Enrolled Bill Summary

            House Bill 1053 amends the Tax Code to authorize a municipality or county, alone or in combination with other municipalities, to create a commercial and industrial development zone in an area of pervasive poverty, unemployment, or economic stress that is adjacent to major transportation nodes and is located in a county with a population of 2.5 million or more. A municipality or county may contain up to three development zones. The purposes of a zone are to promote and encourage commercial development, workforce development, excellence in education, public and private partnerships, and the revitalization of neighborhoods. A development zone has the powers of a municipal management district and a county commissioners court. The bill authorizes the use of tax increment financing to fund a zone, but its governing board must evaluate specified non-tax alternatives. The board may promote tourism through advertising and marketing, and it may designate an area as a neighborhood redevelopment zone if the area is adjacent to the development zone and meets certain criteria.