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INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 10251
March 26, 2019
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council
Page 1 of 2
SUBJECT:
LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM
The purpose of this Informal Report is to provide information regarding a recommendation from the
Legislative Program to add three support items.
In December the City Council approved the City of Fort Worth 2019 State Legislative Program. Since that
program that require the City to take a position because the proposed bills would have a direct impact on
the City. Three items were presented to the LIGA at the request of either City Councilmembers or
citizens requesting that the City support specific bills currently being heard at the State Legislature.
The three items were legislation that would lower the prima facie speed limit uniformly state-wide,
legislation that would allow large events of the National Reined Cow Horse Association to participate in the
Major Events Reimbursement Program and legislation that would allow land (such as Walsh Ranch) that is
subject to a development agreement and annexed to the City of Fort Worth for limited or full purposes to
assume the wet or dry status of the City.
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The LIGA reviewed and considered the three legislative initiatives outlined above at its March 5 meeting
items. Details on each legislative item are outlined below:
Prima Facie Speed Limit
Texas Transportation Code Section 545.352(b) provides the prima facie speed limit on neighborhood
streets is 30 miles per hour. This prima facie speed may only be lowered to 25 miles per hour by cities by
making a finding that 30 miles per hour is unreasonable or unsafe and posting signage. Many cities are
unable to lower the prima facie speed because of the burdensome cost of signage. Lower speeds create
safety benefits including preventing crashes, safer infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists, and a
greater survival rate for crashes.
Four bills have been presented to reduce the prima facie speed limit:
SB 1023/HB 1287 - Reduces prima facie speed limit to 25 mph state-wide
HB 1354 - Reduces prima facie speed limit to 25 mph in municipality greater than 1.3 million
SB 571 - May reduce prima facie speed limit to 20 mph (requires signs or public education
campaign)
SB 779/HB 2332 - Reduces prima facie speed limit to 25 mph in municipality greater than 790,000
The LIGA voted to recommend the City of Fort Worth support legislation to reduce the prima facie speed
limit state-wide (currently SB 1023/HB 1287) and recommends the City Council adopt this support item as
part of its legislative program.
National Reined Cow Horse Association Participation in the Major Events Reimbursement Program
House Bill 2402 filed by Representative Geren amends the current legislation regarding events that qualify
rsement Program to include the National Reined Cow Horse
Championship Series, which takes place the Will Rogers Complex. The LIGA voted to recommend the
City of Fort Worth support this legislation.
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 10251
March 26, 2019
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council
Page 2 of 2
SUBJECT:
LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM
Sale of Alcoholic Beverages in Areas Annexed or Owned by Certain Municipalities
State Representative Geren has filed House Bill 4456 that would provide for properties that are subject to
a development agreement and annexed through either limited or full purposes to be subject to the wet or
dry status of the City as it relates to alcohol sales. The bill as introduced has been bracketed to only apply
to the City of Fort Worth.
The LIGA voted to recommend the City of Fort Worth support this legislation and recommends the City
Council adopt this support item as part of its legislative program.
A resolution approving the proposed amendments to the 2019 State Legislative agenda will be included on
March 26, 2019 council agenda for final review and approval by the Mayor and City Council.
If you have any questions about this information, please contact Jay Chapa, Assistant City Manager (817)
392-5804.
David Cooke
City Manager
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS