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Home My WebLink AboutLEG 2026-06-25 Minutes CITY OF NORTH RICHLAND HILLS COUNCIL SUBCOMMITTEE AND LEGISLATIVE TASK FORCE AGENDA MEETING MINUTES JUNE 25, 9:00 AM COUNCIL WORKROOM NORTH RICHLAND HILLS CITY HALL The Council Subcommittee and Legislative Task Force met on Thursday, June 25, 2026, at 9:00 am in the Council Workroom at the North Richland Hills City Hall complex. The following members were present: Mayor Jack McCarty, Council Member Danny Roberts, Council Member Billy Parks, Linda Burt, Kyle Morris, Kyle Pekurney, Tito Rodriguez, Charlie Ruiz, Greg Stamps, Randy Tolleson, Mark Vaughn, Greg Vick The following member(s)were absent: None Staff present at the meeting were: Paulette Hartman, City Manager, Caroline Waggoner, Assistant City Manager, Trudy Lewis, Assistant City Manager, Cori Reaume, Planning Director, Mary Peters, Communications Director, Jennipher Castellanos, Manager of Strategic Initiatives A. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order by Mayor Jack McCarty at 9:00 a.m. B. MISSION AND PURPOSE OF THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL/ LEGISLATIVE TASK FORCE. Mayor Jack McCarty welcomed the committee and initiated introductions. City Manager Paulette Hartman provided an introductory overview, explaining that the group was patterned after a successful task force and legislative ambassador program established by the City of Georgetown. She recapped that the City Council created the Intergovernmental and Legislative Affairs subcommittee of the council and introduced the Mayor and Councilmembers. Following this, the Legislative Task Force members introduced themselves. Ms. Hartman then covered the core purposes, functions, and the agenda for the day's meeting. Cl. OVERVIEW OF THE TEXAS LEGISLATIVE CYCLE & TIMELINE. Planning Director Cori Reaume provided an overview of the state legislative structure, detailing how often the legislature meets and identifying the current Texas state legislators. Ms. Reaume then explained the step-by-step process of how a bill becomes a law in the state of Texas. She reviewed the timeline for the Texas Legislative Cycle, noting that the upcoming session is scheduled to begin January 2027. Ms. Reaume clarified that approximately two thirds of all legislative bills are traditionally filed between January and March. C2. REVIEW OF 89TH LEGISLATIVE SESSION (2025). Assistant City Manager Trudy Lewis delivered a summary of the prior 89th Legislative Session, noting the importance of understanding the standard numerical naming conventions for each legislative session. Ms. Lewis outlined the city's historical engagement strategy, which relies heavily on relationship management, active bill tracking and drafting official letters of support or opposition. She described the city's existing legislative policy, highlighting its statements of preservation and support. Furthermore, Ms. Lewis detailed how North Richland Hills collaborates with external coalitions, partnerships, and organizations, specifically highlighting the Texas Municipal League, the North Texas Council of Governments, and the North Texas Commission. City Manager Paulette Hartman stated that the North Texas Commission uniquely brings together local corporations, Dallas-Fort Worth representatives, and local governments to analyze legislative impacts on the region. Ms. Lewis also reviewed Governor Abbott's prior legislative priorities, which included property tax relief, water infrastructure investment, teacher pay increases, expanded career training, school choice, bail reform, and the creation of the Texas Cyber Command. She detailed the timeline of the 89th session across the categories of bills filed, gubernatorial actions, and direct North Richland Hills engagement. Ms. Lewis emphasized that it is vital for the city and Task Force to clearly articulate whether they intend to support a bill or advocate for specific structural modifications. To provide context on the scope of passing legislation, Ms. Lewis highlighted several examples of bills enacted during the last session, including regulations on artificial intelligence, training requirements, cybersecurity mandates, city audits, impact fees, expanded health benefits for retired first responders, and housing and finance corporation reforms. C3. AREAS OF FOCUS FOR 90TH LEGISLATIVE SESSION. Planning Director Cori Reaume summarized Governor Abbott's anticipated priorities for the upcoming 2027 legislative session. These core items consist of strict restrictions on data centers, protecting and expanding school choice, banning land sales to foreign adversaries, and a 5-point plan targeting local property taxes. Ms. Reaume clarified that the Governor's 5-point plan specifically focuses on spending limits, voter approval, voter rollbacks, appraisal reform, and school taxes. City Manager Paulette Hartman led a discussion regarding the areas of focus for the 90th legislative session. These topics involve broadening state preemption, enacting more restrictive revenue caps, tightening regulations on interfund transfers and municipal fees or charges, shifting municipal elections to November, applying additional restrictions on debt issuances, preemption on local zoning, data center regulations, and attempting to prevent paid legislative support groups, including the Texas Municipal League, from advocating on the city's behalf. Ms. Hartman mentioned that the city's advocacy approach will focus on educating stakeholders, and she encouraged the task force to help educate local citizens. She noted that task force members will help craft the city's unified message and that more cities are establishing similar grassroots frameworks to advocate regarding specific bills. Ms. Hartman pointed out that the task force will be most active toward the end of the session when the bulk of legislative activity occurs, and she reminded the group that the state legislature is not bound by the same open meetings notice acts that govern cities. C4. UPDATE ON INTERIM CHARGES Planning Director Cori Reaume provided a comprehensive summary of the interim charges and priorities arising from the conclusion of the last session, explaining that these tasks are assigned to legislative committees to study during the interim break. Looking at the high points issued by Lieutenant Governor Patrick that directly impact municipalities, Ms. Reaume highlighted Operation Double Nickel and aggressive tax relief, holding local government fees accountable, reevaluating data center sales tax exemptions, energy grid resiliency and landowner rights, and prioritizing utility revenue for infrastructure maintenance. Additionally, Ms. Reaume covered the interim house charges issued by Speaker Dustin Burroughs, which include the Texas Regulatory Consistency Act, safeguarding taxpayer funds, housing affordability and permitting reform, data centers and resource strain, and property tax relief. Dl. DISCUSS NEXT STEPS FOR STAFF AND TASK FORCE. City Manager Paulette Hartman noted that the next step involves establishing a meeting schedule. She recommended that the committee meet monthly while the legislature is out of session and then consider a bimonthly schedule during the peak legislative months of January through March. Ms. Hartman then addressed various questions from the committee members. D2. CONFIRM UPCOMING MEETING SCHEDULE. City Manager Paulette Hartman opened the floor to discuss preferred weekdays and meeting times. The next official meeting was scheduled for Tuesday, July 21, 2026. Ms. Hartman noted that she will distribute a digital poll to determine whether morning or afternoon times work best for that specific date. E. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS. There were no requests from the committee members to add any future agenda items. City Manager Paulette Hartman informed the group that staff would prepare and provide several resources including a list of peer cities that have established intergovernmental relations programs and reference materials from the Texas Municipal League. She also mentioned that staff would provide a budget overview during the next meeting. F. PUBLIC COMMENTS There was an opportunity for citizens to address the Council Subcommittee and Legislative Task Force on matters which are scheduled on this agenda provided they fill out a Public Meeting Appearance Card and give it to the recording secretary before the meeting starts. No requests to speak were received from the public G. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 11:08 a.m. APPROVED: ack McCarty, Mayor G'GP•�- . Jennipher Castellanos, Secretary