BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.J.R. 99
87R16174 JAM-D	By: Canales et al. (Nichols)
	Transportation
	5/17/2021
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Transportation infrastructure is severely underfunded due to the size and needs of the state. A recent study showed that Texas is underinvesting in transportation by several billion dollars each year. The Texas Constitution gives the legislature the power to authorize, by general law, an incorporated city or town to issue bonds or notes for the purpose of financing the development or redevelopment of certain areas and to pledge increases in property tax revenues for the repayment of those bonds or notes. However, the constitution does not expressly give the legislature the power to grant that same authority to counties. The bill seeks to eliminate this discrepancy between the treatment of cities and counties with regard to this authority and provide counties more tools to develop and redevelop transportation and infrastructure. The bill proposes an amendment to the Texas Constitution to authorize the legislature by general law to authorize a county to issue bonds or notes to finance the development or redevelopment of an unproductive, underdeveloped, or blighted area within the county and to pledge for repayment of those bonds or notes increases in property tax revenues imposed on property in the area by the county.

H.J.R. 99 proposes a constitutional amendment authorizing a county to finance the development or redevelopment of transportation or infrastructure in unproductive, underdeveloped, or blighted areas in the county; and authorizes the issuance of bonds and notes.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 1-g(b), Article VIII, Texas Constitution, as follows:

(b) Authorizes the legislature by general law to authorize a county or an incorporated city or town, rather than to authorize an incorporated city or town, to issue bonds or notes to finance the development or redevelopment of an unproductive, underdeveloped, or blighted area within the county, city, or town and to pledge for repayment of those bonds or notes increases in ad valorem tax revenues imposed on property in the area by the county, city, or town and other political subdivisions.

SECTION 2. Requires that the proposed constitutional amendment be submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 2, 2021. Sets forth the required language of the ballot.