OF WAY SO LONG AS IT'S CONTIGUOUS TO MUNICIPALITY'S BOUNDARY.

AND THE OWNER OBVIOUSLY MUST CONSENT AND THAT WILL BE EFFECTIVE.

UH, OR NO, THAT WAS EFFECTIVE LAST MONTH.

HOUSE BILL, UH, 30 97 IS, UH, DEALS WITH ANTICIPATION NOTES AUTHORIZING A CITY LOCATED WITHIN 70

[00:25:01]

SO THIS WOULD BENEFIT CITY OF BAYTOWN THAT, UH, WENT INTO EFFECT IMMEDIATELY WHEN THE GOVERNOR SIGNED IT.

UM, EARLIER THIS MONTH, HOUSE BILL 24 16 CREATES A TRUST FUND FOR GULF COAST INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS, WHICH COULD BE ACCESSED THROUGH THE GENERAL LAND OFFICE THAT BILL PASSED WAS ULTIMATELY VETOED BY THE GOVERNOR, UH, A WEEK AGO.

SO THAT WAS AN UNFORTUNATE LOSS.

AND THEN, UH, HOUSE BILL NINE WAS THE BROADBAND, UH, BILL.

THERE, THERE WILL BE A, UH, SJRA HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION BILL THAT'LL BE ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT TO, UH, AMEND THE CONSTITUTION TO ALLOW THE FINANCING OF CERTAIN PROJECTS AND, UH, TO EXPAND THE REACH OF BROADBAND.

AND 1.5 BILLION WAS BUDGETED FOR THAT PURPOSE IN THE BUDGET BILL.

AND THAT, UH, WRAPS UP THE DETAILED LIST OF BILLS WE HAVE, AND I THINK I'M GONNA HAND IT BACK TO SCOTT TO CLOSE OUT SOME CLOSING COMMENTS.

AND IF Y'ALL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS AT THE END, WE'LL BE HAPPY, HAPPY TO ANSWER.

AND I REALLY JUST WANNA FOLLOW UP WITH TWO LAST THINGS.

ONE IS, WE HAD BAYTOWN DAY ON FEBRUARY 15TH, WHICH TROOP WAS PROVEN, AND I KNOW A LOT OF MAYOR AND A LOT OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS WERE UP THERE.

AND THAT WAS REALLY INSTRUMENTAL, NOT JUST FOR THE BAYTOWN DELEGATION, BUT FOR OTHER MEMBERS TO SEE AND HEAR ABOUT YOUR PARTICULAR ISSUES AND YOUR PRIORITIES.

UH, I FEEL LIKE THIS PAST SESSION WE HAVE REALLY, UH, EDUCATED THE, UH, LEGISLATIVE MEMBERS IN BOTH THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE ALONG WITH THE LEADERSHIP, UH, SPEAKER, LIEUTENANT, GOVERNOR, AND GOVERNOR AS FAR AS YOUR ISSUES ARE CONCERNED GOING FORWARD, WHICH I THINK IS IMPORTANT, THAT WE'VE DEFINITELY RAISED A PROFILE FOR THE CITY OF BAYTOWN, WHICH IS IMPORTANT.

AND NOW MOVING FORWARD, I, I BRIEFLY WANNA TALK ABOUT THE TIMELINE BECAUSE I'M ALWAYS THINKING ABOUT NEXT SESSION STARTING IN JANUARY OF 2025.

AND NORMALLY THIS FALL, THE HOUSE AND SENATE, UH, CHAIRMAN WILL ANNOUNCE THEIR INTERIM COMMITTEE ISSUES.

SO THIS SUMMER I WOULD LIKE TO WORK WITH THE MAYOR AND THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND WITH THOMAS AND, UH, THE ATTORNEY AND, AND THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENT HEADS TO FIGURE OUT THE LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES, UH, FOR BAYTOWN.

