[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6500337,"mediaKeyId","5545692-3250aa50c74de5bebd754237dd2c426f","parentId",5545692,"title","Dallas committee reviews 2025 Texas session: wins on housing credits, concerns about revenue cap and land-use limits","audioSeconds",3093,"startMs",154000,"endMs",3247000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5545692-3250aa50c74de5bebd754237dd2c426f&start=154&end=3247","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5545692-3250aa50c74de5bebd754237dd2c426f/thumbnail_154000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6500337/Dallas/Dallas-County/Texas/Dallas-committee-reviews-2025-Texas-session-wins-on-housing-credits-concerns-about-revenue-cap-and-land-use-limits","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6500337-c679fb53fed842d246ae8dd7b7da67a5/orig.mp4?Expires=1770405539&Signature=cvp5gSVdq9E6gyOKwD9n4kwPV1lesr~dXTwVI2ggq6x-7G5XD0x3PRaWuI8kfvcT58nHEL1IBkuOU~cH7sL736rOspVisevtS80eFxvDaQP3nFmMqzkFVLhD-Y-8RNB3NNyS7YLhvLX-bfXTXzbDksL3L1E5ql~Ryt~A3TXESWbaUJ1Gunao364caaBGYF3NzvQ~iVCUKPApdiZ0r78IfC2vgPd~Jik79glPt9pAJOlMj0n8hLzlTXLYmIOQPyiiBL9ActdPACM6Vet8Riw5jiBZnUQ~-Fb3P9moEsae-GzHQi5~oh~J~31G9U-qlhAiCQqHoOx4SEsnEU5~SHP5uA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Dallas","date","2025-08-05T00:00:00Z","article","The Ad Hoc Committee on Legislative Affairs met Aug. 5 and received a post‑session review of the 89th Texas Legislature and the special session underway. Jake, Clifford Sparks and Lynn Lou Darian of the city’s Office of Government Affairs briefed the committee on bills that affected Dallas and on items the city had pursued, supported or monitored.

The presentation said more than 9,000 bills were filed in the regular session; about 1,500 of those would have affected Dallas operations, roughly 1,200 bills reached the governor and 137 enacted laws were judged to have an impact on the city. Committee members were told five of the city’s top 10 pursued priorities were signed into law.

Why it matters: City staff said the actions in Austin carry immediate budget and land‑use implications for Dallas, from changes in available grant funding to new limits the state imposes on local zoning choices.

Clifford Sparks, a member of the city’s legislative team, said the city registered a mix of outcomes: “If you combine what happened last session, we probably had over 50 pieces of legislation that we passed overall from the city of Dallas standpoint,” Sparks said. He called HB 21 a major win that “helps make sure that no other jurisdictions could come in and take things off of our tax roll.”

The committee heard staff describe two categories of concern: state bills that limit local authority over land use and zoning, and a revenue‑cap proposal introduced in the special session. On land use, staff described SB 15 as a measure that restricts development on large, unplatted tracts: once effective, parcels of five acres or more that are undeveloped would be limited to small‑lot residential development (lots limited to about 3,000 square feet), with narrow carve‑outs. Sparks said Dallas secured a carve‑out around the UNT Dallas area but that other proposed protections were not obtained.

Committee members also discussed SB 40 (referred to in the presentation as SBA 40), which staff said limits some local land‑use authorities but had been modified after negotiations. “This bill could have been a lot more unfavorable, but it actually came out in ways that allowed us still some breathing room,” Sparks said.

The special session item that drew the most worry from members was SB 9, a proposal to lower the local revenue cap (previously set at 3.5 percent) to 2.5 percent. City staff explained the cap limits how much a city may raise its maintenance and operations tax rate without going to voters and that an immediate effective date would jeopardize budgets being prepared now. Committee members were given a staff calculation that Dallas could lose roughly $22 million in revenue if SB 9 passed in its then‑proposed form.

The presentation also covered budget and grant developments the city viewed as wins. Staff noted increases in several grant programs and described a restored and increased veterans treatment court grant that staff said was tripled after advocacy. Committee members heard operational metrics from the Office of Government Affairs: 41 council updates distributed, testimony provided on 45 bills, 27 letters submitted, 45 “dropped cards,” and 48 staff trips to Austin during the session.

