By: Romero, Jr. (Senate Sponsor - Powell) H.B. No. 2203
         (In the Senate - Received from the House May 3, 2021;
  May 6, 2021, read first time and referred to Committee on
  Transportation; May 19, 2021, reported adversely, with favorable
  Committee Substitute by the following vote:  Yeas 8, Nays 0;
  May 19, 2021, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
 
  COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR H.B. No. 2203 By:  Hancock
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to the powers of certain regional transportation
  authorities.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 452.108, Transportation Code, is amended
  by amending Subsections (c) and (d) and adding Subsections (h),
  (i), and (j) to read as follows:
         (c)  Except as provided by Subsection (d), an authority
  consisting of one subregion governed by a subregional board created
  under Subchapter N or O may not enter a lease or financing agreement
  secured wholly or partially by the assets of the authority if the
  duration of the lease or financing agreement is longer than five
  years unless the lease or agreement is approved by the voters of the
  authority in the manner provided for the issuance of bonds and notes
  under Subchapter H.
         (d)  To provide tax benefits to another party that are
  available with respect to property under the laws of a foreign
  country or to encourage private investment with a transportation
  authority in the United States, and notwithstanding any other
  provision of this chapter, an authority consisting of one subregion
  governed by a subregional board created under Subchapter N or O may
  enter into and execute, as it considers appropriate, contracts,
  agreements, notes, security agreements, conveyances, bills of
  sale, deeds, leases as lessee or lessor, and currency hedges, swap
  transactions, or agreements relating to foreign and domestic
  currency. The agreements or instruments may have the terms,
  maturities, duration, provisions as to governing law, indemnities,
  and other provisions that are approved by the subregional board. In
  connection with any transaction authorized by this subsection, the
  authority may deposit in trust, escrow, or similar arrangement cash
  or lawful investments securities, or may enter into one or more
  payment agreements, financial guarantees, or insurance contracts
  with counterparties having either a corporate credit or debt rating
  in any form, a claims-paying ability, or a rating for financial
  strength of "AA" or better by Moody's Investors Service, Inc. or by
  Standard & Poor's Corporation or of "A (Class XII)" or better by
  Best's rating system, that by their terms, including interest to be
  earned on the cash or securities, or payment obligations, are
  sufficient in amount to pay when due all amounts required to be paid
  by the authority as rent over the full term of the transaction plus
  any optional purchase price or other obligation due under the
  transaction.
         (h)  Subsections (c) and (d) do not affect the eminent domain
  laws that govern an authority consisting of one subregion governed
  by a subregional board created under Subchapter N or grant the
  authority's power of eminent domain to any person who is not granted
  that power under other state law.
         (i)  An authority consisting of one subregion governed by a
  subregional board created under Subchapter N may not enter into an
  agreement under this section with a private entity:
               (1)  that results in the removal from a taxing unit's
  tax rolls of real property otherwise subject to ad valorem
  taxation, unless the taxing unit approves of the removal; or
               (2)  for a term that exceeds 35 years.
         (j)  An authority consisting of one subregion governed by a
  subregional board created under Subchapter N may only enter into a
  lease or financing agreement under this section for a development
  located within 1,500 feet of a planned or existing station,
  terminal complex, or transit route stop.
         SECTION 2.  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, 2021.
 
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