86R16953 GRM-F
 
  By: Fallon S.B. No. 2536
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the creation of the Howe Municipal Utility District No.
  1; granting a limited power of eminent domain; providing authority
  to issue bonds; providing authority to impose assessments, fees,
  and taxes.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subtitle F, Title 6, Special District Local Laws
  Code, is amended by adding Chapter 8100 to read as follows:
  CHAPTER 8100. HOWE MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT NO. 1
  SUBCHAPTER A.  GENERAL PROVISIONS
         Sec. 8100.0101.  DEFINITIONS.  In this chapter:
               (1)  "Board" means the district's board of directors.
               (2)  "Commission" means the Texas Commission on
  Environmental Quality.
               (3)  "Director" means a board member.
               (4)  "District" means the Howe Municipal Utility
  District No. 1.
         Sec. 8100.0102.  NATURE OF DISTRICT.  The district is a
  municipal utility district created under Section 59, Article XVI,
  Texas Constitution.
         Sec. 8100.0103.  CONFIRMATION AND DIRECTOR ELECTION
  REQUIRED.  The temporary directors shall hold an election to
  confirm the creation of the district and to elect five permanent
  directors as provided by Section 49.102, Water Code.
         Sec. 8100.0104.  CONSENT OF MUNICIPALITY REQUIRED. The
  temporary directors may not hold an election under Section
  8100.0103 until each municipality in whose corporate limits or
  extraterritorial jurisdiction the district is located has
  consented by ordinance or resolution to the creation of the
  district and to the inclusion of land in the district.
         Sec. 8100.0105.  FINDINGS OF PUBLIC PURPOSE AND BENEFIT.
  (a)  The district is created to serve a public purpose and benefit.
         (b)  The district is created to accomplish the purposes of:
               (1)  a municipal utility district as provided by
  general law and Section 59, Article XVI, Texas Constitution; and
               (2)  Section 52, Article III, Texas Constitution, that
  relate to the construction, acquisition, improvement, operation,
  or maintenance of macadamized, graveled, or paved roads, or
  improvements, including storm drainage, in aid of those roads.
         Sec. 8100.0106.  INITIAL DISTRICT TERRITORY.  (a)  The
  district is initially composed of the territory described by
  Section 2 of the Act enacting this chapter.
         (b)  The boundaries and field notes contained in Section 2 of
  the Act enacting this chapter form a closure.  A mistake made in the
  field notes or in copying the field notes in the legislative process
  does not affect the district's:
               (1)  organization, existence, or validity;
               (2)  right to issue any type of bond for the purposes
  for which the district is created or to pay the principal of and
  interest on a bond;
               (3)  right to impose a tax; or
               (4)  legality or operation.
  SUBCHAPTER B.  BOARD OF DIRECTORS
         Sec. 8100.0201.  GOVERNING BODY; TERMS.  (a)  The district is
  governed by a board of five elected directors.
         (b)  Except as provided by Section 8100.0202, directors
  serve staggered four-year terms.
         Sec. 8100.0202.  TEMPORARY DIRECTORS.  (a)  The temporary
  board consists of:
               (1)  Linda Baker;
               (2)  Cynthia Lowe Bakhashab;
               (3)  Debra Brown;
               (4)  Telicia Marie Owens; and
               (5)  David Lee Taylor.
         (b)  Temporary directors serve until the earlier of:
               (1)  the date permanent directors are elected under
  Section 8100.0103; or
               (2)  the fourth anniversary of the effective date of
  the Act enacting this chapter.
         (c)  If permanent directors have not been elected under
  Section 8100.0103 and the terms of the temporary directors have
  expired, successor temporary directors shall be appointed or
  reappointed as provided by Subsection (d) to serve terms that
  expire on the earlier of:
               (1)  the date permanent directors are elected under
  Section 8100.0103; or
               (2)  the fourth anniversary of the date of the
  appointment or reappointment.
