Texas Supreme Court Preserves Governor Abbott’s Order On Ballot Drop-Off Locations

Staff Report

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Texas Supreme Court Reverses Third Court Order, Preserves Governor Abbott’s Order on Ballot Drop-Off Locations

AUSTIN – The Supreme Court of Texas reversed a Third Court of Appeals ruling and dissolved a district court injunction challenging Governor Greg Abbott’s order, which allows counties to have only one ballot return location during early voting.

The 2020 general election is already underway and the integrity of our election process must be protected and preserved.

Governor Abbott’s order rightfully bolsters the security of dropped-off ballots. The Texas Supreme Court correctly stopped the district court’s unlawful injunction and preserved election integrity.

Read a copy of the order here.

Request for Opinion

Official Request Summary — (RQ-0385-KP)
Whether subsection 20.05(a)(5) of the Business and Commerce Code prohibits a consumer reporting agency from reporting certain information if the consumer is covered by a self-funded plan with a reference base pricing program

Date Received
Tuesday, October 20, 2020

Official Requestor
The Honorable Tamara L. Cochran-May
San Patricio County Attorney
400 West Sinton, Room 108
Sinton, Texas 78387

Request for Opinion

Official Request Summary — (RQ-0384-KP)
Whether public improvement district assessments may be used in specific circumstances

Date Received
Thursday, October 15, 2020

Official Requestor
The Honorable Dee Hobbs
Williamson County Attorney
405 M.L.K Street, #7
Georgetown, Texas 78626

Request for Opinion

Official Request Summary — (RQ-0383-KP)
Government limitations on an individual’s right of access to clergy for health reasons

Date Received
Thursday, October 15, 2020

Official Requestor
The Honorable James White
Chair, House Committee on Corrections
Texas House of Representatives
Post Office Box 2910
Austin, Texas 78768-2910

Notification of Opinion

Official Request Summary — (RQ-0353-KP)
Calculation of the minimum salary of a county court at law judge with twelve or more years of accrued service under subsection 25.0005(a) of the Government Code

Official Opinion Summary — (KP-0339)
The minimum salary of a county court at law judge with twelve or more years of accrued service under subsection 25.0005(a) of the Government Code is calculated in conjunction with Government Code sections 659.012 and 659.0445.

Notification of Opinion

Official Request Summary — (RQ-0348-KP)
Whether a professional employer organization that conducts money transmission as defined in the Finance Code is subject to licensure under the Finance Code, notwithstanding licensure as a professional employer organization under the Labor Code

Official Opinion Summary — (KP-0338)
The Texas Constitution, common law, and the property’s status as surplus must be considered by an independent school district in determining whether the district may enter a long-term ground lease with a private entity that intends to develop the district’s surplus property for noneducational purposes that are expected to yield financial benefits that exceed the property’s current sale-value.