Bill

HB 684

84(R) - 2015
House County Affairs
Read Bill & Check Bill Status
House County Affairs
County Affairs

Vote Recommendation

No
  • Neutral
  • Neutral
  • Neutral
  • Negative
  • Neutral

Author(s)

Kenneth Sheets

Bill Caption

Relating to the authority of a county to adopt a fire code.

Fiscal Notes

No significant fiscal implication to State or local government.

Bill Analysis

HB 684 would amend code to allow any county to adopt a fire code and rules necessary to administer and enforce the fire code.

The bill would implement the recommendation in the report, "Improve Public Safety by Authorizing All Counties to Adopt Fire Codes" in the Legislative Budget Board's Government Effectiveness and Efficiency report.

Vote Recommendation Notes

Counties in Texas do not have ordinance-making authority for good reason. County government is not the appropriate level of government to make ordinances, including fire code ordinances. Liberty-loving Texans do not wish to see such cumbersome codes implemented on the county level, especially on a large scale. We oppose HB 684 as it represents a violation of the principle of limited government.