County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas
2025 Resolutions
Resolutions originate among members of Commissioners Courts and are submitted to the County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas (CJCAT) Resolutions Committee for consideration. County Judges and Commissioners spend hours reviewing and revising draft Resolutions before presenting them for adoption.
Resolutions adopted at the Annual CJCAT Conference serve as the CJCAT Legislative Platform. The CJCAT Legislative Committee and staff work diligently to ensure the issues represented in the Resolutions are brought before the Texas Legislature.
The following Resolutions were passed by the CJCAT, representing 254 counties in the State of Texas, on Oct. 8, 2025, during the Annual CJCAT State Conference.
1. Thanks to the Host Court
WHEREAS, the Annual Conference of the County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas was conducted in Galveston County, Texas, on Oct. 6-9, 2025; and
WHEREAS, the Honorable Commissioners Court of Galveston County has welcomed the County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas in the most entertaining and excellent manner;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas expresses its wholehearted thanks and deep appreciation to the Galveston County Commissioners Court for its courteous and warm hospitality extended to each of us.
2. Thanks to the Conference Sponsors and Exhibitors
WHEREAS, the Annual Conference of the County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas was conducted in Galveston County, Texas, Oct. 6-9, 2025; and
WHEREAS, the many sponsors and exhibitors provide significant financial support for the conference and the Association; and
WHEREAS, the sponsors and exhibitors provide valuable information to our members;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas expresses its deep appreciation to our generous conference sponsors and exhibitors.
3. Thanks to State and Local Associations and Friends of County Government
WHEREAS, the Annual Conference of the County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas was conducted in Galveston County, Texas, on Oct. 6-9, 2025; and
WHEREAS, the members of the County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas wish to acknowledge the expertise of and thank the staff of: Jim Allison of Allison, Bass & Magee, LLP; the Texas Association of Counties and Executive Director Susan Redford; the Texas Association of Regional Councils and Executive Director Ginny Lewis Ford; the V.G. Young Institute of County Government, a part of Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, and Executive Director Peter McGuill, Ph.D.; the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service agents’ professional associations; County Progress Magazine and Editor Julie Anderson; and the many other state and local associations and people who have all been so helpful to county government;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that this Association thanks all of these individuals and their staffs for their past, present, and future help on behalf of county government.
4. Memorial to Deceased Officials and Special Friends
WHEREAS, the following highly regarded members and friends of the County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas are deceased; and
WHEREAS, the Association desires to pay appropriate respect to these members and friends; and
WHEREAS, since our last conference, the County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas has mourned the passing of:
North & Texas Association
Former Brazoria County Judge Laura Higley
Former Coryell County Judge and County Commissioner John A. Hull
Shelby County Commissioner Jimmy Lout
Liberty County Commissioner Leon Wilson
South Texas Association
Former Kleberg County Commissioner Roy Cantu
Former Hays County Commissioner Rafael Gonzales
Calhoun County Commissioner David Hall
Former Willacy County Commissioner Noe Loya Sr.
Zavala County Judge Cynthia Martinez-Rivera
Calhoun County Judge Richard Meyer
Former Montague County Commissioner Glenn Seay
Former Kenedy County Judge Bud Turcotte
West Texas Association
Former Donley County Commissioner William Chamberlain
Bailey County Commissioner Jim Daniel
Former Tarrant County Commissioner Gary Fickes
Former Lipscomb County Commissioner John Wayne Floyd
Former Donley County Commissioner Jack Hall
Ochiltree County Commissioner Joe Johnson
Irion County Commissioners John Nanny
Jack County Commissioner Kenny Salazar
Hudspeth County Commissioner Johnny Sheets
Former Stephens County Commissioner D.C. “Button” Sikes
Reeves County Commissioner Tony Trujillo
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas members pause for a moment of silence and meditation to honor the memory of these respected individuals.