         (d)  If Subsection (c) applies, the owner or owners of a
  majority of the assessed value of the real property in the district
  may submit a petition to the commission requesting that the
  commission appoint as successor temporary directors the five
  persons named in the petition.  The commission shall appoint as
  successor temporary directors the five persons named in the
  petition.
  SUBCHAPTER C.  POWERS AND DUTIES
         Sec. 8100.0301.  GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES.  The district
  has the powers and duties necessary to accomplish the purposes for
  which the district is created.
         Sec. 8100.0302.  MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT POWERS AND
  DUTIES.  The district has the powers and duties provided by the
  general law of this state, including Chapters 49 and 54, Water Code,
  applicable to municipal utility districts created under Section 59,
  Article XVI, Texas Constitution.
         Sec. 8100.0303.  AUTHORITY FOR ROAD PROJECTS. Under Section
  52, Article III, Texas Constitution, the district may design,
  acquire, construct, finance, issue bonds for, improve, operate,
  maintain, and convey to this state, a county, or a municipality for
  operation and maintenance macadamized, graveled, or paved roads, or
  improvements, including storm drainage, in aid of those roads,
  inside or outside the district.
         Sec. 8100.0304.  ROAD STANDARDS AND REQUIREMENTS. (a) A
  road project must meet all applicable construction standards,
  zoning and subdivision requirements, and regulations of each
  municipality in whose corporate limits or extraterritorial
  jurisdiction the road project is located.
         (b)  If a road project is not located in the corporate limits
  or extraterritorial jurisdiction of a municipality, the road
  project must meet all applicable construction standards,
  subdivision requirements, and regulations of each county in which
  the road project is located.
         (c)  If the state will maintain and operate the road, the
  Texas Transportation Commission must approve the plans and
  specifications of the road project.
         Sec. 8100.0305.  COMPLIANCE WITH AGREEMENT AND MUNICIPAL
  CONSENT ORDINANCE OR RESOLUTION.  The district shall comply with
  the terms of the October 2017 City of Howe and Howe Commercial Ltd.
  Chapter 380 Economic Development Program and Agreement, as amended,
  and all applicable requirements of any ordinance or resolution that
  is adopted under Section 54.016 or 54.0165, Water Code, and that
  consents to the creation of the district or to the inclusion of land
  in the district.
         Sec. 8100.0306.  DIVISION OF DISTRICT.  (a)  The district may
  be divided into two or more new districts only if the district:
               (1)  has no outstanding bonded debt; and
               (2)  is not imposing ad valorem taxes.
         (b)  This chapter applies to any new district created by the
  division of the district, and a new district has all the powers and
  duties of the district.
         (c)  Any new district created by the division of the district
  may not, at the time the new district is created, contain any land
  outside the area described by Section 2 of the Act enacting this
  chapter.
         (d)  The board, on its own motion or on receipt of a petition
  signed by the owner or owners of a majority of the assessed value of
  the real property in the district, may adopt an order dividing the
  district.
         (e)  The board may adopt an order dividing the district
  before or after the date the board holds an election under Section
  8100.0103 to confirm the creation of the district.
         (f)  An order dividing the district must:
               (1)  name each new district;
               (2)  include the metes and bounds description of the
  territory of each new district;
               (3)  appoint temporary directors for each new district;
  and
               (4)  provide for the division of assets and liabilities
  between or among the new districts.
         (g)  On or before the 30th day after the date of adoption of
  an order dividing the district, the district shall file the order
  with the commission and record the order in the real property
  records of each county in which the district is located.
         (h)  Any new district created by the division of the district
  shall hold a confirmation and directors' election as required by
  Section 8100.0103.
         (i)  If the creation of the new district is confirmed, the
  new district shall provide the election date and results to the
  commission.
         (j)  Any new district created by the division of the district
  must hold an election as required by this chapter to obtain voter
  approval before the district may impose a maintenance tax or issue
  bonds payable wholly or partly from ad valorem taxes.
         (k)  Municipal consent to the creation of the district and to
  the inclusion of land in the district granted under Section
  8100.0104 acts as municipal consent to the creation of any new
  district created by the division of the district and to the
  inclusion of land in the new district.
