Certain public employers and fire fighter bargaining agents must use the charter or agreement impasse-resolution process when bargaining reaches impasse or remains unsettled after 61 days.
Sec. 174.165. OTHER IMPASSE RESOLUTION FOR FIRE FIGHTERS UNDER MUNICIPAL CHARTER OR COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), this section applies only to: (1) except as provided by Subdivision (2), if a municipality has a charter that provides for the resolution of an impasse in a collective bargaining process governed by this chapter involving a public employer of the municipality and an association that is a bargaining agent for employees of the public employer, that public employer and bargaining agent; or (2) if a collective bargaining agreement under this chapter is in effect and provides for the resolution of an impasse in a collective bargaining process governed by this chapter involving a public employer of a political subdivision and an association that is the bargaining agent for the fire fighters of the public employer, that public employer and bargaining agent. (b) This section does not apply to a municipality or association to which Subchapter E-1 applies. (c) A public employer and an association that is a bargaining agent for fire fighters shall submit to the impasse resolution mechanism contained in the charter or agreement described by Subsection (a), as applicable, if the parties: (1) reach an impasse in collective bargaining; or (2) are unable to settle after the 61st day after the date the appropriate lawmaking body fails to approve a contract reached through collective bargaining. (d) A provision of this subchapter relating to arbitration does not apply to the impasse resolution mechanism described by Subsection (c), unless the charter or agreement described by Subsection (a), as applicable, specifically provides otherwise. To the extent of any conflict, the charter or agreement, as applicable, prevails over any provision of this subchapter. Added by Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 901 (S.B. 777), Sec. 7, eff. September 1, 2025. SUBCHAPTER E-1. ARBITRATION IN CERTAIN MUNICIPALITIES