5. Opposition to Unfunded Mandates
WHEREAS, Texas counties are responsible for the operation and management of many and various governmental programs as required or authorized by state law; and
WHEREAS, some county government programs are fully or partially supported with funds disbursed by the State of Texas pursuant to the state appropriations process; and
WHEREAS, the State of Texas, acting through the Texas Legislature or through a state agency or executive order, may enact laws or promulgate rules that have the effect of imposing mandatory financial obligations upon Texas counties; and
WHEREAS, the State of Texas, through the Texas Legislature or through a state agency or executive order, mandates that counties implement certain governmental programs or perform certain duties and obligations including financial commitments by a county to expend county funds in connection therewith; and
WHEREAS, every unfunded mandate results in a mandatory increase in property taxes; and
WHEREAS, during each regular session of the Texas Legislature, all state funds that support county programs are reviewed through the state appropriation process and by other state budgetary review systems; and
WHEREAS, the aforementioned review process may result in a reduction, or cessation, of state financial support of county government programs causing an unforeseeable disruption and reduction of the county budget and operations; and
WHEREAS, Texas counties cannot achieve reliable financial planning and the necessary bond ratings sufficient to support county-related obligations when the state mandates a new program that is not fully funded or under conditions where the state reduces or fully withdraws prior funding and disbursement for county government programs;
NOW, THEREFORE, the County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas and its current member counties do hereby resolve that for the foregoing reasons, it is in the best interests of Texas counties and their taxpayers to support and favor the passage of legislation in the form of an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Texas that would expressly prohibit the imposition of a mandatory governmental program on Texas counties, whether by an act of the Texas Legislature or a state agency or by executive order, unless the State of Texas has fully funded and disbursed all necessary funds to enable Texas counties to operate said governmental program.
6. Support for Local Decision-Making and Opposition to Revenue Caps
WHEREAS, 52 percent of the average taxpayer’s property tax burden is due to school taxes while only 16 percent is due to county taxes; and
WHEREAS, revenue caps diminish local decision-making and tie the hands of county officials and limit their ability to provide essential services to address the needs and emergencies of their citizens; and
WHEREAS, county government is already struggling to meet the demands of under-funded and unfunded state mandates such as backlogs of state prison inmates, mental health patients, and felony juvenile offenders; emergency management programs; appointed attorneys in CPS cases; indigent health care and indigent defense; and federal mandates such as the Help America Vote Act and the Clean Air Act; and
WHEREAS, the demands on county budgets continue to increase including health care, motor fuel, road materials, and all other products and services purchased by counties; and
WHEREAS, artificial revenue caps result in a shift of taxes from fluctuating properties, such as volatile mineral values, to those remaining relatively stable in value, such as residential properties; and
WHEREAS, additional revenue caps will result in a severe impact on essential county services including public safety and transportation infrastructure; and
WHEREAS, it is inequitable for the Texas Legislature to impose additional revenue caps on local governments without alternative funding sources and unfunded mandate relief;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas does hereby express its opposition to limits to local decision-making and does hereby oppose any further unreasonable revenue caps upon Texas counties, and the County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas expresses its deep appreciation to all legislators who oppose these unsound measures.
7. County Local Option Revenue Sources
WHEREAS, county revenue sources are extremely limited; and
WHEREAS, under current statutes, counties are forced to rely upon property taxes to fund necessary services; and
WHEREAS, county taxpayers should have the option to adopt a local sales tax, a local severance tax, a local motor fuel tax, an increase in local vehicle registration fees, and other revenue sources to reduce property taxes;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas requests that the Legislature amend the tax statutes to allow the adoption of a county local option sales tax, a county hotel occupancy tax, a local option severance tax, a local option motor fuel tax, an increase in local vehicle registration fees, and other revenue sources for the reduction of property taxes without imposing any additional revenue caps.
8. State Funds for Indigent Criminal Defense and Magistration Costs
WHEREAS, the right to assistance by legal counsel is guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution; and
WHEREAS, the State of Texas is required to implement this right and provide legal counsel to indigent criminal defendants; and
WHEREAS, the Texas Fair Defense Act, adopted by the Texas Legislature in 2001, implements this right and requires certain procedures and attorney appointments; and
WHEREAS, the Texas Legislature has failed to provide sufficient funding to offset the additional costs of the Fair Defense Act and has shifted this cost to county taxpayers; and
WHEREAS, county expenditures for indigent criminal defense have increased over 200 percent since the adoption of the Fair Defense Act; and
WHEREAS, the state funding is totally inadequate, providing approximately 10 percent of the indigent defense costs and none of the costs for criminal magistration and bail proceedings; and
WHEREAS, indigent criminal defense and criminal magistration are state responsibilities that should be adequately funded on a statewide basis, not a burden overwhelmingly borne by local property taxpayers; and
WHEREAS, the recent passage of legislation to require additional bail bond proceedings has increased the costs to local taxpayers without state funding;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas does hereby request that the Texas Legislature fully fund the cost of indigent criminal defense, which has cost local taxpayers over $3.8 billion from 2001 through 2024, and fully fund the additional cost for criminal magistration imposed by the Special Session of the 87th Texas Legislature.
