Lobbyist briefs Lewisville council on Texas legislative outcomes, bills to watch in special session

Brandy Byrd, principal of Byrd Advocacy, briefed the Lewisville City Council on the 2025 Texas legislative session and told the council which measures passed, which stalled, and what to watch when the governor convenes a special session on July 21. She highlighted a constitutional amendment that will go to voters in November, changes to certain affordable-housing tax exemptions, and several bills that touch municipal authority over permitting and inspections.

The legislative update matters because the bills and proposed constitutional amendment discussed by Byrd could change how the city collects revenue, inspects food vendors and posts public meetings — and because several items may reappear during the special session the governor has called. "We had a very successful session," Byrd said, while emphasizing the continuing work ahead to track and respond to items that affect municipal operations.

Byrd told council that a constitutional amendment, SJR 59, passed the Legislature; if voters approve it in November, it would create an $850 million endowment to support Texas State Technical College (TSTC) campuses across the state. She cautioned that the amendment creates an endowment, not a lump sum distribution, and that disbursements would come from endowment earnings over time. Byrd also said HB 21 passed; that bill closes a loophole in exemptions for certain housing finance corporation projects, and includes a grace period through Jan. 1, 2027, for projects already outside their service areas to comply or negotiate with local governments.

On property taxes, Byrd said a package of bills related to tax relief and appraisal caps created state-level revenue impacts that will affect cities and may require tradeoffs in the state budget. "There are impacts to state revenues," she said, noting that actions such as raising homestead exemptions or changing business personal property exemptions have downstream effects for municipal budgets.

Byrd reviewed several bills that did not advance or only partially advanced: a destination sales-tax sourcing bill that stalled in the House; Senate Bill 19 on taxpayer-funded lobbying, which passed the Senate but not the House; and several bills that would have limited municipal financing or increased third-party review of development documents, which she said were defeated. She also noted that two land-use bills (SB 15 and SB 840) passed but apply only to jurisdictions with populations above 150,000, leaving Lewisville outside their immediate effect for now.

On operational impacts for Lewisville, staff and Byrd described changes the city will need to implement if state rules become final: public meeting notice timing will change from a 72-hour standard to "three business days," which can alter agenda-posting practice; the state will assume registration and inspection authority for mobile food vendors and some food establishments, limiting local inspection authority to zoning and land-use regulation; and the Department of State Health Services will cap some fees (for example, a reinspection fee capped at $200) and require 60 days' advance notice of local fee changes. Staff warned some program details remain "murky" until state rules are finalized.

Byrd closed by urging council members to avoid city-sponsored advocacy for constitutional amendments on the ballot because of electioneering restrictions, and to watch for additional items the governor could add to the special session call. "The governor can add items to the special session call at any time," she said. Council members asked questions and were advised staff will monitor rulemaking and return with recommendations if procedural or ordinance changes are needed.

What's next: staff will track rulemaking from state agencies, review fee and notice changes for ordinance updates, and prepare public guidance on any required changes to city practice ahead of rule implementation.