BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 183

By: Gates

Urban Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Concerns have been raised regarding the governance and operation of municipal management districts. Currently, in order to dissolve such a district, two-thirds of the owners of property in the district must file a written petition with the district's board of directors. Obtaining signatures from such a large number of property owners is nearly impossible to achieve, while a majority vote is common in most elections and a reasonable alternative for these districts. H.B. 183 seeks to improve the ability of property owners to dissolve a municipal management district by allowing the majority of the property owners to file a written petition to the district's board of directors.

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. 183 amends the Local Government Code to change the threshold for the dissolution by petition of a municipal management district from a written petition filed with the district's board of directors by the owners of at least two‑thirds of the assessed value of the property subject to assessment or taxation by the district to a written petition filed with the board by the owners of the majority of such assessed value. The bill specifies that the statutory process for dissolution by petition takes precedence in all areas of conflict over a special law governing a district. The bill applies only to a petition filed on or after the bill's effective date.

H.B. 183 amends the Water Code to make conforming changes.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2023.