9. Juvenile Probation, Commitment, and Detention Funding
WHEREAS, the supervision of juvenile offenders is a responsibility of the State of Texas; and
WHEREAS, the Texas Legislature has consistently failed to appropriate sufficient funding to meet this responsibility; and
WHEREAS, Texas counties have increasingly met this burden by funding juvenile probation services and facilities; and
WHEREAS, Texas counties and their local taxpayers are now providing over 75 percent of the costs of juvenile probation, commitment, and detention; and
WHEREAS, current state funding formulas will continue to shift additional costs to county taxpayers unless addressed by the State of Texas; and
WHEREAS, the Texas Juvenile Justice Department recently closed its facilities for additional juvenile offenders without any reimbursement of this cost to counties;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas does hereby request that the Texas Legislature fully fund the costs of supervision of juvenile offenders, including the costs for juvenile probation, commitment, and detention, and immediately reimburse counties for the costs incurred for offenders committed to state facilities.
10. Mental Health Patients
WHEREAS, Texas counties are being forced to hold mentally incompetent prisoners for up to two years while awaiting court-ordered transfer to a state mental facility for treatment; and
WHEREAS, these pre-trial inmates cost the local taxpayers approximately $430 million per year during this period of incarceration; and
WHEREAS, the county jail is not an appropriate facility for the mentally ill, and these prisoners pose a high risk of injury to themselves, the jail staff, and other prisoners; and
WHEREAS, the North Texas State Mental Hospital recently refused to accept any additional court-ordered mental patients without providing any financial assistance to counties for this state responsibility; and
WHEREAS, this delay and refused admissions by the state are increasing the cost to our taxpayers and continuing this improper practice; and
WHEREAS, transporting mental patients in crisis to and from treatment facilities can create significant financial and workforce burdens on county law enforcement officials;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas hereby requests that the State of Texas implement additional funding for mental health services and implement the state mental health plan to ensure the efficient and effective use of these resources, reimburse counties for the costs of operating diversion centers that serve individuals ruled incompetent to stand trial until a state mental health bed is available, and immediately reimburse counties for the cost of incarceration of offenders who have been committed to state facilities.
11. Opposition to Diversion of Dedicated Funds for 9-1-1 and Other Services
WHEREAS, citizens of Texas desire access to 9-1-1 emergency services in an efficient manner, as evidenced by approval of the monthly fee on business and residential phone bills; and
WHEREAS, the 9-1-1 emergency services dispatch and response depend on equipment which must function reliably on a continuous basis; and
WHEREAS, older equipment reaches a point of being high maintenance and becomes unreliable; and
WHEREAS, technology continues to improve, necessitating upgrading hardware and software for reverse 9-1-1 services and other needs; and
WHEREAS, Texas county emergency communications centers are implementing infrastructure upgrades to the Texas NG9-1-1 System, which enables callers to report via multimedia, including text, images, and video to emergency call centers; and
WHEREAS, the Texas Legislature has committed certain funds for dedicated purposes; and
WHEREAS, unfortunately these funds have been improperly withheld from these needed functions and used to balance the general state budget;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas urges our state legislators to provide full funding to the Emergency 9-1-1 Services Program for maintenance and improvement; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that funds generated by the 9-1-1 surcharge will not be used by the Texas Legislature as money set aside to balance the state budget; and
BE IT ALSO RESOLVED that any such funds set aside be fully appropriated for the Emergency 9-1-1 Services Program; and
BE IT ALSO RESOLVED that the County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas expresses its opposition to any state diversion of dedicated funds.
