Local Officials: Stronger, Together Podcast

After more than two decades serving Texas cities—and five impactful years with the TML Risk Pool—Scott Houston signs off with a thoughtful and candid conversation about a career dedicated to public service. In this special episode of the “ Local Officials: Stronger, Together Podcast,” Scott reflects on how the Texas Municipal League and the Risk Pool have evolved to meet the changing needs of thei...

The number of law enforcement professionals nationwide who died on duty in 2025 decreased 25 percent compared to the same time period in 2024, according to preliminary data provided by the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF) . The NLEOMF data shows that 111 federal, state, county, municipal, and U.S. Territories officers died in the line of duty in 2025, compared to the 148 of...

Texas Government Code Section 2054.5191 mandates artificial intelligence and cybersecurity training for local government employees, elected officials, and appointed officials who have access to a local government computer system or database and use a computer to perform at least 25 percent of their duties. The training must be certified by the Texas Department of Information Resources (DIR) — both...

The TML Risk Pool has seen far too many accidents and injuries in and around roadways. The Pool’s goal is to provide tools to help Members avoid them, and we’ve developed a program to do just that. R.O.A.D. Ready (The acronym stands for Recognize the Hazards; Observe People, Processes, and Equipment; Assess the Risk Level; and Determine the Safest Course of Action) is a Risk Pool program designed...

Cities and other local governments aren’t required to go through a formal procurement process to join the TML Risk Pool because they are essentially self-insuring when they do so. That being said, many do for various reasons. And when they do, local officials should be aware of various industry tactics to ensure an apples-to-apples coverage comparison. In this episode, Scott visits with the Pool’s...

In this episode, special guest host Tamara Chafin (Risk Pool’s Communications Officer) interviews Scott Houston (Risk Pool Intergovernmental Relations Manager) about the dearth of city authority in Texas to regulate firearms. Futher Information: Local Governments and Firearms:  Avoiding a Jam V5 (Comprehensive Paper in Q&A Format) Local Governments and Firearms:  Avoiding a Jam V5 (Cheat Sheet...

Texas summers are brutal and can even be deadly. Some local government employees have no choice but to work in the heat to do their jobs. For those employees, the Pool’s loss prevention provides tips and training on how to stay safe and healthy in a demanding environment. In this episode, Scott interviews Safety and Loss Control Consultant Johnny Vera about the Pool’s efforts in this area. He also...

Our hearts are with those affected by the recent summer 2025 flooding in Texas, and the TML Risk Pool stands ready to assist its Members with Flood Coverage. Whether your entity has the coverage or not, you should know generally what it covers, for how much, and other specifics. In this episode, Scott interviews Paula Marr-Ludwig, who has been with the Pool for 37 years and managed the Pool’s unde...

Cybersecurity preparedness and response can seem technical, confusing, and daunting for local government officials, but pretending the threat isn’t real won’t save you. The TML Risk Pool’s Cyber Squad (consisting of Cyber Risk Services Manager Ryan Burns and Senior Cybersecurity advisor Mike Bell) is here to help. Whether your entity runs off one computer or 1,000, the Squad’s Fifteen-Minute Cyber...

In this special report, you’ll hear from Jeff Thompson (Risk Pool Executive Director) as he explains the partnership that is the TML Risk Pool and the major rate drivers that affect your 2025-2026 rerates. 

In this episode, Scott explains the predictions for the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season and visits with a special guest – Matthew Rosencrans, NOAA's lead for the seasonal hurricane outlook – to get his take on things a local official should know about this season. Unsurprisingly, being prepared is one thing. Local officials from almost every part of the state should tune in to learn about one...

In this special video episode, host Scott Houston interviews the TML Risk Pool’s mascot – Risky the Armadillo! In this super-fun conversation, you’ll hear about how Risky came to be, how he got his name, and how he plans to help spread the word about the Pool’s coverages, programs, and benefits for local governments. Watch the YouTube video version to see Risky in person!     Further Information  ...

In this STP episode , host Scott Houston interviews Texas A&M Forest Service Wildfire Prevention Specialist Heather Gonzales about state wildfire education and prevention resources available to local government officials. He also visits with Borger City Manager Garrett Spradling about the city’s mitigation program, which likely prevented wholesale destruction from the Windy Deuce fire in 2024....

