Court Orders Conroe to Process Firefighter Petition, Citing ‘Irreparable’ Harm
CONROE, TX – A Montgomery County state district court has intervened in a mounting legal battle between the City of Conroe and its local firefighters, ordering the city to immediately process a voter petition that officials had previously refused to accept.
The temporary restraining order (TRO), granted by Judge John M. Delaney on Friday, January 9, 2026, aims to prevent “irreparable injury” to the democratic process. Without the court’s intervention, the city’s inaction would have likely run out the clock on a mid-February deadline to place the issue of collective bargaining on the May 2026 municipal ballot.
The Signature Dispute
The core of the legal conflict involves a disagreement over how many signatures are legally required to trigger a public vote.
- The City’s Stance: The Conroe City Attorney demanded 20,000 signatures, claiming the city could not verify the exact turnout from the previous election and would “default” to the higher number.
- The Firefighters’ Stance: Citing Texas Local Government Code Chapter 174, the Conroe Professional Fire Fighters Association argued they only needed 5% of the voters from the November 2024 general election. Based on data from the Texas Secretary of State showing 40,425 local participants, that requirement is just 2,022 signatures.
The association has already submitted approximately 3,650 verified signatures—well over the 5% threshold—accompanied by three separate legal opinions supporting their interpretation of the law.
Why Collective Bargaining?
Collective bargaining is a state-sanctioned process that allows public safety employees to negotiate with city management over workplace standards. According to Association President Lloyd Sandefer, the goal is to enhance public safety through:
- Standardized Staffing Levels: Ensuring enough firefighters are on each truck to reduce injury risks.
- Training & Equipment: Establishing consistent benchmarks for safety gear and professional development.
- Dispute Resolution: Creating a structured environment to maintain “labor peace” without the risk of strikes (which are prohibited for firefighters under Texas law).
Sandefer noted that several other Texas cities, including Irving and Victoria, recently approved similar measures. He expressed disappointment that the city has already authorized up to $250,000 in taxpayer funds for outside legal counsel to fight the petition.
What’s Next?
While the TRO forces the city to begin processing the signatures now, the battle isn’t over.
- January 22, 2026: A temporary injunction hearing is scheduled in Conroe to determine if the court will issue a more permanent order.
- Mid-February 2026: The final deadline for the City Council to order the May election.
The case is officially titled Conroe Professional Fire Fighters Association v. City of Conroe, Texas.
