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League City adopts ordinance formally declaring attorney-client communications confidential and requiring acknowledgment
Summary
League City council adopted a local ordinance declaring attorney–client communications confidential and implementing a statutory acknowledgment that council members must sign; the measure divided council members and passed after debate about whether it went beyond state law.
League City enacted a local ordinance on Nov. 18, 2025, formally recognizing attorney–client communications as confidential and adopting a confidentiality acknowledgment tied to recently enacted state law.
Mayor Nick Long told the council the ordinance’s key purpose is to protect the city by clarifying that only the full governing body can waive privilege: "The key part of the ordinance is to protect the city as a whole if one person decides to release something," he said. City attorney Michelle summarized the statutory change, noting House Bill 4310 and Texas Government Code §552.404 allow governing bodies to request — and by ordinance to require — members to acknowledge confidential handling of certain records.
During more than an hour of discussion, several council members said the new requirement to sign an acknowledgment is unnecessary because state law already protects confidential information and existing penalties apply. One council member said, "I’m going to vote against this and I’m not going to sign the waiver agreement," while another said requiring a signature helps prevent claims of ignorance in the court of public opinion.
Councilman Chad Tressler argued the statute allows the option to request a confidentiality agreement but that making it mandatory via local ordinance is within the council’s authority and is justified as similar to other cases where the city implements options provided by state law.
The council voted on the ordinance as presented; the motion passed (vote announced in the meeting: motion passes 5 4 3 against). The ordinance text on the agenda was identified as "ordinance number 2025-47" and staff said the confidentiality acknowledgment will be made available for review and that council could propose edits in open session prior to execution.
Next steps: the ordinance is adopted as the council approved it; staff indicated they would finalize the formal acknowledgment language and circulate it for council consideration.
