S.B. No. 777 amends the Local Government Code to establish new standards for compensation and employment conditions for municipal employees, particularly focusing on collective bargaining agreements and impasse resolution processes. The bill introduces provisions that preempt local ordinances and rules that conflict with the new standards, ensuring uniformity across political subdivisions. It also clarifies that if an arbitration award or other impasse resolution is rendered, the public employer is deemed compliant with employment conditions for the duration of the collective bargaining period. Additionally, the bill modifies the heading of Subchapter E to reflect a broader scope of impasse resolution beyond just arbitration.

Furthermore, the bill creates a new Subchapter E-1 specifically for municipalities with populations between 950,000 and 1,050,000, detailing a binding interest arbitration process for collective bargaining disputes involving fire department employees. It outlines the steps for selecting arbitrators and the criteria for arbitration awards, emphasizing the importance of considering comparable public sector employment conditions and the financial implications for municipalities. The changes made by this Act validate existing impasse resolution provisions and apply to ongoing collective bargaining negotiations, while also ensuring that prior agreements are not challenged based on these new laws.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Local Government Code 174.005, Local Government Code 174.021, Local Government Code 174.153, Local Government Code 174.1535, Local Government Code 174.156, Local Government Code 174.158, Local Government Code 174.163 (Local Government Code 174)
Senate Committee Report: Local Government Code 174.005, Local Government Code 174.022, Local Government Code 174.153, Local Government Code 174.156, Local Government Code 174.163 (Local Government Code 174)
Engrossed: Local Government Code 174.005, Local Government Code 174.022, Local Government Code 174.153, Local Government Code 174.156, Local Government Code 174.163 (Local Government Code 174)
House Committee Report: Local Government Code 174.005, Local Government Code 174.022, Local Government Code 174.153, Local Government Code 174.156, Local Government Code 174.163 (Local Government Code 174)
Enrolled: Local Government Code 174.005, Local Government Code 174.022, Local Government Code 174.153, Local Government Code 174.156, Local Government Code 174.163 (Local Government Code 174)