Legislative

The following represents a summary of the City of Melissa’s general priorities for the 89th Texas Legislative Session and establishes the City’s position on key legislative issues. The purpose of Melissa’s legislative efforts is to represent and protect our community’s interests, as expressed by the residents and businesses, through open and honest legislative communication. Many significant decisions affecting Texas cities are made by the Texas Legislature, and we desire to have a voice at the Texas Capitol.

The level of government closest to the people is the municipal government whose officials are best equipped to determine the unique needs of their communities. Melissa’s highest priority is to preserve the ability to govern and respond effectively in the manner our community expects. After all, we bear the primary responsibility for ensuring responsive and proactive public safety, providing efficient and cost-effective administrative operations, delivering recreational and cultural activities, and the planning and implementation of capital infrastructure in response to the needs and preferences of our residents and other Melissa investors.

Melissa seeks to preserve Home Rule authority for the citizens of our great community. Therefore, Melissa will support legislation that will protect local governance and decision-making and will oppose legislation that would, in any way, erode current municipal authority, impose costs, impact revenue, or otherwise negatively affect Melissa’s residents.

The list below identifies the topics of highest priority and interest in upholding the opportunity for self-governance in Melissa. There will be other bills on a variety of topics in addition to this list and those may be addressed as needed by locally elected officials and/or Melissa staff always keeping in mind the desire for self-determination by our citizens.

Support legislation to index the S.B. 2 3.5% revenue cap to municipal cost of living inflation rate.
Support legislation to carve out Public Safety funding from the 3.5% revenue cap.
Support legislation that authorizes state budget surplus to offset property tax burden on residents and businesses.
Support efforts and legislation that would allocate state funding to increase water supply within the state.
Oppose legislation that seeks to remove local property tax decision making authority from locally elected officials.

Support efforts and legislation to maintain the May and November Uniform Election dates.
Support the ability of the city to advocate or hire representatives with public funds to advocate on issues that would impact our city or its residents.
Support efforts to allow for internet publication of legal notices rather than requiring publication in a paper of record.
Oppose legislation that seeks to require declarations of political party affiliation in local municipal elections.

Understanding Legislative Sessions

In Texas, the state legislature meets in regular legislative sessions every two years, on odd-numbered years. Here’s a breakdown of how bills are introduced:

Regular Legislative Sessions:

The Texas Legislature convenes for a regular session beginning in January and ending in late May or early June.

The session lasts 140 days, during which thousands of bills are introduced. For example, over 7,000 bills were filed in the 2023 legislative session. According to the Texas Constitution, the Legislature cannot pass legislation during the first 60 days of regular session unless the governor declares it an emergency.

Most committees will hold organizational hearings, and the bulk of committee hearings on legislation will occur in mid-March through April. So stay tuned!

Filing Timeline:

Pre-filing begins about two months before the session starts, usually in November of the year preceding the session. Legislators can start submitting bills early.

Throughout the session, bills are filed and can be introduced, debated, and amended.

Special Sessions:

The Governor can call special legislative sessions outside of the regular ones to address specific issues. These sessions last up to 30 days, and while they don't happen as frequently, new bills or unresolved issues from the regular session may be introduced.

How Many Bills Are Typically Filed?

Thousands of bills are introduced in a regular session, but only a portion of them actually pass. For instance, in the 2021 session, around 7,000 bills were filed, but only about 1,000-1,200 became law.

So, during a legislative session, bills can be introduced frequently, especially early on, with the pace picking up as deadlines approach.

Melissa Residents Want to be Informed:

In late 2024, the Citizen Survey asked respondents whether they wanted updates on bills in the Texas Legislature that could impact Melissa. Seventy percent expressed interest in staying informed.

City representatives are actively monitoring legislation that may affect Melissa, both positively and negatively. As bills move through the legislative process, interested residents will receive email updates on their status, key talking points about their potential impact, and guidance on whom to contact. Grassroots feedback plays a crucial role in this process, and the City encourages residents to make their voices heard.

To stay informed and get involved, residents can sign up for legislative updates by submitting their email address to the following address: legislation@cityofmelissa.com. Because the legislative process is phrenetic process, updates may come at any time. Your voice matters—help shape the future of Melissa by staying engaged!

Questions: contact legislation@cityofmelissa.com

To find your state and U.S. representatives and senators by using your street address, zip code, county, and/or city, please use this help tool: http://www.fyi.legis.state.tx.us/