Regular Session
Galveston County Judge • Galveston County Commissioners Court
Key implementation requirements and action items for compliance with this legislation
Update standard templates for Galveston County projects. Replace signature blocks reading "County Judge" with "County Judge or Authorized Designee." Insert recitals referencing Texas Local Government Code Section 81.028 to establish the statutory basis for the designee's authority.
Train procurement officers and project managers to stop demanding the County Judge's personal signature. Instruct teams to accept delegated signatures *only* when accompanied by a certified copy of the active Delegation Order.
Mandate the attachment of the specific Order of Delegation to every executed contract, variance, or permit in your internal due diligence files. In the event of a dispute, this document is your primary evidence that the contract was validly executed.
No new statutory fees or direct cost increases.
The statute broadly allows delegation of "duties" without explicitly excluding high-stakes powers, such as declaring local disasters or executing high-value financial instruments. Businesses must watch the initial Delegation Order to see if the Judge retains exclusive authority over contracts exceeding specific dollar thresholds or if these are also delegated to staff.
Our government affairs experts can walk you through this bill's specific impact on your operations.
Schedule ConsultationInformation presented is for general knowledge only and is provided without warranty, express or implied. Consult qualified government affairs professionals and legal counsel before making compliance decisions.
This bill's path through the Texas Legislature
BILL ANALYSIS |
| H.B. 2273 |
| By: Bonnen |
| Intergovernmental Affairs |
| Committee Report (Unamended) |
| BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The bill author has informed the committee that Galveston County faces unique challenges requiring swift, effective leadership during emergencies and that hurricanes, industrial risks from refineries, and the presence of critical infrastructure like biolabs heighten the need for clear governance mechanisms. The bill author has also informed the committee that state law allows for the emergency delegation of certain duties of the county judge in certain counties, but that this law does not currently apply to Galveston County. H.B. 2273 seeks to extend to certain counties the authority to delegate certain powers in order to ensure efficient and effective county government operations in Galveston County, especially during times of disaster.
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| CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.
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| RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
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| ANALYSIS H.B. 2273 amends the Local Government Code to extend to a county judge in a county with a population of at least 350,000 and not more than 370,000 that is adjacent to the Gulf of Mexico and adjacent to a county with a population of at least 3.3 million the authority granted to a county judge in a county with a population of more than 1.5 million to file an order with the commissioners court of the county delegating to another county officer or an employee of the county the ability to sign orders or other official documents associated with the county judge's office.
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| EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2025.
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| H.B. No. 2273 | ||
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| relating to the delegation of certain authority of a county judge in | ||
| certain counties. | ||
| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
| SECTION 1. The heading to Section 81.028, Local Government | ||
| Code, is amended to read as follows: | ||
| Sec. 81.028. DELEGATION OF DUTIES OF [ |
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| CERTAIN COUNTIES [ |
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| SECTION 2. Section 81.028(a), Local Government Code, is | ||
| amended to read as follows: | ||
| (a) This section applies only [ |
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| judge in a county: | ||
| (1) with a population of more than 1.5 million; or | ||
| (2) with a population of at least 350,000 and not more | ||
| than 370,000 that is adjacent to the Gulf of Mexico and adjacent to | ||
| a county with a population of at least 3.3 million. | ||
| SECTION 3. The heading to Section 81.029, Local Government | ||
| Code, is amended to read as follows: | ||
| Sec. 81.029. DELEGATION OF DUTIES OF [ |
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| COUNTY COMMISSIONER IN CERTAIN COUNTIES. | ||
| SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. | ||
| TO: | Honorable Cecil Bell, Chair, House Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs |
| FROM: | Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board |
| IN RE: | HB2273 by Bonnen (Relating to the delegation of certain authority of a county judge in certain counties.), As Introduced |
| Source Agencies: |
| LBB Staff: | JMc, SZ, BC, CWi |
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Common questions about HB2273
HB2273 authorizes the Galveston County Judge to delegate signature and administrative authority to county commissioners or staff, effective June 20, 2025. This impacts all entities contracting with or seeking permits from Galveston County by altering the legal counterparty required for valid execution of documents. Implementation Timeline Effective Date: June 20, 2025 (Immediate effect due to supermajority vote).
HB2273 was authored by Texas Representative Greg Bonnen during the Regular Session.
HB2273 was signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott on June 20, 2025.
HB2273 is enforced by Galveston County Judge and Galveston County Commissioners Court.
The compliance urgency for HB2273 is rated as "low". Businesses and organizations should review the requirements and timeline to ensure timely compliance.
The cost impact of HB2273 is estimated as "low". This may vary based on industry and implementation requirements.
HB2273 addresses topics including county government, county government--employees/officers, county government--general, courts and courts--county & statutory.
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