Denton City outlines legislative session outcomes and future strategies

The Denton City Council convened on June 17, 2025, to discuss the outcomes of the recent legislative session, with a focus on bills that could impact the city. The meeting began with a presentation from the city’s legislative consultant, who provided a high-level recap of the session, noting that it was a time of significant change with several new state representatives.

The consultant highlighted the importance of building relationships with legislators in Austin, emphasizing the city’s proactive engagement in promoting its legislative program. Throughout the session, over 8,000 bills were filed, with only about 12,000 passing, marking the lowest passage rate since 1991. The city tracked 711 bills and registered support or opposition on 32 of them.

Key legislative outcomes included an increase in the property tax exemption from $2,500 to $125,000, which will affect cities, counties, and school districts. Additionally, significant investments were made in Texas's water supply, with a proposed $1 billion annually for the next 20 years aimed at improving infrastructure and supply projects.

The council also discussed various bills that directly impact Denton. Notably, SB 3, which prohibits the sale of hemp-derived THC products, is awaiting the governor's signature and could affect sales tax revenues. Other bills, such as HB 15 22, changed the notice requirement for public meetings from 72 hours to three business days, while HB 7 62 limited severance payments for local government employees.

The legislative session saw limited movement on community-focused bills, particularly regarding mental health funding, which remained stagnant. However, some library-related bills passed, including SB 4 12, which revises legal defenses for librarians.

In land use and development, several bills preempted local regulations, including SB 18 44, which modified petition requirements for disannexation, and HB 28 44, which restricted city regulation of food trucks. The council expressed concerns over these changes, which will necessitate amendments to the Denton development code.

The meeting concluded with a discussion on the implications of these legislative changes for the city, with staff committed to monitoring the situation and preparing for necessary adjustments. The council plans to provide further updates as more information becomes available following the governor's veto period ending on June 22.