BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 4724

By: Burns

Land & Resource Management

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

It has been suggested that undeveloped land located within Johnson County would benefit from the creation of a municipal utility district. C.S.H.B. 4724 seeks to provide for the creation of such a district.

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

C.S.H.B. 4724 amends the Special District Local Laws Code to create the Dove Valley Ranch Municipal Utility District of Johnson County, subject to municipal consent and voter approval at a confirmation election. The bill grants the district the power to undertake certain road projects and provides for the division of the district. The bill authorizes the district, subject to certain requirements, to issue obligations and impose property, operation and maintenance, and contract taxes. The bill prohibits the district from exercising the power of eminent domain.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2019.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

While C.S.H.B. 4724 may differ from the original in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following summarizes the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill.

The substitute does not condition the prohibition against the district exercising the power of eminent domain on the bill failing to receive a two-thirds vote of all the members elected to each house.