Sugar Land officials will focus on supporting local power and reducing taxes during the 90th Texas Legislative Session.
What you need to know
At an Oct. 20 meeting, Sugar Land City Council approved the city’s priorities for the upcoming 2027 Legislative Session. While state officials vote on the bills, city staff can work with legislators to share the city’s perspective.
City officials will support bills that let local officials govern local topics as well as bills that reduce tax burdens on residents and businesses without reducing vital funding for public services, Intergovernmental Relations Manager Spencer Gutierrez said.
The framework
The city has a legislative task force full of community members who meet with city departments and review the city’s legislative agenda, Gutierrez said. Last session, city officials submitted testimonies and letters for various bills to show support or opposition.
This session, city officials plan to:
Work with legislators and partners before and during the session
Ensure transparency and public engagement through the city’s legislative task force
Help legislators understand the impact of bills on local government
Zooming out
Hundreds of bills filed usually relate to city topics each session, but only a fraction pass and become law, Gutierrez said. Last session, lawmakers filed over 9,000 total bills and only about 1,200 passed.
“Cities are the most legislated on topics more so than any other industry or any other topic,” Gutierrez said.
Last session, city officials supported a few bills that passed, including:
Senate Bill 1173: increased the billing threshold to $100,000
House Bill 1902: formalized penalties for bank jugging
Senate Bill 2217 and House Bill 2217: established new public safety grants
City staff also opposed bills that did not pass, including one that would eliminate May elections, Gutierrez said.
Mark your calendar
The 90th Texas Legislative Session is slated to begin Jan. 12 and adjourn May 31; however, legislators might later go into special sessions to review additional bills.
Lawmakers can begin filing bills Nov. 9 and must have all bills filed by March 12.