12. Opposition to Granting Powers to Municipal Utility Districts and Special Utility Districts
WHEREAS, Texas is one of the fastest-growing states in the Union; and
WHEREAS, city government and county government should have appropriate authority to regulate growth in their respective counties and cities; and
WHEREAS, special water districts and private water corporations have the means to furnish water and provide for growth in rural areas of the counties; and
WHEREAS, municipal utility districts and special utility districts have been improperly used by certain developers to avoid compliance with county and city infrastructure plans;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas opposes the granting of additional powers to municipal utility districts, special utility districts, and any special districts, and requests that the approval of the county be required before any further districts are created.
13. Support for County Road Grant Fund
WHEREAS, constitutional amendments have been approved by the voters to increase dedicated funding for public roadways; and
WHEREAS, these constitutional amendments provide additional funding to be used only for constructing, maintaining, and acquiring right of way for public roadways other than toll roads; and
WHEREAS, these constitutional amendments provide needed support for public highways without increasing taxes; and
WHEREAS, the county road system is eligible for assistance from this funding; and
WHEREAS, county roads are being devastated by overweight trucks to enhance the production of oil and gas; and
WHEREAS, the oil and gas severance tax should be equitably shared with counties to repair this damage; and
WHEREAS, the Economic Stabilization (Rainy Day) Fund has reached record levels through deposits from the oil and gas severance tax; and
WHEREAS, the appropriations from the Rainy Day Fund can be utilized to fund the repair and rehabilitation of county roads;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas does hereby express appreciation for the additional funding appropriated to support the county road grant program and requests continued support for the county road system.
14. Uranium Mining Regulation
WHEREAS, uranium mining creates a special hazard for local groundwater; and
WHEREAS, uranium mining places a high demand upon local groundwater resources; and
WHEREAS, groundwater pollution by uranium mining cannot be recovered or rehabilitated and creates a permanent loss of groundwater; and
WHEREAS, county and groundwater conservation districts have very limited power to regulate uranium mining under current law;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas requests that state law be amended to require a due process permit proceeding and approval by the local Commissioners Court and groundwater conservation district before any permit is granted for uranium mining.
15. Sludge Waste and Biosolids Disposal
WHEREAS, human waste, food waste, and other toxic materials are contained in municipal, domestic, and commercial sludge and biosolids; and
WHEREAS, this sludge and biosolids waste contains harmful bacteria, viruses, and chemicals that may contaminate local water supplies; and
WHEREAS some sludge and biosolids waste contains PFAS more harmful than bacteria and viruses and comingles with chemicals that have and will continue to contaminate water supplies in not only municipalities but as well as private water wells due to run off from land application; and
WHEREAS, the current rules of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality are inadequate to protect the water supply and adjacent landowners from the improper disposal of sludge and biosolids waste; and
WHEREAS, disposal of these materials should be a matter of local regulation;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas hereby requests more oversight and regulation of the land application of harmful substances in sludge waste and biosolids, and that no permits be issued for the disposal of sludge and biosolids waste without the approval of the Commissioners Court, and that the Texas Legislature clearly authorize local control of all sludge and biosolids waste permits.
16. Fireworks Regulations
WHEREAS, counties currently have limited authority to regulate fireworks; and
WHEREAS, due to the continued danger of drought and the concern for public safety, such regulations are necessary to protect life and property;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas is opposed to any legislative action that would remove or limit current county authority to regulate fireworks.
17. Oil and Gas Waste Disposal Facilities
WHEREAS, the Texas oil and gas industry is a vital part of our economy; and
WHEREAS, this industry requires the use of disposal facilities to operate in an efficient manner; and
WHEREAS, the operation of these disposal facilities can pose a substantial risk to the groundwater supply; and
WHEREAS, protection of the groundwater is also essential to the economy and health and safety of Texas citizens; and
WHEREAS, adequate information should be provided to Texas counties and their citizens to ensure the safe operation of oil and gas waste facilities and protection of the groundwater;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas does hereby request that the Texas Legislature and the Texas Railroad Commission require that Texas counties, their citizens, and groundwater conservation districts be provided all available information concerning proposed oil and gas waste facilities in their area and a full opportunity to participate in the evaluation of any application for additional facilities; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Texas Railroad Commission be required to evaluate and consider the full local infrastructure impact and effect on local communities before voting on any such permit.