In this episode, Scott interviews renowned customer experience expert Jay Baer, who shares his powerful "Be Quick, Be Clear, Be Kind" customer experience framework.   Jay explains why speed matters in service, how clarity builds trust, and why kindness fosters stronger community relationships. He offers practical strategies for local officials and employees (or really anyone who interact...

The TML Risk Pool has seen far too many accidents and injuries in and around roadways The Pool’s goal is to provide tools to help Members avoid them, and we’ve developed a program to do just that. R.O.A.D. Ready is a Risk Pool program designed to save lives, prevent injuries, and protect property by raising member awareness of dangers on and near roadways, and January is R.O.A.D. Ready month. List...

First responders operate in a difficult environment. In fact, most civilians have no idea the stressors of their daily work. One thing has become clear: These important jobs can quickly take a toll on the mental health of a city’s police, fire, EMS, animal control, and code enforcement personnel.   How can city officials ensure that first responders have the resources they need to stay healthy? Th...

This year marks the 21st annual Cybersecurity Awareness Month and the federal Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) encourages every American to take steps to “Secure Our World.”    In this episode , host Scott Houston – and the Risk Pool’s Cyber Squad – discuss ways to help you avoid being the victim of a cyberattack. The squad consists of Cyber Risk Services Manager Ryan Burns...

In this episode, host Scott Houston – and guest TML General Counsel Bill Longley – explain H.B. 471 (effective September 1, 2023) and TML Risk Pool coverage designed to assist Members with compliance costs. The bill enacted a new state law (Local Government Code Chapter 177A) that requires a city (and any other political subdivision) to provide a firefighter, police officer, or emergency medical s...

On January 11, 2020, in Lubbock, a driver from the opposing lane of travel crossed the median while emergency crews were working the scene of an accident. Firefighter Lieutenant Eric Hill and Police Officer Nicholas Reyna were killed. Firefighter/Paramedic Matt Dawson suffered many broken bones across his legs, arms, and torso, a cracked skull along with multiple orbital fractures, and a traumatic...

In this episode, Scott first speaks with Arkansas Municipal League Executive Director Mark Hayes. Mark lost his son Wells in 2020 to a drug overdose. Mark and his wife Allison decided to share Wells’ story as publicly as they can in the hopes that doing so helps others avoid such a tragedy. Mark is also a co-founder of the Arkansas Opioids Recovery Partnership, which uses millions in drug company...

Cybersecurity threats are changing, emerging, and growing every day to include city funds, government websites, and water systems and other infrastructure. Local officials should stay aware of the changing cybersecurity landscape and evolving hacker tactics. In this episode, Scott interviews Dr. Michael Ramage, Director of Cyber Education and Research Center at Murray State University, to learn ab...

In this episode, Scott explains the predictions for the 2024 hurricane season and visits with a special guest – Matthew Rosencrans, the Climate Testbed Director at NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center – to get his top three things a local official should know about this season. Unsurprisingly, being prepared is one thing. Local officials from almost every part of the state should tune in to learn abou...

In this episode, Scott visits with a public relations/communications expert about what a city or other local government official should know about communicating with the public and media during a crisis. Be it severe weather, an act of violence, or any other catastrophic event, elected officials, city managers, and city attorneys need to know the basics. This episode also mentions the Pool’s new q...

In this episode, Scott explains the Pool’s internal efforts to ensure appropriate resources are provided to the approximately 800 law enforcement departments covered by the Pool. The efforts began with a July 2023 preliminary report that was presented to the Board of Trustees for their consideration. The Board's comments were then incorporated into a summary of actions, which serves as a road...

In this special report, you’ll hear from Jeff Thompson (Executive Director) and Aaron Hardiman (Risk Services Manager) as they explain the state of the Pool, the major rate drivers, and their effect on your 2024–2025 rerates.   Further Information TML Risk Pool Board of Trustees Adopts 2024-2025 Rates TML Risk Pool Board of Trustees Adopts 2024-2025 Rates (Housing Authority Edition)