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               AN ACT
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            relating to payment of costs related to the relocation of certain  | 
         
         
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            utility facilities for state highway projects. | 
         
         
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                   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | 
         
         
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                   SECTION 1.  Section 203.092(a-4), Transportation Code, is  | 
         
         
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            amended to read as follows: | 
         
         
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                   (a-4)  Notwithstanding another provision of this section, a  | 
         
         
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            utility shall make a relocation of a utility facility required by  | 
         
         
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            improvement of the state highway system at the expense of this state  | 
         
         
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            if the commission determines that: | 
         
         
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                         (1)  the utility is a political subdivision, [or] is  | 
         
         
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            owned or operated by a political subdivision, or is a water supply  | 
         
         
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            or sewer service corporation organized and operating under Chapter  | 
         
         
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            67, Water Code; | 
         
         
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                         (2)  a financial condition would prevent the utility  | 
         
         
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            from being able to pay the cost of relocation in full or in part at  | 
         
         
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            the time of relocation or, if paid at that time, the payment would  | 
         
         
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            adversely affect the utility's ability to operate or provide  | 
         
         
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            essential services to its customers; and | 
         
         
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                         (3)  the utility: | 
         
         
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                               (A)  would not be able to receive a state  | 
         
         
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            infrastructure bank loan under Subchapter D, Chapter 222, to  | 
         
         
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            finance the cost of the relocation and is otherwise unable to  | 
         
         
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            finance that cost; or | 
         
         
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                               (B)  if the utility is a political subdivision or  | 
         
         
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            is owned or operated by a political subdivision, the political  | 
         
         
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            subdivision [that]: | 
         
         
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                                     (i)  has a population of less than 5,000; and | 
         
         
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                                     (ii)  is located in a county that has been  | 
         
         
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            included in at least five disaster declarations made by the  | 
         
         
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            president of the United States in the six-year period preceding the  | 
         
         
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            proposed date of the relocation. | 
         
         
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                   SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives  | 
         
         
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            a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as  | 
         
         
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            provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this  | 
         
         
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            Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this  | 
         
         
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            Act takes effect September 1, 2023. | 
         
         
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            ______________________________ | 
            ______________________________ | 
         
         
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               President of the Senate | 
            Speaker of the House      | 
         
         
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                   I hereby certify that S.B. No. 2601 passed the Senate on  | 
         
         
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            May 3, 2023, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays 1;  | 
         
         
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            May 22, 2023, Senate refused to concur in House amendment and  | 
         
         
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            requested appointment of Conference Committee; May 23, 2023, House  | 
         
         
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            granted request of the Senate; May 27, 2023, Senate adopted  | 
         
         
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            Conference Committee Report by the following vote:  Yeas 31,  | 
         
         
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            Nays 0. | 
         
         
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            ______________________________ | 
         
         
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            Secretary of the Senate     | 
         
         
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                   I hereby certify that S.B. No. 2601 passed the House, with  | 
         
         
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            amendment, on May 19, 2023, by the following vote:  Yeas 143,  | 
         
         
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            Nays 0, one present not voting; May 23, 2023, House granted request  | 
         
         
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            of the Senate for appointment of Conference Committee;  | 
         
         
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            May 26, 2023, House adopted Conference Committee Report by the  | 
         
         
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            following vote:  Yeas 136, Nays 0, one present not voting. | 
         
         
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            ______________________________ | 
         
         
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            Chief Clerk of the House    | 
         
         
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            Approved: | 
         
         
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            ______________________________  | 
         
         
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                       Date | 
         
         
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            ______________________________  | 
         
         
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                      Governor |