Conroe firefighters sue city over rejected ballot petition, according to lawsuit documents

CONROE, Texas (KTRK) -- Conroe firefighters have filed a lawsuit against the City of Conroe, alleging the city violated Texas law and the will of local voters by rejecting a valid petition to place collective bargaining on the May 2026 ballot.

According to the lawsuit, the Conroe Professional Fire Fighters Association says it submitted more than the legally required number of voter signatures.

Firefighters argue that Texas Local Government Code Chapter 174 requires signatures equal to five percent of voters from the previous general election, which is 2,022 signatures, according to the lawsuit.

Firefighters submitted about 3,650 signatures on Dec. 12, according to the documents.

The city, however, refused to accept the petition, asking instead for 20,000 signatures, according to the lawsuit.

In a statement, Lloyd Sandefer, president of the Conroe Professional Fire Fighters Association, said, "We're disappointed that the mayor, city council, and city attorney have chosen this unprecedented denial of a vetted, verified voter petition. We're asking the court to order the city do what's right and let the voters decide the issue."

The lawsuit claims the city's refusal is unprecedented and denies voters the right to decide on the issue.

Conroe firefighters say collective bargaining, which is approved in other Texas cities, strengthens public safety, helps staffing, improves workplace safety, and does not raise taxes.

The association is asking the court to order the city to put the measure on the ballot and allow Conroe voters to decide.

"We hope the city will see it this way soon," Sandefer said, "because there's public safety work to be done in Conroe."