City manager outlines state bills Copperas Cove is tracking, including disabled-veteran relief and impact-fee changes

City Manager Ryan Havelock delivered a legislative update during the April 1 meeting, listing multiple state bills that the city is monitoring because of potential fiscal or regulatory effects on Copperas Cove.

Havelock highlighted House Bill 2894, which would expand eligibility for the relief payment tied to the disabled veterans property tax exemption; he said his testimony to the House Ways and Means Committee offered conditional support only if the state increases funding to cover additional eligible claimants so the city would not lose reimbursement. Havelock told council Copperas Cove received $498,000 in relief payment last year but that growth in eligible properties had already reduced the reimbursement percentage; he said the city’s revenue impact must be monitored as the Legislature considers eligibility changes.

He summarized other bills and issues the city is watching: - Senate Bill 1 (state budget): Havelock said the Senate budget includes a proposed $50 million increase to the comptroller’s relief payment program for the disabled veteran exemption, which could benefit Copperas Cove if adopted. - HB2626 / SB1194 (Central Texas Water Alliance): The Senate bill had passed and the city is monitoring both chambers. - SB1844 (disannexation): Havelock noted some drafts define “full municipal services” to include sanitary sewer service and warned such definitions could enable petition-driven deannexations in areas served by septic systems. - SB1851 (audit report): Requires completion of a municipal audit within 180 days of fiscal year end or face taxation-rate-setting limits; the city has completed its audit but is monitoring language. - HB2225 (impact fees): Would require a three-fourths council vote to adopt impact fees and prolong waiting periods for changes to existing fees. - HB2304 and HB3493 (residential energy backup systems): One bill would require municipalities to post inspection standards online for third-party inspectors; another would limit municipal regulation of these systems. - HB3275 (parking): Preempts municipal minimum parking standards for new commercial buildings. - HB3919 (lot sizes): Caps minimum residential lot size at 4,000 square feet in some drafts. - HB2156 (food service): Preempts some municipal regulation of food establishments. - SB1405 (sales tax on internet): Proposes removing internet as a taxable service. - HB2464 (home-based businesses): Prohibits cities from banning defined no-impact home-based businesses in residential areas. - HB33 (Uvalde Strong Act): Increases coordination requirements between school districts and law enforcement for training and emergency responses. - SB3 (THC regulation) and HB2098 (civil service for fire departments): Havelock described SB3 as addressing product definitions and HB2098 as proposing civil-service classification for fire departments in cities above a population threshold (committee substitute raised the population threshold to 25,000 in the most recent draft).

Havelock said staff will continue to track and report on these bills as the session proceeds and review impacts to city revenues, services and statutory obligations.