DEPARTMENT: Government and Public Affairs
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Jeff Coyle
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City-Wide
SUBJECT:
State Legislative Program for the 86th Texas Legislative Session
SUMMARY:
This ordinance approves the City of San Antonio's 2019 State Legislative Program for the 86th Texas Legislative Session, which begins January 8, 2019.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The Texas Legislature meets every two years in odd-numbered years. The 86th Texas Legislative Session begins on January 8, 2019.
Prior to the convening of each regular Texas Legislative Session, the City of San Antonio identifies policy priorities and legislative initiatives that it would like to have addressed by the Legislature. These priorities and initiatives are incorporated into a City of San Antonio State Legislative Program. In May 2018, the City's Government & Public Affairs (GPA) Department began the process of identifying the issues for the upcoming session. Staff worked with City departments, community partners, City Management, City Council and others to determine which issues would be included in the draft of the City's proposed State Program.
An initial draft was presented to the Intergovernmental Relations (IGR) Council Committee on September 12, and several edits were made at the Committee's request. The full City Council was briefed during "B" Session on October 3. On October 10, the IGR Committee considered a request by the Council's Public Safety Committee and amended the program to include support for the measures in the Enhance Firearm Safety section of the Governor's School & Firearm Safety Action Plan.
The City's 86th legislative program is organized into the following categories:
Priorities: Issues that have a significant city-wide impact and/or promote or protect the interest of the community. The following priorities were discussed at the August IGR Committee meeting:
* Property tax relief
* Municipally-owned utilities
* Lo...
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