  SUBCHAPTER D.  GENERAL FINANCIAL PROVISIONS
         Sec. 8100.0401.  ELECTIONS REGARDING TAXES OR BONDS. (a)
  The district may issue, without an election, bonds and other
  obligations secured by:
               (1)  revenue other than ad valorem taxes; or
               (2)  contract payments described by Section 8100.0403.
         (b)  The district must hold an election in the manner
  provided by Chapters 49 and 54, Water Code, to obtain voter approval
  before the district may impose an ad valorem tax or issue bonds
  payable from ad valorem taxes.
         (c)  The district may not issue bonds payable from ad valorem
  taxes to finance a road project unless the issuance is approved by a
  vote of a two-thirds majority of the district voters voting at an
  election held for that purpose.
         Sec. 8100.0402.  OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE TAX.  (a)  If
  authorized at an election held under Section 8100.0401, the
  district may impose an operation and maintenance tax on taxable
  property in the district in accordance with Section 49.107, Water
  Code.
         (b)  The board shall determine the tax rate.  The rate may not
  exceed the rate approved at the election.
         Sec. 8100.0403.  CONTRACT TAXES.  (a)  In accordance with
  Section 49.108, Water Code, the district may impose a tax other than
  an operation and maintenance tax and use the revenue derived from
  the tax to make payments under a contract after the provisions of
  the contract have been approved by a majority of the district voters
  voting at an election held for that purpose.
         (b)  A contract approved by the district voters may contain a
  provision stating that the contract may be modified or amended by
  the board without further voter approval.
  SUBCHAPTER E.  BONDS AND OTHER OBLIGATIONS
         Sec. 8100.0501.  AUTHORITY TO ISSUE BONDS AND OTHER
  OBLIGATIONS.  The district may issue bonds or other obligations
  payable wholly or partly from ad valorem taxes, impact fees,
  revenue, contract payments, grants, or other district money, or any
  combination of those sources, to pay for any authorized district
  purpose.
         Sec. 8100.0502.  TAXES FOR BONDS. At the time the district
  issues bonds payable wholly or partly from ad valorem taxes, the
  board shall provide for the annual imposition of a continuing
  direct ad valorem tax, without limit as to rate or amount, while all
  or part of the bonds are outstanding as required and in the manner
  provided by Sections 54.601 and 54.602, Water Code.
         Sec. 8100.0503.  BONDS FOR ROAD PROJECTS. At the time of
  issuance, the total principal amount of bonds or other obligations
  issued or incurred to finance road projects and payable from ad
  valorem taxes may not exceed one-fourth of the assessed value of the
  real property in the district.
         SECTION 2.  The Howe Municipal Utility District No. 1
  initially includes all the territory contained in the following
  area:
         BEING A TRACT OF LAND LOCATED IN THE JOSEPH HAYHURST SURVEY,
  ABSTRACT No. 530 AND THE JOHN H. MILLER SURVEY, ABSTRACT No. 834,
  GRAYSON COUNTY, TEXAS, BEING ALL OF TRACTS ONE AND TWO OF LAND
  DESCRIBED IN A DEED TO HOWE COMMERCIAL, LTD., RECORDED IN VOLUME
  4046, PAGE 500, DEED RECORDS, GRAYSON COUNTY, TEXAS (D.R.G.C.T.),
  AND BEING MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED BY METES AND BOUNDS AS
  FOLLOWS:
