PASSEDHouston City Council · 2026-03-24

The City Council approved a contract with the law firm Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP to serve as disclosure counsel when Houston issues bonds for its enterprise funds. The firm will provide specialized legal expertise in municipal finance, federal tax, and state securities law.

What it means for you

Houston will only pay Norton Rose Fulbright's legal fees if a bond transaction successfully closes, meaning no upfront cost to the city. This affects residents indirectly, as the firm helps ensure the city's bond sales comply with legal requirements when financing public projects.

Outcome

Adopted — all voting aye, nays none. Ordinance 2026-0238, official minutes of March 24, 2026.

Contracts & spending — see all →Citywide

Official sources

Meeting minutes — full record with the vote (PDF) ↗

These are the official minutes — the narrative record of what happened at the meeting, including the vote on each item.

Official council district boundaries · City of Houston GIS. Tap a district to see who represents it.

How to weigh in

Where: City Hall, 901 Bagby, 2nd Floor, Houston, TX 77002
When: Council meets Tuesdays 1:30 p.m. & Wednesdays 9:00 a.m. Public Session — when you can speak — is Tuesdays at 2:00 p.m. (5:00 p.m. on the last Tuesday of the month).
Speak: Register by 3:00 p.m. the Monday before: call 832.393.1100, email speakers@houstontx.gov, or go in person to the City Secretary (City Hall Annex, 900 Bagby, Room P101). Each speaker gets 1–3 minutes.
Watch: Live on HTV ↗

From the City Council meetings information page. Confirm the exact date on the official agenda before you go.

Quick answersfrom the official record

Who's paid?Norton Rose Fulbright US LLPminutes ↗

Who decides?Houston City Council — its 16 members (11 district + 5 at-large) vote; the Mayor presides and also votes. Taken up at the March 24, 2026 meeting — Adopted, all voting aye.minutes ↗

The official caption doesn't name a dollar amount or which fund pays for it — full details in the official minutes ↗

What this company has been paid

The city's published checkbook records $4,188,373 paid to NORTON ROSE FULBRIGHT US LLP across 180 payment lines, FY2018–FY2026.

That is money already paid across all city business with this company — not the amount this item approves, and not a total for this contract.

See the year-by-year breakdown →

Cite this: https://plaindocket.com/item/real-cs20260324-21 — data from official records via PlainDocket.