18. Rural Public Transit
WHEREAS, 36 Rural Transit Districts serve all the counties throughout Texas; and
WHEREAS, Rural Transit Districts provide access to needed goods and services, jobs, and medical services throughout the rural counties of Texas; and
WHEREAS, Rural Transit Districts traveled 36,778,915 miles and provided 4,082,509 one-way trips to the citizens of rural Texas in FY 2024; and
WHEREAS, funding opportunities for large federal and state grants have historically left qualified rural projects underfunded; and
WHEREAS, without increased funding to meet increasing service demands and costs in rural areas, services to those most in need in rural Texas will suffer;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas expresses its support for a meaningful increase in funding for Rural Transit Districts.
19. Full Funding of DPS Labs
WHEREAS, the State of Texas through the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) provides for the testing of controlled and illegal substances for criminal cases; and
WHEREAS, while the service is valuable to the prosecutorial process, it is not timely as most tests require six-nine months before results are rendered; and
WHEREAS, many alleged and formerly convicted violators must be released after 90 days with the high probability that they will reoffend and further endanger the public and further burden law enforcement; and
WHEREAS, the recent reduction in state funding will reduce the effectiveness of the DPS labs and result in further delays in the administration of justice;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas requests full funding, staffing, and equipping of the DPS labs to return results in the required legal time to serve justice.
20. County Homestead Exemption
WHEREAS, the current constitutional provisions limit the ability of counties to a percentage of the appraised value of homesteads; and
WHEREAS, the current limitations prevent the adoption of a homestead exemption to provide greater benefit to lower-priced properties; and
WHEREAS, additional discretion should be granted to counties to determine the homestead exemption;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas requests that a constitutional amendment be adopted to allow counties to grant discretionary homestead exemptions based upon a dollar amount of the taxable value of the property.
21. Optional County Road and Bridge Fee
WHEREAS, the current maximum county optional road and bridge fee has been frozen at $10 since 1991; and
WHEREAS, the cost of construction and maintenance of the county road system has increased tremendously in recent years; and
WHEREAS, as the population of Texas continues to grow, the need for efficient county transportation systems will increase;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas requests that the maximum county optional road and bridge fee be raised to $20 per vehicle.
22. County Election Security and Costs
WHEREAS, the integrity of elections is fundamental to democracy and the functioning of government; and
WHEREAS, free and fair elections are essential to the principles of representation and accountability; and
WHEREAS, the increasing threats to election security, including cyberattacks, misinformation campaigns, and other forms of interference, pose significant risks to the electoral process; and
WHEREAS, adequate funding is necessary to ensure that election systems are secure, reliable, and up-to-date, including investments in technology, training, and infrastructure; and
WHEREAS, state and local election officials require resources to develop and implement effective security measures, conduct risk assessments, and provide education to the public on the electoral process; and
WHEREAS, many jurisdictions, particularly in rural areas, may face unique challenges and resource constraints that require targeted support from state and federal governments; and
WHEREAS, robust funding for elections supports voter accessibility and participation, ensuring that all citizens have the opportunity to exercise their right to vote;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas requests that the state implement additional funding for elections and election security to protect the integrity of our electoral process and continue the use of local choices including the use of election administrators and countywide polling.
23. Limitations on Registered Sex Offenders in Counties
WHEREAS, home rule municipalities have the authority by ordinance to provide for the public safety of their citizens to restrict a registered sex offender from going in, on, or within a specified distance of a child safety zone in the municipality; and
WHEREAS, general law municipalities now have the authority with the passage of
HB 1111, enacted by the 85th Texas Legislature, effective September 1, 2017, to provide for the public safety of their citizens to restrict a registered sex offender from going in, on, or within a specified distance of a child safety zone in the municipality; and
WHEREAS, Texas counties should also be able to provide for the public safety of their citizens living outside the boundaries of any municipality by restricting a registered sex offender from going in, on, or within a specified distance of a child safety zone in the county; and
WHEREAS, no current statute authorizes a Texas county to enact an ordinance or order establishing a “Child Safety Zone” and restricting a registered sex offender from going in, on, or within a specified distance of a child safety zone in the county; and
WHEREAS, legislation is necessary to authorize counties to enact an ordinance or order to provide public safety for its citizens by placing limitations on registered sex offenders in the county;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas respectfully requests that the Texas Legislature pass legislation providing Texas counties the authority to enact an ordinance or order regarding limitations on registered sex offenders in counties.