'CAUSE WE CAN INFLUENCE A LOT OF THAT THROUGH THE INTERIM COMMITTEES.

THEN IF WE GET ANY, UH, IF WE NEED TO PUSH ANY LEGISLATION NEXT SESSION, I'D LIKE TO GET THAT DRAFTED NEXT SUMMER IN 2024 AND GET THAT FILED IN NOVEMBER, DECEMBER OF 2024 BEFORE THE SET STARTS IN JANUARY OF 2025.

AND I WANNA MAKE SURE WE COVER BOTH THE HOUSE AND SENATE WITH SPONSORING, YOU KNOW, BAY TOWN'S BILLS.

SO IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE START WELL IN ADVANCE TO START THIS PROCESS AND GET MOVING.

UH, AND I CAN'T EMPHASIZE ENOUGH 'CAUSE THE MORE LEAD TIME WE HAVE ABOUT THE PRIORITIES BY THE CITY OF BAYTOWN MOVING IN THE NEXT SESSION, THE BETTER CHANCE WE'RE GONNA HAVE OF PASSING OUR BILLS.

OKAY? AND I WILL MENTION ONE THING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, MOVING TRAFFIC, THE TRUCK TRAFFIC OFF 1 46 TO 99.

YOU KNOW, AS BRAD INDICATED, YOU KNOW, WE, WE, WE MET WITH THE, THE CHAIRMAN, TERRY CANAL, WHO CHAIRS THE HOUSE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE.

WE MET WITH SENATOR ROBERT NICHOLS, WHO CHAIRS THE SENATE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE.

THOSE GUYS JUST DON'T LIKE TO GET RID OF TOLLS ON TOLLWAYS.

THAT'S THE BIG PROBLEM.

AND EVERY BILL IS FILED, DIDN'T EVEN GET A HEARING.

SO WE'VE GOTTA TALK TO TEXTILE, OR WITH THE INTERIM, WE GOTTA TALK TO THOSE TWO CHAIRMAN IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE AND FIGURE OUT SOME TYPE OF ALTERNATIVE STRATEGY THAT WILL HELP, YOU KNOW, GET A LOT OF THIS TRAFFIC MOVING TO 99.

AND I'M SURE THERE'S OTHER OPTIONS THERE, BUT WE GOTTA FIGURE OUT WHAT THOSE OPTIONS ARE DURING THE INTERIM AND START PUSHING A DIFFERENT AGENDA FOR NEXT SESSION.

AND THAT'S KIND OF WHERE WE'RE AT.

SO, WITH THAT, THOMAS, YEAH, JUST QUICKLY, UH, BEFORE THE CITY MANAGER TAKES OVER, I, I, I, I APPRECIATE THE CREDIT, UH, FOR ATTENDING THE HEARINGS AND GIVING TESTIMONY ON THE, ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF BAYTOWN.

UH, I DID GO UP A COUPLE OF TIMES, BUT I SHOULD SAY I HAVE TO GIVE CREDIT TO OUR DIRECTOR OF PLANNING AND ENGINEERING SERVICES, MARTIN SCRIBNER, WHO ALSO, UH, CAME AND GAVE TESTIMONY ON BEHALF OF THAT PLANNING AND ZONING BILL.

SO THANK YOU TO MARTIN FOR THAT SUPPORT.

UH, JASON, GO AHEAD, MAYOR.

COUNCIL, I'LL, I'LL KEEP IT, UH, BRIEF.

UH, THE BIGGEST THING AS YOU, AS YOU HEARD FROM, UH, FROM EVERYTHING FROM THE GROUP, AND THANK YOU FOR THAT.

AND SCOTT ALSO THANK YOU FOR SETTING UP A MEETING WITH THE RAILROAD COMMISSION.

THAT WAS EXTREMELY HELPFUL.

UH, UM, UH, WHEN WE GOT, WE WERE ABLE TO GET UP THERE AS WELL.

