November 4, 2026

By Mary Beth Gahan

To get the public invested in the state legislative process and how it can trickle down to local governments and taxpayers, the town is creating a legislative task force. It was an idea Mayor Cheryl Moore got from Georgetown, a city north of Austin with around the same number of residents as Flower Mound.

“It never hurts to have more bodies to help us have that momentum down in Austin,” Moore said. “That also helps us locally here to get the word out and let people know what we're doing so that social media doesn't take over.”

The group is expected to help engage the community in the legislative process, advise the town council on how to get the public more involved, and give feedback from the community about bills that would affect the town.

Members of the task force, which is temporary and runs through June 2027, will be appointed at the Nov. 16 town council meeting. Each council member and the mayor will appoint two members.

The goal is not to be political in the choosing of members and they would ideally come from both sides of the aisle, Moore said.

“It’s about having the two parties work together,” she said. “I think that’s important.”

Still, Schiestel said he would like to see those who are active in the political arenas to have a part in the task force because of their wide reach.

“I actually want the most partisan, activist people we can get because they have big networks.” Schiestel said. “I will 100 percent get precinct chairs and anyone we can get with a big rolodex.”

The meetings will be subject to the Open Meetings Act and agendas will be set around topics that have to do with the town’s legislative priorities. Schiestel said members have to know they can’t “hijack” the conversation to talk about subjects like immigration.

“As long as the members we select are willing to stay on topic, they’ll find much common ground. It’ll be great,” he said.

Earlier in the night, the council voted on its legislative priorities, which will be discussed with State Sen. Tan Parker and the two state representatives whose districts include Flower Mound. They include closing a loophole on sales tax sourcing, establishing local zoning authority, and appropriating money for a Texas Tech Health Science Center in the town.

“Most of these issues are nonpartisan,” council member Chris Drew said.

The first monthly meeting will be Dec. 10 and the agenda will focus on bills that were filed last session but did not pass and are expected to be filed again in the upcoming session.