BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 4178

By: Farney

Special Purpose Districts

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties contend that certain land located in Williamson County but outside the corporate limits of any city would benefit from being developed into single-family residential homes and supporting infrastructure. Such development will need water, sewer, drainage, and road services. H.B. 4178 seeks to address this need by creating a municipal utility district in the area.

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. 4178 amends the Special District Local Laws Code to create the Williamson County Municipal Utility District No. 31, subject to voter approval at a confirmation election and municipal consent. The bill grants the district the power to undertake certain road projects. The bill requires the district to maintain a connection between a road inside the district and a public roadway that intersects a district boundary and to allow such a connection to be built at the request of a political subdivision adjacent to the district or the Texas Department of Transportation. The bill authorizes the district, subject to certain requirements, to issue obligations and impose property, operation and maintenance, and contract taxes. The bill, if it does not receive a two-thirds vote of all the members elected to each house, prohibits the district from exercising the power of eminent domain.

EFFECTIVE DATE

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