Res 2024-253 adopting City of San Marcos Guiding Principles for 89th Texas Legislative Session (2025)

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Approved by City Council on December 17, 2024 City of San Marcos Guiding Principles for the 89th Legislative Session The City of San Marcos recognizes the need for an active state legislative program to ensure the interests of the City's residents and businesses are protected and enhanced. The City Council has created a focused legislative platform, which reflects the core values found in the City Charter's statement of Goals and the Comprehensive Plan Vision Statements. As directed by the City Council, the City will participate in the 89th Texas Legislative Session (2025) process through monitoring and actively advocating for or against legislation when appropriate to support or safeguard the interests of the City. The following "Guiding Principles" serve as direction for staff and the City's legislative advocates on key issues. Preemption & Local Control • Oppose legislation that would erode municipal authority, impose unfunded mandates, or provide for state preemption of municipal authority in any way. • Oppose legislation that would remove city authority to plan and zone in city limits and city ETJ, leading to a lack of thoughtful, effective long-term planning services ultimately being more expensive and less efficient for all citizens. • Support legislation to amend Section 361.096 (a)(1) of the Texas Health and Safety Code to allow local regulation of the use of disposable packages and containers for the purposes of environmental protection, preservation of endangered species, flood prevention, and to promote the health and safety of wildlife and livestock. • Oppose legislative action that interferes with the ability of the City to determine how best to effectively operate local programs, services and activities or negatively impacts a municipally owned electric utility's ability to provide low cost services to its communities. • Support the continuance of the City's ability to advocate on behalf of community through trade associations and consultants.