By Corte                                        H.B. No. 3403

      75R2835 DRH-D                           

                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

 1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to the use of railroad rights-of-way by a municipality.

 1-3           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-4           SECTION 1.  Chapter 315, Local Government Code, is amended by

 1-5     adding Section 315.007 to read as follows:

 1-6           Sec. 315.007.  USE OF ABANDONED RAILROAD RIGHT-OF-WAY BY

 1-7     MUNICIPALITY.  A municipality that accepts a railroad right-of-way

 1-8     as a gift may not use the right-of-way for a purpose other than:

 1-9                 (1)  as a railroad;

1-10                 (2)  as a greenbelt; or

1-11                 (3)  for a hike and bike trail or other similar

1-12     recreational purpose.

1-13           SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act applies only

1-14     to a gift of a railroad right-of-way that occurs on or after the

1-15     effective date of this Act.

1-16           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the

1-17     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

1-18     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

1-19     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

1-20     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,

1-21     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its

1-22     passage, and it is so enacted.