Author Archives: Brandon Morris
Texas SB 1173 Doubles Competitive Bidding Threshold
Earlier this year, the Texas Legislature passed Senate Bill 1173, raising the competitive bidding threshold for local governments from $50,000 to $100,000 effective September 1, 2025. This means cities, counties, school districts, and other local entities can now make purchases or enter into contracts up to $100,000 without having to go through a formal… Read More »
Beyond Borders: The Law Behind Mutual Aid Agreements
Many Texans pride themselves on being good neighbors and lending others a helping hand. In the Lone Star State, this trait exists not only in citizens, but among cities as well. There are countless examples of cities and other local governmental entities working together with neighboring cities or other local governments by cooperating and… Read More »
Shifts in Election Requirements
Local elections in Texas are a crucial aspect of the democratic framework, allowing residents to elect officials who directly impact their day-to-day lives. These elections typically cover positions such as mayors, city council members, school board trustees, and county officials. They serve as the core of the democratic process, ensuring that communities are represented… Read More »
Legalization of Bingo in Texas
Bingo is a straightforward game that virtually everyone has played at some point in their lives. In Texas however, the road to allow this simple game is somewhat complicated. Legalized bingo actually began with an amendment to the Texas Constitution in 1980. The Constitutional amendment allowed the legislature to authorize and regulate bingo games… Read More »
Stafford’s Case Study in No Property Taxes
Texas cities rely on taxpayer dollars to generate revenue to fund local governmental services and infrastructure. The vast majority of cities across our state generate the bulk of their revenue from property taxes. For nearly 30 years, however, the City of Stafford, Texas has operated without collecting any property taxes. Due to their unique… Read More »
Artificial (Legal) Intelligence
With the recent rise in availability of Artificial Intelligence (“AI”) programs such as ChatGPT, many individuals and companies are implementing these tools to automate tasks and work more efficiently. City officials may likewise be wondering how they can utilize these tools to better serve their communities. Cities in Texas can utilize AI in several… Read More »
The Texas Death Star Bill
Texas HB 2127: depending on whom you ask, it’s known as either the Regulatory Consistency Act, or the Texas Death Star Bill. Proponents would argue that it makes regulations more uniform across the state and benefits small businesses. Those who oppose the bill would say that it decimates local control by cities and counties… Read More »
Ministerial Acts
Serving as an elected official is not an easy job. Mayors and council members across Texas are tasked with making tough decisions that impact the lives of their citizens and the wellbeing of their communities. Citizens rely on their local representatives to use their judgment in serving the best interests of the community. There… Read More »
Adopting County Budgets and Refusal to Comply
Cities and counties alike are required to adopt a new budget each fiscal year in order to levy taxes and obtain the funding necessary to carry out their governmental duties. Each of these types of governmental entities are obligated to follow particular steps and requirements as part of the process. These procedures are contained… Read More »
Municipal Moneyball: Misappropriation of Public Funds
In recent weeks, Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre has been in the news for some pretty unscrupulous reasons. CBS reports that, “in May of 2020, the Mississippi state auditor announced that the Department of Human Services had wasted tens of millions of dollars in federal money which was intended to help needy families”…. Read More »