March 29, 2009

Coupland Civic Organization to host local speaker

3/29/09

Taylor Daily Press

Dan Byfield, president of the American Land Foundation, a national property rights organization, will speak to the Coupland Civic Organization Monday in the Fellowship Hall of St. Peter’s Church of Coupland. The Coupland Civic Organization will host a spaghetti supper at 6:30 p.m. and the program will begin at 7 p.m.

Byfield will discuss the “391 Commissions” that he has formed in Texas to fight projects like the Trans-Texas Corridor. In addition to discussing helping local communities fight for their property rights, Byfield will also speak on related legislative issues, such as eminent domain.

Byfield has worked on property rights, water and natural resource issues as a legislative staff member. He has lobbied on behalf of agriculture for the Texas Farm Bureau. He did legislative work on property rights matters in New Mexico, Texas, and Washington for the Farm Credit Bank of Texas. In 1993, he formed the American Land Foundation. The American Land Foundation assists landowners and other property rights organizations nationwide.

© 2009 Taylor Daily Press: www.taylordailypress.net

March 19, 2009

Bills filed in the Texas Legislature would impact Sub-Regional Planning Commissions

H.B. No. 3552

By: Bonnen

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT relating to the composition of certain regional planning commissions.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 391.003, Local Government Code, is amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows:

(a) Except as provided by Subsection (a-1), any [Any] combination of counties or municipalities or of counties and municipalities may agree, by ordinance, resolution, rule, order, or
other means, to establish a commission.
(a-1) A county with a population of 240,000 or more that borders the Gulf of Mexico may agree to establish a commission as provided by Subsection (a) only with:
(1) counties with a population of less than 3.3 million that are located within 100 miles of the Gulf of Mexico;
(2) municipalities located wholly within a county described by Subdivision (1); or
(3) counties and municipalities described by Subdivisions (1) and (2).

SECTION 2. Not later than November 1, 2009, any county described by Section 391.003(a-1), Local Government Code, as added by this Act, participating in a regional planning commission that does not comply with Section 391.003(a-1), Local Government Code, as added by this Act, shall withdraw from the commission.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2009.

Link to House Bill 3552: HERE

S.B. No. 1471


By: Gallegos

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT relating to the composition of certain regional planning commissions.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 391.003, Local Government Code, is amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows:
(a) Except as provided by Subsection (a-1), any [Any] combination of counties or municipalities or of counties and municipalities may agree, by ordinance, resolution, rule, order, or other means, to establish a commission.
(a-1) A county with a population of 3.3 million or more:
(1) may agree to establish a commission as provided by Subsection (a) only with municipalities located wholly or partly in the county; and
(2) may not establish a commission with another county.

SECTION 2. Not later than November 1, 2009, any county described by Section 391.003(a-1), Local Government Code, as added by this Act, participating in a regional [Previous Hit] planning [Next Hit] [Previous Hit] commission [Next Hit] that does not comply with Section 391.003(a-1), Local Government Code, as added by this Act, shall withdraw from the commission.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2009.

Link to Senate Bill 1471: HERE

House Bill 4511


By: Coleman

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT relating to the composition of certain regional planning commissions.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 391.003, Local Government Code, is amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows:

(a) Except as provided by Subsection (a-1), any [Any] combination of counties or municipalities or of counties and municipalities may agree, by ordinance, resolution, rule, order, or other means, to establish a commission.
(a-1) A county with a population of 3.3 million or more:
(1) may agree to establish a commission as provided by Subsection (a) only with municipalities located wholly or partly in the county; and
(2) may not establish a commission with another county.

SECTION 2. Not later than November 1, 2009, any county described by Section 391.003(a-1), Local Government Code, as added by this Act, participating in a regional planning commission that does not comply with Section 391.003(a-1), Local Government Code, as added by this Act, shall withdraw from the commission.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2009.

Link to House Bill 4511: HERE