Author Archives: Ford Hamilton
HUBs and the Benefits of Using Them
Many of the small businesses operating in the State of Texas are known as “HUBs”, or Historically Underutilized Businesses. These businesses are classified as those in which at least 51 percent of the business is owned, operated, and controlled by one or more minority groups who are economically disadvantaged and who have been historically… Read More »
Municipal Donations: Practices and Pitfalls
Texas Cities, both general law and home rule, have certain restrictions placed on them by the Texas Constitution when donating money or making investments into private companies (Tex Const, Art 11, Sec 3). The Constitution likewise prohibits the State from compelling investment or donation in the same manner. (Tex. Const. Art. 3, Sec 52). … Read More »
Videoconferencing Standards for the Texas Open Meetings Act
An interesting provision of the Texas Open Meetings Act, TOMA, and the focus of this blog, is the use of videoconference technology to allow both members of the governmental body and the public to attend meetings by videoconference call. This is allowed even if there is no emergency causing the use of the videoconference… Read More »
New Purchasing Requirements on Public Works Projects
With the new legislative session, several changes in the area of public works stand to impact how cities in Texas implement payments for public works projects in the state. A few of the provisions which will impact public works projects going forward are described below. Under a public works contract, often the municipality will… Read More »
Natural Disasters and the PIA
On September 1, 2021, more than 600 new laws in Texas went into effect from the legislative session and the emergency sessions called by the governor. These laws range from such controversial issues as voting and handguns to more generic issues that municipalities face daily, such as the Texas Public Information Act (PIA), found… Read More »