H.B. No. 3648 introduces Chapter 162 to the Local Government Code, which grants counties with populations of 3.3 million or more the authority to manage employment matters for sheriff's department employees, excluding those that have adopted Chapter 174. The bill establishes a "meet and confer team" to represent employees in negotiations over employment terms, such as wages and working conditions, while explicitly excluding pension-related issues. It outlines the process for recognizing this team as the exclusive bargaining agent, requiring a petition signed by a majority of employees and potentially a certification election. Agreements reached must be documented in writing and ratified by a majority vote of the commissioners court, and the bill prohibits strikes by department employees, imposing penalties for violations.

Furthermore, the bill allows registered voters to petition for the repeal of a meet and confer agreement, requiring signatures from at least 10 percent of the votes cast in the last general election. If the petition is validated, the commissioners court must call an election to decide on the repeal, which can coincide with the next general election. The bill clarifies that it does not repeal existing employee benefits unless explicitly stated in a ratified agreement and protects the free speech rights of employees regarding their support or opposition to any agreement. The provisions of this bill are set to take effect on September 1, 2025.

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