         BEGINNING AT THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF SAID HOWE TRACT TWO AND
  IN THE WEST RIGHT-OF-WAY LINE OF STATE HIGHWAY No. 5 (S.H. 5), AND
  FROM WHICH A 1/2" IRON ROD FOUND BEARS N 24°17'01" W, 18.68 FEET;
         THENCE ALONG THE EAST LINE OF SAID HOWE TRACT TWO AND THE WEST
  RIGHT-OF-WAY LINE OF SAID S.H. 5 AS FOLLOWS:
         1)  S 19°49'23" E, 113.08 FEET TO POINT AT THE BEGINNING OF A
  CURVE TO THE LEFT:
         2)  SOUTHEASTERLY, AN ARC LENGTH OF 460.36 FEET ALONG SAID
  CURVE TO THE LEFT, HAVING A RADIUS OF 5779.58 FEET, A DELTA ANGLE OF
  4°33'50", AND A CHORD BEARING OF S 22°02'08" E, 460.24 FEET TO A
  POINT;
         3)  S 24°23'23" E, 968.50 FEET TO A POINT AT THE BEGINNING OF A
  CURVE TO THE RIGHT:
         4)  SOUTHEASTERLY, AN ARC LENGTH OF 226.37 FEET ALONG SAID
  CURVE TO THE RIGHT, HAVING A RADIUS OF 5679.58 FEET, A DELTA ANGLE
  OF 2°17'01", AND A CHORD BEARING OF S 23°14'53" E, 226.35 FEET TO A
  POINT;
         5)  S 22°06'22" E, 3924.23 FEET TO THE SOUTHEAST CORNER OF
  SAID HOWE TRACT TWO;
         THENCE ALONG THE SOUTH LINE OF SAID HOWE TRACT TWO AS FOLLOWS:
         1)  S 89°04'19" W, 1125.91 FEET TO A 3/4" IRON PIPE FOUND,
  SAID IRON PIPE BEING THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF A TRACT OF LAND
  DESCRIBED IN A DEED TO OPAL ANDERSON, RECORDED IN VOLUME 2598, PAGE
  482, D.R.G.C.T., AND BEING THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF A TRACT OF LAND
  DESCRIBED IN A DEED TO CLYDE RAY ASKEW AND DOROTHY J. ASKEW
  REVOCABLE LIVING TRUST, RECORDED IN VOLUME 5137, PAGE 478,
  D.R.G.C.T.;
         2)  S 88°50'49" W, ALONG THE NORTH LINE OF SAID ASKEW TRACT,
  AT 1213.91 FEET, PASSING THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF A TRACT OF LAND
  DESCRIBED IN A DEED TO HSIUTAO LING, YUN HUA LIN, TZU HSIANG HSU,
  AND CONNIE L. HSU, RECORDED IN VOLUME 4536, PAGE 179, D.R.G.C.T.,
  CONTINUING ALONG THE NORTH LINE OF SAID LIANG, LIN, AND HSU TRACT,
  IN ALL A TOTAL DISTANCE OF 1513.88 FEET TO A 3/4" IRON ROD FOUND,
  SAID IRON ROD BEING THE MOST NORTHERLY NORTHWEST OF SAID LIANG, LIN,
  AND HSU TRACT;
         3)  S 88°57'29" W, 1795.46 FEET TO THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF
  SAID HOWE TRACT TWO AND THE SOUTHEAST CORNER OF SAID HOWE TRACT ONE;
         THENCE S 89°17'02" W, ALONG THE SOUTH LINE OF SAID HOWE TRACT
  ONE, 645.15 FEET TO THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF SAID HOWE TRACT ONE AND
  BEING IN THE EAST RIGHT-OF-WAY LINE OF INTERSTATE HIGHWAY 75 (I.H.
  75)(A VARIABLE WIDTH RIGHT-OF-WAY), FROM WHICH A RAILROAD SPIKE
  FOUND BEARS S 52°24'30" W, 1.41 FEET;
         THENCE ALONG THE WEST LINE OF SAID HOWE TRACT ONE AND THE EAST
  RIGHT-OF-WAY LINE SAID I.H. 75 AS FOLLOWS:
         1)  N 25°42'58" W, 22.05 FEET TO A POINT;
         2)  N 41°48'58" W, 180.40 FEET TO A POINT FROM WHICH THE
  REMAINS OF A CONCRETE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (TXDOT)
  MONUMENT FOUND BEARS S 17°52' E, 0.8 FEET;
         3)  N 25°42'58"W, 695.20 FEET TO A POINT FROM WHICH THE
  REMAINS OF A CONCRETE TXDOT MONUMENT FOUND BEARS S 55°25' E, 0.8
  FEET;
         4)  N 28°34'58"W, 801.00 FEET TO A POINT FROM WHICH THE
  REMAINS OF A CONCRETE TXDOT MONUMENT FOUND BEARS S 21°07' E, 0.7
  FEET;
         5)  N 25°42'57"W, 397.69 FEET TO A 1" IRON PIPE FOUND, SAID
  IRON PIPE FOUND BEING THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF A TRACT OF LAND
  DESCRIBED IN A DEED TO GEORGE F. MIXON, JR., THE ESTATE OF GEORGE F.
