BILL ANALYSIS H.B. 2273 By: Bonnen Intergovernmental Affairs Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The bill author has informed the committee that Galveston County faces unique challenges requiring swift, effective leadership during emergencies and that hurricanes, industrial risks from refineries, and the presence of critical infrastructure like biolabs heighten the need for clear governance mechanisms. The bill author has also informed the committee that state law allows for the emergency delegation of certain duties of the county judge in certain counties, but that this law does not currently apply to Galveston County. H.B. 2273 seeks to extend to certain counties the authority to delegate certain powers in order to ensure efficient and effective county government operations in Galveston County, especially during times of disaster. CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS H.B. 2273 amends the Local Government Code to extend to a county judge in a county with a population of at least 350,000 and not more than 370,000 that is adjacent to the Gulf of Mexico and adjacent to a county with a population of at least 3.3 million the authority granted to a county judge in a county with a population of more than 1.5 million to file an order with the commissioners court of the county delegating to another county officer or an employee of the county the ability to sign orders or other official documents associated with the county judge's office. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2025.
BILL ANALYSIS
# BILL ANALYSIS
H.B. 2273
By: Bonnen
Intergovernmental Affairs
Committee Report (Unamended)
H.B. 2273
By: Bonnen
Intergovernmental Affairs
Committee Report (Unamended)
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The bill author has informed the committee that Galveston County faces unique challenges requiring swift, effective leadership during emergencies and that hurricanes, industrial risks from refineries, and the presence of critical infrastructure like biolabs heighten the need for clear governance mechanisms. The bill author has also informed the committee that state law allows for the emergency delegation of certain duties of the county judge in certain counties, but that this law does not currently apply to Galveston County. H.B. 2273 seeks to extend to certain counties the authority to delegate certain powers in order to ensure efficient and effective county government operations in Galveston County, especially during times of disaster.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS H.B. 2273 amends the Local Government Code to extend to a county judge in a county with a population of at least 350,000 and not more than 370,000 that is adjacent to the Gulf of Mexico and adjacent to a county with a population of at least 3.3 million the authority granted to a county judge in a county with a population of more than 1.5 million to file an order with the commissioners court of the county delegating to another county officer or an employee of the county the ability to sign orders or other official documents associated with the county judge's office.
EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2025.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
The bill author has informed the committee that Galveston County faces unique challenges requiring swift, effective leadership during emergencies and that hurricanes, industrial risks from refineries, and the presence of critical infrastructure like biolabs heighten the need for clear governance mechanisms. The bill author has also informed the committee that state law allows for the emergency delegation of certain duties of the county judge in certain counties, but that this law does not currently apply to Galveston County. H.B. 2273 seeks to extend to certain counties the authority to delegate certain powers in order to ensure efficient and effective county government operations in Galveston County, especially during times of disaster.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS
H.B. 2273 amends the Local Government Code to extend to a county judge in a county with a population of at least 350,000 and not more than 370,000 that is adjacent to the Gulf of Mexico and adjacent to a county with a population of at least 3.3 million the authority granted to a county judge in a county with a population of more than 1.5 million to file an order with the commissioners court of the county delegating to another county officer or an employee of the county the ability to sign orders or other official documents associated with the county judge's office.
EFFECTIVE DATE
September 1, 2025.