24. Opposition to Efforts to Prohibit County Legislative Communications
WHEREAS, certain legislative proposals would prohibit the use of county funds to retain experts, consultants, and lobbyists to influence legislation, pay dues to associations that influence legislation, and to reimburse county officials for influencing legislation; and
WHEREAS, any bills that would prohibit the use of county funds would effectively silence the voice of local officials and prevent effective communication and representation of their citizens and taxpayers; and
WHEREAS, county officials require the ability to collectively develop and express their positions and information through associations; and
WHEREAS, the inability to retain experienced representation before the federal and state legislative bodies and agencies would place our communities at a distinct disadvantage in efforts to obtain and retain federal and state projects and military bases; and
WHEREAS, smaller counties especially need to be able to combine their resources to efficiently and effectively present their unique issues to state and federal government; and
WHEREAS, requiring elected officials to personally expend personal resources to present the views of their citizens would impose an extreme hardship upon these public servants; and
WHEREAS, such prohibition would stifle the basic tenets of democracy and open government;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas does hereby express its opposition to any legislation that attempts to silence the combined voices of the county officials of this state.
25. Damage to County Roads by Oil and Gas Activity
WHEREAS, counties impacted by oil and gas activity experience significant and costly damages to the county road system; and
WHEREAS, the Texas Legislature has created the County Transportation Infrastructure Fund (CTIF) which has received two appropriations from the state revenues; and
WHEREAS, local tax revenue must be appropriated to repair the damages when the CTIF grant appropriation is insufficient; and
WHEREAS, the 86th Texas Legislature enacted Senate Bill 2 which restricts property tax revenue growth and provides for a local referendum on property tax increases; and
WHEREAS, the needs of the oil and gas industry may not be met, and public safety may deteriorate if local elections for tax revenue increases are vetoed by local taxpayers;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas hereby requests that the Texas Legislature relieve local taxpayers of the burden of repairing county roads damaged by oil and gas activity by enacting a permanent statewide funding solution for repairing the damage to county roads caused by oil and gas activity.
26. County Land Use Authority
WHEREAS, counties have no significant land use authority; and
WHEREAS, substandard and obnoxious development can reduce the value and investment of adjacent property owners; and
WHEREAS, counties should have a limited ability to protect the current landowners and public health and safety; and
WHEREAS, appropriate development is inhibited and discouraged by substandard and inappropriate development;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas requests that the Texas Legislature grant limited, local option authority to Texas counties to ensure more compatible development within the county to protect our landowners and public health and safety, and prevent overuse of natural resources, such as ground and surface water.
27. Support for State Funding for Water Infrastructure and Management
WHEREAS, access to clean and safe water is essential for public health, agricultural productivity, economic development, and ecological sustainability; and
WHEREAS, many communities across our state are experiencing significant challenges related to aging water infrastructure, water scarcity, and contamination issues; and
WHEREAS, investing in water infrastructure and management is crucial for ensuring that all residents have reliable access to safe drinking water, adequate sanitation, and resilient water supplies; and
WHEREAS, state funding for water initiatives can promote sustainability and support job creation in the water sector; and
WHEREAS, supportive funding at the state level can empower local governments, utilities, and organizations to implement effective water conservation practices, repair and replace outdated infrastructure, and adopt innovative water management solutions; and
WHEREAS, coordinated efforts to secure additional state funding for water projects can lead to improved water quality, increased access to water services, and better preparedness for future water-related challenges;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas strongly urges the Texas Legislature to prioritize and allocate increased funding for water infrastructure, management, and conservation efforts throughout the state.
