BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1277

By: Ashby

Land & Resource Management

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties note that, under certain circumstances, a general-law municipality may annex certain territory without the consent of any of the residents or voters of an area. The parties further explain that the law provides for those affected by the annexation to petition for disannexation. These parties assert that the annexation process in certain circumstances would be more balanced if consent were obtained before annexation. H.B. 1277 seeks to provide for that prior consent in establishing requirements for annexation by general-law municipalities of certain commercial or industrial areas.

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.

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.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 1277 amends the Local Government Code to authorize a general-law municipality to annex an area in which 50 percent or more of the property in the area to be annexed is primarily used for a commercial or industrial purpose only if the municipality is otherwise authorized by applicable statutory provisions to annex the area and complies with the requirements prescribed under that authority and if the municipality obtains the written consent of the owners of a majority of the property in the area to be annexed. The bill requires such written consent to be signed by the owners of the property and to include a description of the area to be annexed.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2015.