Council appoints Chief Jennifer Howell as city public information officer under House Bill 33

The Freeport City Council unanimously approved a resolution appointing Police Chief Jennifer Howell as the city’s designated public information officer (PIO) under House Bill 33, a new state law enacted after the Uvalde school shooting that requires municipalities to name a PIO for active-shooter and similar emergencies at primary and secondary schools.

City staff said the PIO role under House Bill 33 is narrowly focused on emergencies at schools and requires specific training topics; staff noted some training guidelines will not be issued until later in the year. Chief Jennifer Howell has already completed a substantial amount of relevant training, staff said, and council members asked whether a designee would stand in if the chief were unavailable. Staff said the chief would designate a backup (likely a lieutenant) to serve in her absence. Council members asked whether there were budget impacts; staff said no additional budget was required because the responsibilities fall within existing duties of the chief’s position.

Why it matters: The designation implements a state requirement intended to centralize and coordinate public communications in serious emergencies at school campuses, according to staff and council discussion.

Implementation: Staff said training requirements will be completed when state guidance is released; the resolution covers active-shooter incidents and similar school emergencies, not the universe of all municipal emergencies.