28. Advocating For Sustained State and Federal Funding, Cooperation, and Enhanced Surveillance to Prevent the Re-establishment of the New World Screwworm in the United States
WHEREAS, the New World Screwworm (NWS), Cochliomyia hominivorax, is a devastating animal parasite whose larvae feed on the living flesh of all warm-blooded animals, including livestock, domestic pets, wildlife, and humans, causing severe myiasis, suffering, and often death; and
WHEREAS, NWS was successfully eradicated from the United States in 1966 through the monumental efforts of state and federal agencies utilizing the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT); and
WHEREAS, the threat of reintroduction is now critical, with recent confirmed cases of NWS detected in Mexico less than 70 miles from the U.S.-Mexico border in the highly trafficked commercial corridor leading to Texas; and
WHEREAS, the reintroduction of NWS poses a grave ecological threat to native wildlife; and
WHEREAS, maintaining the biological barrier and the integrity of the SIT-based eradication program is the only proven method to protect the nation's food supply and ecological health; and
WHEREAS, recent federal actions, including the USDA’s commitment of funding to construct a domestic sterile fly production facility at Moore Air Base in Texas and the FDA’s conditional approval of the first NWS-specific drug treatment, demonstrate the urgent need for a unified, well-resourced response;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas hereby advocates for and calls upon the respective State and Federal Governments and relevant agencies to adopt and fund the appropriate measures to secure the nation from the New World Screwworm.
County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas Resolutions Committee
Chairman: Johnson County Commissioner Rick Bailey
Ellis County Commissioner Lane Grayson
Hutchinson County Commissioner Chris Prock
Lamb County Judge James DeLoach
Llano County Judge Ron Cunningham
Medina County Judge Keith Lutz
Victoria County Judge Ben Zeller
In addition to the above-adopted resolutions, the County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas Resolutions Committee requests that the following items be recommended for future study and consideration.
- State funding to fully implement all state recommendations for adequate school security.
- State funding to meet county cost of transport, autopsy, and disposition of dead bodies.
- Maintain local control and recovery of cost of reproduction of clerk’s digitized records and e-filing.
- Require vehicles to reduce speed and/or yield a traffic lane to county road and bridge vehicles and equipment.
- Require Commissioners Court representation on Regional Water Planning Groups.
- Request legislation to require state reimbursement for court-appointed attorneys in child protective services cases.
- Continue full funding for the Texas Historic Courthouse Preservation Grant Program.
- State funding for all state special elections.
- Additional funding for sales tax support on fireworks dedicated for local use.
- More local authority on the regulation of fireworks.
- Additional county authority over vehicle inspection and licensing procedures.
- Local retention of asset forfeiture funds.
- Prohibit abuse of the Public Information Act by excessive and burdensome requests.
- Support and restore county authority to regulate all county buildings and property.
- Support full state funding for lost revenue from disabled veterans and surviving spouses exemption.
- Review of the equity of ad valorem tax exemptions, tax rate calculation, and the property appraisal process to facilitate a more equitable tax system.
- Allow the county to retain the child protection and family preservation fees for distribution to family and child agencies unless the city requests its distribution.
- Allow for the return of the 2 percent fireworks sales tax to the county to distribute to its volunteer fire departments.
- Broaden the use of the Texas Forest Service insurance fund to assist volunteer fire departments with equipment and buildings.
- Prohibit the inclusion of optional road and bridge and other elective taxes and interest and sinking fund taxes in Tax Increment Financing agreements and projects.
- Redistribute the cost for special probate judge appointments to assess the cost against the estate when feasible.
- Reimburse the county for the actual transport expense of female prisoners to TDCJ facilities.
- Authorize counties to investigate the criminal record of cybersecurity contract employees.
- Authorize Commissioners Court to deny plat applications for unresolved prior subdivision violations.
- Oppose the use of eminent domain and public funding for mandatory high speed rail transportation and require full transparency for all such projects.
- Support a local option timber severance fee.
- Oppose any additional increase in truck weight limits and support local option weight limit controls on county roads.
- Enable counties to fully evaluate and implement safety protocols for the land application and/or disposal of animal waste, food waste, raw sewage waste, produced water, and other substances that may create environmental or health concerns.
- Financial support from the state for emergency shelters for victims of domestic violence.