Texas Firefighters Sue City Over Rejected Collective Bargaining Ballot
A firefighters’ local in Conroe, Texas, has filed suit against the city after officials rejected a petition seeking to place collective bargaining on the ballot.
According to a news report by KHOU, the Conroe Professional Fire Fighters Association, IAFF Local 2731, gathered about 3,650 signatures in support of a ballot measure that would have allowed citizens to vote on granting collective bargaining rights under Texas law. The petition was submitted to the city for verification. According to the firefighters, they only needed 2200 signatures, which is 5% of the voters who cast ballots in the November, 2024 election.
City officials rejected the petition, determining that it failed to meet statutory requirements. The city concluded that the petition did not contain a sufficient number of valid signatures to qualify for placement on the ballot.
The firefighters’ association disputes that determination and alleges that the city improperly rejected valid signatures. The lawsuit seeks judicial relief related to the city’s refusal to certify the petition and place the measure before voters.
The suit names the City of Conroe and the city secretary as defendants. It was filed in a Montgomery County District Court on December 22, 2025 (File # 25-12-20747). A copy of the complaint is not available on the court’s web site, nor could a copy be located online. It will be posted here is/when available.
Texas law allows firefighters in certain municipalities to pursue collective bargaining rights through a voter-approved process. The outcome of the litigation will determine whether the proposed collective bargaining measure proceeds to the ballot. More on the story.
