Highlights of the 81st SessionAWWA Conference

13 October 2009

Texas State Representative Bill Callegari

• Growing belief that everyproblem, no matter the merits,warrants legislation.

• Larger preoccupation withprocedure and process, ratherthan policy.

• Too much politics, too manybills, and too little time.

Troubling Trends

• The legislature created more agencies(10) than it abolished (6).

• Expanded occupational regulations toaffect more workplaces, including:

– Laser hair removal personnel andfacilities;

– Dyslexia practitioners and therapists;– Residential mortgage loan originators;– Food handlers in certain restaurants;– Pain management clinics;– Towing boot operators and facilities; and,

among others– Surgical technologists

• Big government programs that weredefeated will return next session.

Troubling Trends of the 81st

• Designating the Paluxysaurus asthe official Lone Star StateDinosaur, replacing theBrachiosaurus.

• Exempting falconers from thestructural pest control act.

• Debating whether City ofGrapevine would be recognized asthe Christmas Capitol of Texas(this did not pass).

Inconsequential Acts of the 81st

• 364 bills were referred toHouse Natural ResourcesCommittee.

• More than half the billsintroduced were specialdistrict creations.

• Few major water policy billspassed.

Water Issues of the 81st

• Groundwater districtenforcement authority.

• Exempt out-of-state water frominter-basin transfer requirements.

• Emergency preparedness plansfor utilities in Harris and FortBend counties.

• Texas Water Development Boardstimulus spending authorization.

Water Issues of the 81st

• Texas Department ofTransportation Sunset bill.

• Local option bills providing forlocal taxes and/or fees to payfor mobility improvementprojects.

• Creation of a new agency, theTexas Department of MotorVehicles.

Transportation Issues of the 81st

• Of the 105 franchise taxreform bills introduced, threepassed.

• Expanded the small businesstax exemption.

• Created franchise tax creditfor clean energy projects.

Franchise Tax Reforms

• Created pilot program forappraisal appeals.

• Provide totally disabledveterans with a 100 percentproperty tax exemption.

• Require that theComptroller study appraisalprocedures in each county.

Property Tax Reforms

Require that water utilities inHarris and Fort Bend countieshave an emergency plan duringa disaster period.Creation of the TexasHurricane Center forInnovative Technology at theUniversity of Houston.

Callegari Legislation of the 81st

• Interim charges.• Sunset Advisory

Commission reviews of keystate agencies.

• Some legislators havealready begun draftinglegislation for 82 R startingin January 2011.

81st Session: What's Ahead

Thank you!

Representative Bill Callegari281.578.8484 (District Office)512.463.0528 (Capitol Office)

e-mail:bill.callegari@house.state.tx.us

Facebook:www.facebook.com/billcallegari