BILL ANALYSIS |
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H.B. 2956 |
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By: Shine |
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Land & Resource Management |
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Committee Report (Unamended) |
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BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Current law does not expressly allow a municipality to annex an area within its extraterritorial jurisdiction if the area is separated by a railroad. In certain areas of Texas, a railroad may create an artificial boundary that precludes the annexation of land into the municipality, even if the owner of the land is in favor of the annexation. H.B. 2956 seeks to address this issue by authorizing a municipality that is annexing an area to also annex an additional area adjacent to a right-of-way of a railway line, spur, or other railroad property under certain conditions.
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CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.
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RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
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ANALYSIS
H.B. 2956 amends the Local Government Code to authorize a municipality that is annexing an area under specified annexation provisions to also annex with the initial area an additional area adjacent to a right-of-way of a railway line, spur, or other railroad property that is contiguous and runs parallel to the municipality's boundaries and is contiguous to the area being annexed. The bill establishes that an area adjacent or contiguous to the initial area being annexed is considered adjacent and contiguous to the annexing municipality for purposes of the bill's authorization or other law with a municipal boundary contiguous requirement, including a municipal charter or ordinance. The bill exempts the annexation of the additional area from a statutory annexation width requirement.
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EFFECTIVE DATE
On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2023.
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