BUT, UM, UH, THE BIGGEST THING THAT CAME OUT OF THAT FOR US IS HOUSE BILL 2127.

AND, UH, BECAUSE IT IS A SUPER PREEMPTION BILL.

UH, AND THE BIGGEST THING FOR BAYTOWN THAT WE HAVE TO, THAT, THAT WE CAN HOPE FOR HONESTLY, IS THAT THIS HAS STAYED ONCE IT IS SUED, RIGHT? AND, AND OR ONCE THE CITY STARTS SUING THE STATE FOR THIS BILL, AND THAT WILL HELP US KEEP IT ON THE WAYSIDE UNTIL WE CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THIS.

BUT THAT'S JUST A, A BEST CASE SCENARIO FOR US BECAUSE WE DON'T FEEL THAT THAT'S GONNA HAPPEN RIGHT AWAY.

WE ARE TAKING THE NEXT STEPS TO GET AN ATTORNEY

[00:30:01]

I MEAN, IT IS VERY BADLY WRITTEN, UM, AND EXTREMELY VAGUE.

AND, BUT AT THE SAME TIME IT SAYS THAT WE HAVE TO ADHERE TO WHAT THE STATE HAS ALREADY PUT IN TEXT, SO TO SPEAK.

RIGHT.

AND BECAUSE WE HAVE TO DO THAT, WE HAVE TO SEE WHERE WE AS A CITY, OUR ORDINANCES CONFLICT WITH WHAT THE STATE'S, UH, UH, CURRENT, UH, REGULATIONS ARE.

AND SO WE DO NOT HAVE THAT EXPERTISE TO READ THEIR JARGON.

AND SO WE ARE GONNA HAVE TO, UH, GET AN ATTORNEY THAT WILL TAKE THE TIME AND, UM, UM, EFFORT TO, TO LOOK AT THAT LINE BY LINE.

UH, OUR CITY ATTORNEY DID MEET WITH THE, THE ATTORNEY THAT WE ARE MOST LIKELY GONNA WORK WITH LAST WEEK, UH, TO GET THAT PROCESS UNDERWAY.

UH, WHAT THAT DOES MEAN IS THAT BECAUSE IT DOES TAKE EFFECT SEPTEMBER 1ST, THAT WE NEED TO ADHERE TO WHAT THOSE GUIDELINES ARE, AS BEST AS WE CAN UNDERSTAND THEM FROM AN ATTORNEY'S POINT OF VIEW AND BE READY FOR, UH, BE READY TO AMEND OUR ORDINANCES OR STOP CERTAIN PRACTICES THAT WE HAVE, UH, THAT PERTAIN TO HOUSE BILL 2127.

SO WE WILL BE BRINGING ORDINANCES AND, UH, CHANGES TO THE COUNSEL TO EITHER AMEND.

NOW AGAIN, THE BEST CASE SCENARIO IS THAT A LAWSUIT IS UNDERWAY.

THE COURTS STAY, UM, THE, UH, THE, UH, NEW LAW, THEREFORE WE CAN OPERATE UNDER OUR CURRENT CONDITIONS UNTIL THAT IS FIGURED OUT IN THE COURTS.

THAT'S THE BEST CASE SCENARIO.

UM, BUT WE DON'T KNOW THE LIKELIHOOD OF THAT AT THIS POINT.

UH, SO WE ARE MOVING FORWARD AS IF WE NEED TO BE A QUOTE UNQUOTE GENERAL LAW CITY, UH, FOR THE TIME BEING, UH, UNDER THOSE NINE AREAS THAT THE HOUSE BILL 2127, UH, UH, IMPACTS.

AND, UH, SO WE ARE GONNA BE HITTING IT HOT AND HEAVY OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS BECAUSE IT'S GONNA BE UPON US IN JUST TWO MONTHS AT THIS POINT.

SO, AND, UH, THE, THE, YES MA'AM, I JUST, YEAH, GO AHEAD.

