House Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs

Committee Leadership

Chair

Cecil Bell Jr. (R)

House District 3

Magnolia

Vice Chair

Erin Zwiener (D)

House District 45

Driftwood

Committee Composition

Committee Membership

Bell Jr., Cecil (R) House District 3 Magnolia Zwiener, Erin (D) House District 45 Driftwood Cole, Sheryl (D) House District 46 Austin Cortez, Philip (D) House District 117 San Antonio Garcia Hernandez, Cassandra (D) House District 115 Farmers Branch Leo Wilson, Terri (R) House District 23 Galveston Lowe, David (R) House District 91 North Richland Hills Luther, Shelley (R) House District 62 Tom Bean Rosenthal, Jon (D) House District 135 Houston Spiller, David (R) House District 68 Jacksboro Tepper, Carl (R) House District 84 Lubbock

Most Recent Session Activity

Metrics reflect activity during the most recent legislative session.

Interim Charges

• Monitoring: Monitor the implementation and associated rulemaking of all legislation passed by the Committee and enacted by the 89th Legislature to ensure that legislative purposes are properly implemented.
• Preventing Homelessness of Foster Youth: Study the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Foster Youth to Independence Initiative, which aims to prevent homelessness among young adults aging out of the foster care system. Examine program models from other states and determine best practices for potential applicability in Texas.
• Mental Health Impacts, Homelessness, and System Recidivism: Study and evaluate the relationship between mental health conditions, homelessness, and the criminal justice system. Examine the availability of specialized high-acuity beds for the homeless, specifically for those with severe mental illness, addiction, and complex medical conditions. Make recommendations regarding pre-arrest diversion, alternatives to inpatient hospitalization, and best practices for sharing data to reduce recidivism.
• Agency Oversight: Pursuant to the broad oversight responsibilities granted to the Committee under Section 301.014, Government Code, and the House Rules of Procedure, monitor the agencies under the Committee’s jurisdiction, including for fraud, waste, and abuse, where applicable. The jurisdiction of the Intergovernmental Affairs Committee includes the following agencies:
  • The Office of State-Federal Relations;
  • The Commission on Jail Standards;
  • The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs; and
  • The Texas Commission on Fire Protection.
• Subcommittee on County and Regional Government — Strengthening County Law Enforcement: Study the ability of counties to recruit, train, and retain officers. Study the disparities between counties in provisions relating to the funding of, contracting with, and employment for law enforcement agencies, and evaluate solutions to strengthen county law enforcement.
• Subcommittee on County and Regional Government — Medical Examiner Expansion: Examine the statutory framework governing county medical examiner offices in Texas, including the population threshold and authorization for intercounty medical examiner districts. Evaluate the number of counties that maintain medical examiner offices and those that rely on justices of the peace. Assess how this framework affects the consistency, timeliness, and professional quality of death investigations across counties and consider potential statutory reforms to strengthen statewide capacity.
• Subcommittee on State-Federal Relations — Discontinuation of Penny Production: Study the impact on local governments following the discontinuation of penny production. Consider the necessity of providing local governments with administrative guidance applicable to implementing this change.
• Subcommittee on State-Federal Relations — Federal Changes to Postmark Procedures: Study the impact of recent federal postmarking rule changes on access to public services and programs. Evaluate the need for public education and awareness regarding the recent federal postmarking rule change.