Lewisville city officials first took an active role in the Texas Legislature during the 2013 session in response to an increasing number of bills filled that year that would have directly harmed cities across Texas, including Lewisville.

The City, fronted by the Mayor and City Council, became increasingly active in each subsequent session as the number of harmful bills continued to grow. The City's initial foray into the Legislative process was focused primarily on educating elected officials at the state level who might not have understood those potential damages. During the 2017 and 2019 sessions, in the face of open hostility toward cities voiced by some Legislators and reflected in many bills, Lewisville officials frequently used letters, position papers, and committee testimony to actively oppose the worst of those harmful bills.

It is the City's strong belief that cities are the level of government most closely connected to the people served. Elected city officials do all their governing work within the community they serve, and are readily accountable to the public on a daily basis. It follows that elected city officials are more in tune than state officials with the wishes of local taxpayers. That is why important local decisions should remain at the local level, and not be subjected to arbitrary statewide rules that wrongly attempt to treat all cities as if they are identical communities with identical priorities and needs.

The City of Lewisville believes strongly in the Constitutional concept of self-governance. Nearly 200 years of Texas history have shown that the most effective self-governance happens at the local level, with maximum support and minimum interference from the state. We believe this principle should be treasured and preserved to the greatest extent possible.

The video (seen above) and slide presentation (linked) were produced by Texas Municipal League and help explain the importance of allowing local cities to address local needs through local decision-making.

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