Texas Government Law Blog
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Google, you can drive my car: New laws will expand use of autonomous vehicles in Texas
Autonomous vehicles have arrived in Texas, and they’re here to stay. In March 2021, the City of Arlington, Texas launched a small fleet of on-demand autonomous vehicles that can be booked using an app. Arlington, once known as the largest U.S. city without a public...
“Texas is open 100%”—Governor Abbott Signs Vaccine Passport Ban
On June 7, 2021, Governor Greg Abbott signed into a law a bill (SB 968) that, among things, prohibits governmental entities in Texas from issuing COVID-19 vaccine passports or other standardized documentation to certify the person’s COVID-19 vaccination status to a...
Mixed success for alcohol to-go, gambling, weed, and crypto bills in 87th Regular Session
The 2021 regular session of the Texas Legislature has come to an end, after 140 days of deal-making, drama, and dysfunction. According to data from the Texas Legislature Online, the number of bills introduced and passed during the 2021 regular session was down from...
Texas Legislature passes bill to shield businesses from pandemic-related lawsuits
In his State of the State speech on February 1, 2021, Governor Greg Abbott designated five emergency items for the 2021 legislative session. One of these emergency items was civil liability protections for individuals, businesses, and healthcare providers that...
Twitter Blocked by Federal Judge: @TXAG #CID Authority Affirmed
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sent Twitter a Civil Investigative Demand (“CID”) on January 13, 2021, after it banned former President Trump from its platform following the storming of the U.S. Capitol. The Twitter CID, which sought internal communications and the...
Pour One Out for Walmart v. TABC: Retailer ends federal lawsuit challenging Texas liquor law
Ever wondered why you can’t buy liquor at Walmart, Costco, or CVS in Texas? Texas is the only state in the nation that prohibits publicly traded companies from holding a “package store permit” (i.e., a permit to sell liquor), although such companies are allowed to...
When RV park guests overstay their welcome, should park owners call the police or seek a judge?
RV park guests are generally considered licensees, not tenants. From 2001 to 2013, recreational vehicles (RVs) were considered manufactured homes under Chapter 94 of the Texas Property Code, which governs tenancies in manufactured home communities. In 2013, the Texas...
Democratizing Justice: Can I crowdfund my lawsuit?
It’s no secret that litigation is expensive. Some plaintiffs use litigation financing when they can’t front the fees and costs themselves. The funder (typically a specialized litigation finance company) agrees to privately finance the litigation in exchange for a...
Secret Agents: Can a governmental body prohibit the disclosure of information discussed in closed meetings?
The Texas Open Meetings Act (TOMA) ensures that meetings of governmental bodies are open to the public. In limited circumstances, however, TOMA authorizes closed meetings, from which the public is excluded. Tex. Gov’t Code Ann. §§ 551.071-551.090. The Texas Attorney...
Texas Legislature dials up on statewide broadband access
“Broadband access is no longer a luxury, it is an essential tool for all Texans.” -Governor Abbott. An estimated 316,717 households in Texas currently lack access to broadband internet service, according to broadband advocacy group Connected Nation Texas.[1] While...
Violations of TOMA may be criminal (and yes, you can go to jail)
The Texas Open Meetings Act (TOMA) requires meetings of governmental bodies to be open to the public, except for expressly authorized closed sessions. TOMA provides criminal penalties—including possible jail time—for violations of certain provisions, making Texas one...
You don’t have to go home, but you can’t stay here: Some Texas cities ban “permanent” residencies in RV parks
In January 2021, the City Council of Marble Falls, Texas considered adopting regulations to ensure that RV parks don’t shift into being partially or wholly used as permanent residences. While some RV parks operate like hotels or motels—serving transient guests that...