The Texas Legislature is completing its biennial regular session in Austin. While the session is over next Monday, May 30, local governments and H-GAC will be spending time to understand changes made by our lawmakers.

Our state leaders have grappled with problems of a state which is growing, aging, and undergoing profound demographic change. Most of the challenge in Austin is about money, or lack of it. The local government challenge is to provide efficient, accountable and responsive public service within the bounds of available resources. In addition, local governments will be on the front lines of implementing a variety of new laws, major and minor, passed in Austin.

H-GAC's Board, through its Legislative Committee, has been regularly monitoring the status of key legislative proposals. The Legislative Committee will provide a wrap-up report on the legislative session in late June. This information will be available on H-GAC's website in late June.

Jack Steele
Executive Director