Legislative Update

By STEPHANIE GRAVES, HAA Legislative Chair, with BRADLEY PEPPER, Vice President of Government Affairs

CARBON MONOXIDE SAFETY HAA and Harris County Fire Marshal team up for safety.

CARBOM MONOXIDE IS a silent killer. It’s rarely a problem in the southern United States, but last winter’s freeze and associated power outages led to several fatalities – mostly involving people trying to use gas-powered generators improperly.

Both Houston and unincorporated Harris County are phasing in new carbon monoxide alarm requirements. By 2025, every apartment unit in a building with either enclosed garages or any gas appliances will need to have an approved carbon monoxide alarm.

One missing element, however, is in the process of being corrected. Though it should be common sense, Harris County’s fire code, which applies in the unincorporated areas of the county, did not actually ban the unsafe use of certain things that can produce carbon monoxide.

The Harris County Fire Marshal, along with the Houston Apartment Association, is proposing an amendment to the county fire code that would prohibit “charcoal burners, LP-gas cooking appliances, open-flame cooking devices, gas and fuel fired heaters or any other solid, liquid or gas fueled appliance” from being stored or used in an apartment or on an apartment patio or balcony. The amendment would also prohibit “vehicles, portable generators, lawn-care equipment and

Legislative, continued from Page 9 portable cooking equipment” from being stored or used in apartment units or on balconies or patios.

What is probably an even more important issue is public education. HAA will be working with the Harris County Fire Marshal on messaging you can distribute to your residents reminding them about carbon monoxide safety – especially with respect to generators. People don’t always use the best common sense when they’re cold and without power, so an extra dose of pubic education is never a bad idea.

March 1 Primary Elections

Most elected officials in the United States are elected from districts, drawn purposely to elect a Republican or a Democrat. Accordingly, most of the decisions about important offices that impact the apartment industry are effectively made by voters in party primary elections – not in the November general election.

Texas has an open primary system. Meaning, we only register as voters, not as Republicans or Democrats. On primary election day, any registered voter can vote in either the Republican or Democratic primary. Your choice of primary doesn’t commit you to vote for anybody in the November election. The only thing you can’t do is vote in one party’s primary, then in the other party’s runoff election if one is required where no candidate receives a majority in a particular race.

This year, the Republican and Democratic parties in Texas are holding primary elections on March 1. At press time, the HAA Political Action Committee was still working on endorsements for the upcoming primary elections, so check haaonline.org for the latest updates, but here are a few early recommendations in some key races. We also have a handy list of our endorsed candidates as of presstime (Jan. 15) on Page 56 of this issue.

Republican Primary

The HAAPAC works closely with the Texas Apartment Association on endorsements for state representatives and senators, and some of those are still in the works, but we did want to get out in front of one key House race. State Representative Jim Murphy, an important business ally for many years, is not seeking reelection in the heavily Republican West Houston District 133. Out of a strong field of candidates, the HAA- PAC is endorsing Greg Travis, a key voice for business on the Houston City Council. We see him as a natural fit for this district, which almost exactly overlaps his city council district.

Another critical race in the Republican Primary is in Justice of the Peace Precinct 5, where Judge Jeff Williams is not seeking reelection. This precinct is almost evenly divided between Republican and Democratic voters. In the Republican Primary, we strongly recommend Bret Kisluk, a seasoned attorney and experienced municipal court judge. Judge Kisluk has an ambitious plan to increase the efficiency of the court – currently the busiest court in Texas, which has struggled to keep up with the caseload given the additional requirments imposed on courts as a result of the pandemic.

In the Republican Primary in Montgomery County, HAAPAC recommends the reelection of County Judge Mark Keough, along with county commissioners Charlie Riley and James Metts.

In northern Fort Bend County, we recommend reelecting Justice of the Peace Kelly Crow – a good incumbent judge who is having to run in a different precinct (Precinct 1) because of the county’s new redistricting map.

In Brazoria County, we recommend reelecting Justice of the Peace Sherry Kersh to her Precinct 4 court in West Columbia.

Democratic Primary

While we will miss David Patronella as a longtime justice of the peace in Harris County’s flagship downtown court, we are excited to endorse him for Harris County Civil Court at Law Number 4. Judge Patronella faces a crowded field of candidates, so we may be looking for additional support for him in a runoff election after the March 1 primary.

For Judge Patronella’s former court, HAAPAC endorses Ron Campana to serve this important court in the Democratic-leaning Precinct 1. Campana is an experienced attorney who impressed HAAPAC trustees with his knowledge of the law and understanding of the court process.

In Precinct 2, longtime judge George Risner is not seeking reelection. Between two candidates running in this Democratic-leaning precinct, HAAPAC suggests Blair McClure, who would bring a common-sense approach to the court.

In the bipartisan West Houston Precinct 5, between the two Democratic candidates, HAAPAC recommends Roderick Rodgers, an experienced attorney.

Two incumbent Harris County justices of the peace are seeking reelection against Democratic Primary opponents. HAAPAC recommends reelecting both Angela Rodriguez (Precinct 6) and Lucia Bates (Precinct 3). These experienced judges deserve another term serving the courts in these two Democratic-leaning precincts.

Harris County Commissioner Adrian Garcia is also seeking reelection. Commissioner Garcia has been an apartment industry ally going back to his days as county sheriff, Houston City Council member and as a Houston police officer. HAAPAC recommends a vote for him in this Democratic Primary race.

In Fort Bend County, HAAPAC supports the renomination of County Judge KP George and County Commissioner Grady Prestage in the Democratic Primary. In Precinct 2, HAAPAC supports the reelection of Justice of the Peace Mark Gibson, an experienced judge, who presides over an important court in Missouri City.

Support HAAPAC

If you’re not already involved in the HAAPAC, 2022 is the year to add your voice to ours. Few organizations engage in the justice of the peace races that are so critical to our industry, and your support can mean the difference between a judge who follows the law and one who does not. Visit haaonline.org/HAAPAC for more information. For as little as $100, you can be a part of this important effort to keep our industry strong.

If you have a regulatory problem or question, call the HAA main line at 713-595-0300 and ask for Government Affairs. If a particular code requirement or issue concerns you, let us know by emailing Bradley at bpepper@haaonline.org.