AND, UM, IS THAT TRULY ENOUGH TIME TO GET EVERYTHING DONE? IT HAS TO BE, IT GOES INTO EFFECT SEPTEMBER 1ST, RIGHT? SO I, I, THE HONEST ANSWER IS NO, IT'S NOT.

OKAY.

THE, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE? WELL, I JUST, UH, THE, THE ONE OF THE, PLEASE CORRECT ME IF I'M SAYING IT WRONG, ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT THE BILL OR SOME OF THE LEGAL ADVICE THAT WE'VE ALREADY GOTTEN IS THAT IF IT HARMS SOMEBODY, THEN THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO SUE THE CITY TO MAKE THOSE CHANGES.

RIGHT NOW THERE'S, I DON'T BELIEVE THERE'S AN ACTUAL FUNDING PIECE WHERE WE CAN BE HELD LIABLE UNLESS WE ACTUALLY ARE HARMING SOMEBODY.

BUT IF THE INTENT IS THERE WHERE SOMEBODY FEELS THEY CAN BE HARMED, EVEN THOUGH THEY WEREN'T ACTUALLY HARMED, THEY CAN SUE US TO FORCE US TO CHANGE THAT ORDINANCE.

UM, THEN WE MAY BE, WE MAY HAVE TO PAY FOR LEGAL FEES DEPENDING ON HOW THAT IS, HOW THE COURTS SEE THAT.

BUT THERE'S NO FINANCIAL PIECE THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY PAYING OUT.

IT'S JUST GONNA FORCE US TO PAY, UH, OR FORCE US TO CHANGE THE ORDINANCE RIGHT THERE ON THE SPOT AND GO THROUGH THE LITIGATION ASPECT AS WE UNDERSTAND IT.

I'M SAYING THAT CORRECTLY.

YEAH.

CORRECT.

OKAY.

ALRIGHT.

THANK YOU.

JASON THOMAS'S LEADER GROUP.

UH, DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON WHAT WAS PRESENTED? UM, NOT NECESSARILY A QUESTION, BUT IF WE CAN GET A, UM, JUST A DOCUMENT THAT OUTLINES ALL OF THESE BILLS DISCUSSED IN, IN THE VERBIAGE BEHIND IT, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.

YEAH, I'D BE HAPPY TO DO THAT.

I CAN WORK WITH THE ER GROUP ON THAT.

WE CAN HIGHLIGHT THE BILLS THAT BAYTOWN PRESENTED AND THEN ALSO THE BILLS THAT, ESPECIALLY THE ONES THEY OUT OUTLINED THAT AFFECT THE CITY.

OKAY.

CERTAINLY.

THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TIM? YES, SIR.

IF I MAY, JUST TO PIGGYBACK ON SOMETHING THAT THE CITY MANAGER SAID, UH, HOUSE BILL 2127 ALSO IMPOSES POTENTIAL INDIVIDUAL LIABILITY UPON ASSAULT.

YES.

THEY TOOK THAT OUT.

THEY TOOK IT OUT.

THEY TOOK THAT OUT.

YEP.

STAND CORRECTED.

ALRIGHT.

YOU KNOW ELSE.

OKAY.

WELL I JUST WANNA THANK Y'ALL FOR COMING DOWN TO BAYTOWN, UH, TO, TO SHARE THIS WITH US TONIGHT.

AND I DEFINITELY LIKE THE IDEA OF GETTING AN EARLIER START, UM, BEFORE THE NEXT SESSION.

I THINK THIS SESSION WE GOT STARTED EARLIER THAN WE TYPICALLY HAVE IN THE PAST, BUT YES, SIR.

GETTING STARTED EVEN EARLIER IS GREAT IDEA.

SO THANK Y'ALL AGAIN FOR COMING OUT.

GOOD.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT.

WE HAVE ADDRESSED ALL POSTED AGENDA ITEMS. THIS WORK SESSION IS ADJOURNED.

OKAY.