BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 1474
86R2919 SMT-F	By: Anderson, Charles "Doc" (Birdwell)
	Intergovernmental Relations
	5/16/2019
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

In recent years, the City of Waco has enjoyed explosive growth in its tourism industry. Given the increasing number of visitors to the city, interested parties have noted that the city would benefit from the creation of a tourism public improvement district. Such districts have likewise been established and serve as an important support to the tourism industries in Dallas, Fort Worth, and Arlington. This limited district would be able to utilize funds for tourism-related public improvement projects related to the improvement and promotion of the district, advertising, and development.

H.B. 1474 amends current law relating to a common characteristic or use project in a public improvement district in certain municipalities.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 372.0035, Local Government Code, by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (e), as follows:

(a) Provides that this section (Common Characteristic or Use For Projects in Certain Municipalities) applies only to:

(1) a municipality that:

(A)�(B) makes nonsubstantive changes to these paragraphs; or

(C) has a population of more than 105,000 and is wholly located in a county with a population of less than 250,000; and

(2) a public improvement district established under this subchapter (Public Improvement Districts) and solely composed of territory in which the only businesses are:

(A) makes no changes to this paragraph; or

(B) hotels with 75 or more rooms ordinarily used for sleeping, if the district is established by a municipality described by Subdivision (1)(B) or (C), rather than (1)(B).

(e) Authorizes a municipality to undertake a project under this section only for a purpose described by Section 372.003(b)(13) (relating to authorizing a public improvement project to include special supplemental services for improvement and promotion of the district, including services relating to advertising, promotion, health and sanitation, water and wastewater, public safety, security, business recruitment, development, recreation, and cultural enhancement).

SECTION 2. Makes application of Section 372.0035(e), Local Government Code, as added by this Act, prospective.

SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2019.