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Commissioners hear legislative update on bill restricting attorney activities and proposed changes to county investment options
Summary
County staff briefed commissioners on two state bills: one that would bar attorneys who serve on commissioners courts from practicing law in their counties, and another that would limit county investment options to state‑managed pools. Commissioners expressed concern and said they would monitor the measures.
County staff provided the commissioners with an update on two pieces of legislation being tracked in the Texas Legislature: a House bill that would prohibit members of a commissioners court who are attorneys from practicing law in the county where they hold elective office, and a Senate bill that would restrict the types of pooled funds counties may use for investing county funds.
County administration described the House bill (referred to in the update as HB 4,620) as broad: it would bar an elected county official who is an attorney from practicing “any law” in the county where the official serves. Staff warned the measure could have broad effect in less-populated counties where an elected official might be the only local attorney available for certain matters. Staff and several commissioners said the measure could be vulnerable to constitutional challenge but that the court would continue to monitor the bill and contact local legislators to discuss the potential impacts.
Staff also briefed the court on SB 404, a bill that would constrain county investment options by requiring investment only in pools managed by the state comptroller or the Texas Treasury Safekeeping Corporation. The presenter said the change would reduce diversification and competition in public funds management and could force counties to place funds in a single state-controlled pool rather than existing options such as TexPool.
Commissioners and staff said they oppose narrowing investment options and will follow both measures closely. No formal position was adopted during the meeting; staff said they were in touch with state representatives about the bills' potential impacts.
Separately, the court received an update from the North Central Texas Council of Governments: Todd Little, the county judge in Ellis County, was appointed the council’s new executive director and is expected to resign his elected position to assume the role.
