BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 5345
88R15270 ANG-F	By: Bell, Cecil (Creighton)
	Local Government
	5/11/2023
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

H.B. 5345 creates the Montgomery County Municipal Utility District No. 237 (district) as a political subdivision of the State of Texas.  The district will construct and finance water, sewer, drainage, road, and recreational facilities to serve property within the district, which is located in the extraterritorial jurisdiction of the City of Houston in Montgomery County.  The district will be a municipal utility district operating pursuant to Chapters 49 and 54, Water Code.

A special district is needed to finance and construct the infrastructure (water, sewer, drainage, roads, and recreational facilities) necessary to promote the development of the area within the district.

Special districts are created for specific areas.  No special district currently serves the area proposed to be included in the district.

The owner of all of the land in the district supports the creation of the district.

There is no known opposition to this legislation.

H.B. 5345 amends current law relating to the creation of the Montgomery County Municipal Utility District No. 237, grants a limited power of eminent domain, provides authority to issue bonds, and provides authority to impose assessments, fees, and taxes.

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 Subtitle F, Title 6, Special District Local Laws Code, by adding Chapter 7981A, as follows:

CHAPTER 7981A. MONTGOMERY COUNTY MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT NO. 237

Sets forth standard language for the creation of the Montgomery County Municipal Utility District No. 237 (district). Sets forth standards, procedures, requirements, and criteria for:

Creation, purpose, and approval of the district and the initial district territory (Sections 7981A.0101-7981A.0106);

Composition and powers of the initial directors of the district, size, composition, appointment, eligibility (Sections 7981A.0201-7981A.0202);

Powers and duties of the district (Sections 7981A.0301-7981A.0305); and

General financial provisions, authority to impose a tax, and authority to issue bonds and other obligations (Sections 7981A.0401-7981A.0503).

SECTION 2. Sets forth the initial boundaries of the district.

SECTION 3. Provides that all requirements of the constitution and the laws of this state and the rules and procedures of the legislature with respect to the notice, introduction, and passage of this Act are fulfilled and accomplished.

SECTION 4. (a) Provides that if this Act does not receive a two-thirds vote of all members of each house, Subchapter C, Chapter 7981A, Special District Local Laws Code, as added by Section 1 of this Act, is amended by adding Section 7981A.0306, as follows:

Sec. 7981A.0306. NO EMINENT DOMAIN POWER. Prohibits the district from exercising the power of eminent domain.

(b) Provides that this section is not intended to be an expression of a legislative interpretation of the requirements of Section 17(c) (relating to authorizing the legislature to enact a general, local, or special law granting the power of eminent domain to an entity only on a two-thirds vote of all the members elected to each house on or after January 1, 2010), Article I (Bill of Rights), Texas Constitution.

SECTION 5. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2023.