Members discussed strategy going forward. Chair Mendelson framed local control as the body’s guiding philosophy and encouraged continued, early engagement for the next session. Mayor Pro Tem Moreno and other council members said assigning council members to “own” topics in advance helped the city’s testimony and outreach in Austin. Clifford Sparks urged beginning preparations earlier for the 2027 session so council members and staff can shape bills before filing.

The committee did not vote on state policy changes during the meeting; staff said they will continue monitoring special‑session activity and will return to the council with implementation steps and requested clarifications for items that passed.

Looking ahead, staff said Dallas will continue to press the city’s priorities in Austin, focus on protecting budget flexibility, and seek amendments where state policy encroaches on local zoning and land‑use authority.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Dallas - Ad Hoc Committee on Legislative Affairs","oneSentenceSummary","The Ad Hoc Committee on Legislative Affairs met Aug. 5 and received a post‑session review of the 89th Texas Legislature and the special session underway.","taxTitle","Dallas, Dallas County, Texas","taxId",2781,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6500332,"Dallas federal update: municipal bonds preserved, housing tax credits extended; HUD programs and rescissions flagged as risks",1449,3337000,4786000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5545692-3250aa50c74de5bebd754237dd2c426f&start=3337&end=4786","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5545692-3250aa50c74de5bebd754237dd2c426f/thumbnail_3337000.jpg","/articles/6500332/Dallas/Dallas-County/Texas/Dallas-federal-update-municipal-bonds-preserved-housing-tax-credits-extended-HUD-programs-and-rescissions-flagged-as-risks","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6500332-776bc0797b76d3ea6fcf221ee3a27b58/orig.mp4?Expires=1770405539&Signature=n4JBSKoVlfNf5s-ujyxyWrcKd6lXhxEqPCunv8s72v1Nksu1k4WHRdTrxTC1ZBIsi24Cofqs2uQt1F-ynTDtOw34LdKOEV3kV5tXlnCrmLJlDKs93M1QELf1Toi9i5033lla7GKpXVF1erUV0OmN~29TOIIAvHgkzPXhVsF1bj95H2zi9eSOuvS~0rxVxeV~M7biytMVL2XIxZpl4VPG6Ll1k08Ol0hWAoCmyShBIJBhJJlgKHW81~GnQd86vJmS3bbglnuF1be6gqv1saSWq3R7HGWst4MA8bnk6lQHSYlaNCNwq4~auY0ZgfdciH7W0k5~kPAtJDDV9TbdIGd86Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Ad Hoc Committee on Legislative Affairs received a briefing Aug. 5 on federal legislative activity through the first half of 2025 and on the city’s federal advocacy.

Alex Renteria and federal staff reviewed the recently enacted budget reconciliation package (HR 1), appropriations activity and the community project funding requests submitted on Dallas’s behalf. Staff said the reconciliation bill preserved the tax‑exempt status of municipal bonds, permanently increased the low‑income housing tax credit by about 12 percent and made the New Markets Tax Credit program permanent. Those items were presented as direct wins for Dallas because they affect financing for affordable housing and capital projects.

Why it matters: City officials said municipal bonds and tax credit programs are central financing tools for infrastructure and housing projects; preserving those tools reduces construction costs and supports development programs.

Alex Renteria said the reconciliation package also contained provisions with potentially negative local effects, including rescissions of unobligated funds that were originally authorized under the Inflation Reduction Act and long‑term reforms to Medicaid and SNAP the staff said could shift costs or administrative burdens to states and local service providers.

Staff highlighted federal executive actions that may affect local policy. They called out an executive order titled “ending crime and disorder on America’s streets,” signed July 24, which directs agencies to prioritize grants for jurisdictions that enforce bans on public drug use, camping, loitering and squatting — an item staff said has implications for Dallas’s homelessness and public‑space enforcement strategies.

Federal appropriations and community project funding: staff reported that the Dallas delegation submitted 28 community project requests and that 17 projects were advanced by members’ offices. The city’s current projection from those projects is about $15 million; staff cautioned that actual funding depends on passage of FY26 appropriations. Staff also noted a cautionary precedent: in FY25, Dallas had projects selected but received $0 because Congress did not complete appropriations.

