Local 162
New Texas Bail Law May Clash with Harris County’s Federal Consent Decree
A new Texas law prohibiting personal recognizance (PR) bonds for certain offenses may conflict with a federal consent decree governing misdemeanor bail in Harris County, and an attorney has warned that judges and magistrates who adhere to the state law could be found in contempt of court and face criminal charges. Texas Senate Bill (SB)
21-Year Age Minimum for Purchasing THC Products Adopted by Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission
In one of the more highly anticipated Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) meetings, the commissioners took up and approved emergency rules to regulate the sale of hemp-derived THC products. The meeting held on Tuesday saw the TABC unanimously adopt emergency rules that will create a 21-year age minimum for retail purchases of hemp-derived THC products,
District Judge in Harris County steps down and decides to ignore GOP’s lawsuit involving the 2022 election.
District Court Judge DaSean Jones has resigned and moved to reject his own complaint against a pending lawsuit brought by Republican candidate Tami Pierce nearly three years after a tense Harris County election that resulted in a court-ordered do-over. Visitor Judge David Peeples declared last year that the 2022 election for the 180th District Criminal
Kerr County adopts a no-new-revenue charge while Kerrville raises its tax rate.
People of Kerrville are being asked to pay a higher income level in the future time in response to the city’s and its surrounding areas, which were both severely flooded on July 4. The Kerrville City Council approved the disaster tax rate of$ 0.5711 per$ 100 of assessed value by a 4 to 1 vote,
Corpus Christi City Council Meeting Over Desalination Project Leads to Multiple Arrests
Details of the project were delivered in a January 2023 presentation, where beginning with an initial meeting in 2018, the City of Corpus Christi and other “key stakeholders” would begin exploring options for building a seawater desalination plant in an effort to curb regional drought vulnerability. The estimated cost of constructing the plant in 2019
U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals Takes Up Kemah, Texas Property Rights ‘Takings’ Case
A panel of judges of the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals heard oral arguments on Tuesday for a property rights lawsuit against the City of Kemah, questioning the parties about steps property owners must take before seeking relief from the federal courts when the government has rendered property unusable through regulation. In July 2021,
Court to Hear Kemah Lawsuit Against Paxton Over Concealed Police Chief Complaints
Although the City of Kemah continues to defy the Texas Office of the Attorney General, several residents, and a state lawmaker over disclosure of documents related to an investigation into former Police Chief Holland Jones, on Monday a Travis County judge will hold a hearing on the city’s lawsuit against Attorney General Ken Paxton over
Kerrville Proposes Eight Percent Disaster Recovery Tax Rate Increase
The City of Kerrville unanimously approved a resolution to publish a property tax rate that includes an 8 percent increase allowed by the Texas Tax Code for cities declared a disaster area. Kerrville suffered extensive damage as a result of the Guadalupe River flooding on July 4. × This page requires Javascript. Javascript is required
5th Circuit Appeals Court Blocks West Texas A&M Drag Show Ban
The U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals has reversed a lower court opinion that had allowed West Texas A&M University (WTAM) to ban on-campus drag shows. In March 2023, an LGBT student group, Spectrum WT, represented by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), sued WTAM President Walter Wendler and other Texas A&M University
Texas Lawmakers File Legislation Reforming Contract Policing in Harris County
Harris County’s management of policing is again in the spotlight as lawmakers consider reforms to a program under which local school districts and neighborhoods contract with law enforcement agencies for extra patrols. Although the sheriff and eight elected county constables contract with homeowners’ associations, neighborhood associations, and public school districts for the extra patrols, the
Central Texas Member-Owned Dog Ridge Water Supply Corporation Faces Administrative Turmoil
Water is essential to human existence, but especially in the heat of summer, Texas residents want reliable water service. The Dog Ridge Water Supply Corporation in Bell County is facing a number of challenges including water quality and governance issues, but the new board President and Interim General Manager Heidi Curtis is optimistic about getting
Harris County Judge Awarded Violent Suspect PR Bond in Violation of Texas Law
Although Harris County man Jared Wilson pleaded guilty to aggravated robbery in 2022 and repeatedly violated terms of his community supervision, State District Court Judge Natalia Cornelio authorized his release on personal recognizance (PR) bond in violation of Texas law. As part of his probation, Wilson was placed in an intermediate sanction facility, but prosecutors