  MIXON, SR., MAUDE L. DIXON, GEORGE F. MIXON, III, CYNTHIA MIXON
  BYNUM, & MARJORIE E. MIXON, RECORDED IN VOLUME 1756, PAGE 789,
  D.R.G.C.T.;
         THENCE N 00°57'05"W, DEPARTING THE EAST RIGHT-OF-WAY LINE OF
  SAID I.H. 75, ALONG A SOUTH LINE OF SAID MIXON TRACT, A DISTANCE OF
  195.61 FEET TO A POINT;
         THENCE N 89°09'02"E, CONTINUING ALONG A SOUTH LINE OF SAID
  MIXON TRACT, 1608.51 FEET TO THE SOUTHEAST CORNER OF SAID MIXON
  TRACT, THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF SAID HOWE TRACT ONE, AND IN THE WEST
  LINE OF SAID HOWE TRACT TWO;
         N 00°45'42"W, ALONG THE WEST LINE OF SAID HOWE TRACT TWO, THE
  EAST LINE OF SAID MIXON TRACT, AND THE EAST LINE OF A TRACT OF LAND
  DESCRIBED IN A DEED AS LOT 5 TO G. WARD PAXTON FLP II, LTD., RECORDED
  IN VOLUME 4896, PAGE 246, D.R.G.C.T., 3253.45 FEET TO THE NORTHWEST
  CORNER OF SAID HOWE TRACT TWO AND BEING THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF A
  TRACT OF LAND DESCRIBED IN A DEED AS LOT 8 TO SAID G. WARD PAXTON FLP
  II, LTD., RECORDED IN VOLUME 4896, PAGE 246, D.R.G.C.T.;
         N 89°10'53"E, ALONG THE NORTH LINE OF SAID HOWE TRACT TWO,
  2328.21 FEET TO THE PLACE OF BEGINNING AND CONTAINING 468.939 ACRES
  (20,426,981 SQ. FT.) OF LAND, MORE OR LESS.
         SECTION 3.  (a)  The legal notice of the intention to
  introduce this Act, setting forth the general substance of this
  Act, has been published as provided by law, and the notice and a
  copy of this Act have been furnished to all persons, agencies,
  officials, or entities to which they are required to be furnished
  under Section 59, Article XVI, Texas Constitution, and Chapter 313,
  Government Code.
         (b)  The governor, one of the required recipients, has
  submitted the notice and Act to the Texas Commission on
  Environmental Quality.
         (c)  The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has filed
  its recommendations relating to this Act with the governor, the
  lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the house of
  representatives within the required time.
         (d)  All requirements of the constitution and laws of this
  state and the rules and procedures of the legislature with respect
  to the notice, introduction, and passage of this Act are fulfilled
  and accomplished.
         SECTION 4.  (a)  If this Act does not receive a two-thirds
  vote of all the members elected to each house, Subchapter C, Chapter
  8100, Special District Local Laws Code, as added by Section 1 of
  this Act, is amended by adding Section 8100.0307 to read as follows:
         Sec. 8100.0307.  NO EMINENT DOMAIN POWER. The district may
  not exercise the power of eminent domain.
         (b)  This section is not intended to be an expression of a
  legislative interpretation of the requirements of Section 17(c),
  Article I, Texas Constitution.
         SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2019.