Staff described programs the city is watching during the FY26 appropriations process: HUD programs such as CDBG and HOME (the latter was zeroed out in one House draft), the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) which supplies security funding for major events, and potential rescissions to IIJA programs. Staff noted a $625 million homeland security appropriation in reconciliation intended to support FIFA World Cup host cities as a positive development for Dallas’s event readiness.

Officials said they continue to coordinate with the city delegation, with federal lobbyists Capitol Edge and Thorn Run, and with peer cities and regional partners to protect municipal finance tools and to advocate for stable funding of housing and public‑safety programs.

Ending: Staff said they will continue to monitor appropriations and any additional rescission actions and will update the council when federal deadlines or rule‑making opportunities require city responses.","The Ad Hoc Committee on Legislative Affairs received a federal briefing Aug. 5 outlining reconciliation outcomes, community project funding progress and program risks from proposed rescissions and administrative changes.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6500327,"Ad Hoc Committee approves minutes and recommends two‑year renewals for state and federal lobbying contracts",217,5434000,5651000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5545692-3250aa50c74de5bebd754237dd2c426f&start=5434&end=5651","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5545692-3250aa50c74de5bebd754237dd2c426f/thumbnail_5434000.jpg","/articles/6500327/Dallas/Dallas-County/Texas/Ad-Hoc-Committee-approves-minutes-and-recommends-twoyear-renewals-for-state-and-federal-lobbying-contracts","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6500327-949640c52d877286a7fa06cd766d3a79/orig.mp4?Expires=1770405539&Signature=L0ori7zH~ToimFvNC4IChMXlbTr6clSCgn0sA-z~a8vcFNxGN860WWRXVVOD5HJeHINVY-8iBO3tHp83F4YDso0goGti~-oYpcTg5WVyXTRCZS~-p6HzBj5r6EUJwrDUPc-C~vzJxClZ~PQA~OJve23L67Dkn1nKiR9bxRuXXcVObF7pgxzocEmTmigCYauuNcu9j0ZTCqcmD3e0IK5CRrLLIqlwHqUJyzq7MjmN5eg4igN2nJCwdGTp2S4aQK1vL-j90n99YBQY~ezBpwCew~HJjVg6NKYcvZaGnxl1JngrL~ft4W61SmhIrj3uBgpdc1ZcMKixKV3fKzeLiPKROA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Ad Hoc Committee on Legislative Affairs voted unanimously Aug. 5 to approve prior minutes and to advance multi‑year contract renewals for the city’s state and federal lobbying consultants.

At the meeting the committee approved the minutes from the Jan. 15, 2025 meeting. The motion to approve was seconded and the committee chair announced the motion carried unanimously; no roll‑call vote or individual tallies were recorded in the meeting transcript.

Later in the agenda the committee considered the Office of Government Affairs’ request to renew contracts with four state lobbyists for two years with an additional two‑year option. Clifford Sparks and Jake outlined the consultants’ work in Austin and presented a summary of the current terms; staff recommended continuing the existing contractual relationships at the same annual fees. Chair Mendelson noted the per‑resident cost relative to the return of state funding: “If you count up all the dollars spent on state lobbyists, and you divide it by our population, it's less than 30¢ per year per resident,” she said, and the committee moved to recommend the contracts to full council. The motion passed unanimously.

The committee then reviewed federal lobbying contracts for Capitol Edge and Thorn Run Partners and recommended extending each for two years with a two‑year renewal option. Committee members and staff described the federal consultants’ role securing community project funding and navigating federal agencies; staff noted a modest fee increase was proposed this cycle. A motion to forward the federal contracts to full council passed unanimously.

Each of the contract items will be considered by the full city council; the committee’s votes were recommendations only. The transcript records unanimous committee support in each case but does not list individual member votes or roll‑call tallies.","At its Aug. 5 meeting the Ad Hoc Committee on Legislative Affairs approved the Jan. 15, 2025 minutes and voted unanimously to recommend renewal of the city's state lobbyist contracts and to forward federal lobbyist contract renewals to full council.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Dallas committee reviews 2025 Texas session: wins on housing credits, concerns about revenue cap and land-use limits

Dallas federal update: municipal bonds preserved, housing tax credits extended; HUD programs and rescissions flagged as risks

Ad Hoc Committee approves minutes and recommends two‑year renewals for state and federal lobbying contracts