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R-2023-01 Approve 2023 Legislative AgendaEXHIBIT “A” 1 TOWN OF PROSPER 2023 LEGISLATIVE AGENDA LEGISLATIVE PHILOSOPHY The following Legislative Agenda represents the Town of Prosper’s legislative initiatives and priorities for the 88th Texas Legislative Session and establishes the Town’s position on key legislative issues. The Town of Prosper is committed to providing efficient and effective municipal government services to its residents, businesses, visitors, and community stakeholders. Municipalities represent the level of government that is closest to the people, and local officials are best equipped to determine the unique needs of their communities. The Town of Prosper bears the primary responsibility for providing capital infrastructure, public safety, recreational and cultural activities, and other municipal services in response to the needs and preferences of Town residents. Therefore, the Town will support legislation that protects home rule authority, advances the principles of local decision-making, and enhances the health, safety and welfare of its residents in the spirit of self-governance. Conversely, the Town will oppose legislation that preempts or erodes municipal authority on local matters or impedes the Town’s ability to allocate resources to locally-determined projects and services. Town of Prosper residents desire and expect exceptional municipal services. They want a high quality of life that is delivered through a beautiful and functional parks system, a variety of cultural amenities, exceptional public safety services, well-maintained roads, and outstanding Town facilities. The elected and appointed officials who represent the Town of Prosper are committed to preserving the Town’s ability to provide the public goods and services our residents desire through revenue sources that are approved at the local level and free from state mandated limitations. The Town of Prosper’s highest priority is to preserve the ability of locally-elected officials to govern and respond effectively and efficiently to the individual and market-driven needs of its residents, businesses, and stakeholders, according to the unique needs of the community. Throughout this document, it is understood that a position statement supporting a legislative action also establishes opposition to legislative measures that would have the opposite effect. LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE  Support legislation that seeks to fund local transportation and infrastructure projects.  Support legislation that provides funding to maintain and rehabilitate existing and aging infrastructure.  Support legislation that promotes innovative financing tools and greater flexibility in the funding of the construction, rehabilitation, and maintenance of local transportation and infrastructure projects. EXHIBIT “A” 2  Support legislation that promotes pay-as-you-go financing for capital projects by authorizing a dedicated property tax rate that is classified similarly to the debt service tax rate in property tax rate calculations. LAND DEVELOPMENT  Support legislation that seeks to repeal, or makes beneficial amendments to, H.B. 2439 from the 86th legislative session (the building materials bill), which excessively prohibits the Town from regulating building products, materials, or methods used in the construction of residential and commercial structures.  Support legislation that seeks to limit state intrusion in the land development process by making beneficial amendments to H.B. 3167 from the 86th legislative session regarding subdivision platting procedures (the 30-day shot clock bill).  Oppose legislation that preempts or would otherwise erode municipal authority related to land use and zoning, local amendments to building codes, local building permit fees, tree preservation, short-term rentals, and eminent domain. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT  Support legislation that preserves all economic development programs and tools currently available under state law.  Support legislation and programs that help municipalities attract and retain new and existing businesses.  Support legislation that promotes new and innovative financing tools that would leverage state funds to create jobs.  Support legislation that would maintain funding for grants and programs that improve workforce training. PUBLIC SAFETY  Support legislation and measures that strengthen the integrity, effectiveness, and transparency of local law enforcement, and oppose any measures that weaken the same.  Support legislation that preserves qualified immunity for public safety personnel acting within the bounds of departmental policies and procedures in the performance of their official duties.  Support legislation that clarifies the roles of state, county and municipal governments in emergency management, and their respective authority, powers, and duties during a local state of disaster. EXHIBIT “A” 3 FISCAL MANAGEMENT  Support legislation that would preserve the Town’s use of certificates of obligation (COs) to fund necessary capital projects, and for the debt from COs to continue to be funded from the Town’s interest and sinking (I&S) tax rate.  Oppose legislation that would erode the Town’s ability to control, manage, and collect reasonable compensation for the use of municipal rights-of-way.  Oppose legislation that imposes additional revenue caps or tax caps of any kind that restrict the Town’s capacity to generate the revenue needed to provide the high level of municipal services expected by Town of Prosper residents.  Oppose legislation that would erode local taxing authority, including measures that would restrict the use of existing revenue streams.  Oppose legislation that reduces the ability of municipalities to provide economic and efficient methods of financing local purchases and projects, including limiting the Town of Prosper’s ability to control and manage its debt. BROADBAND ACCESS  Support legislation that treats broadband service as any other critical utility infrastructure to ensure consistent and sustainable availability and affordability for residents and businesses.  Support legislation to incentivize and recognize the importance of broadband service and the application of technology solutions through grants, awards, and other means.  Support legislation that develops plans and revenue sources needed for greater broadband connectivity to enhance public access to education, healthcare, employment, information, and services. WATER RESOURCES  Support legislation that provides ample funding for developing affordable and reliable water resources across North Texas.  Support legislation that provides funding for the construction, maintenance, and rehabilitation of new and aging water utility infrastructure.  Support legislation that accelerates the permitting process for development of new water resources in North Texas, preserves water storage options, and advances viable projects in the statewide water plan. RECREATIONAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES  Support amendments to the hotel occupancy tax statute that allows the use of hotel occupancy tax revenue for the construction of improvements in municipal parks and trails that connect parks, lodging establishments, and related public facilities. EXHIBIT “A” 4  Support legislation that directly benefits public library services that support workforce, cultural, and educational programs. OPEN GOVERNMENT  Support legislation that simplifies the budget and tax rate notification and adoption process with the goal of improving transparency.  Support legislation that would allow required legal notices to be published on a municipality’s website rather than requiring publication in an official newspaper.  Support legislation that promotes increased flexibility to the Texas Open Meetings Act to allow for the expanded use of teleconference and videoconference technology in public meetings. ELECTIONS  Oppose legislation that eliminates the May or November uniform election dates.  Oppose legislation that requires candidates for a Town office to declare party affiliation in order to run for office. PREEMPTION OF LOCAL AUTHORITY  Support legislation that preserves local control and the right of Prosper residents to govern themselves and to work with their municipal government to adopt and enforce ordinances that address the health, safety, and welfare of the community.  Support legislation that preserves local authority for property taxation, budgeting, permitting, and zoning decisions.  Oppose legislation that limits or prohibits the Town’s current authority to use municipal funds to communicate with legislators or effectively participate in the legislative process on matters of public interest or pay dues to organizations or entities that advocate on the Town’s behalf.  Oppose legislation that provides for state preemption of municipal authority and/or creates unfunded mandates at the local level.