BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 1729
89R3608 SCR-F	By: Vasut; Barry (Huffman)
	Transportation
	5/7/2025
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Before the legislative session, the Port Freeport commissioners unanimously voted to impose term limits for the port's commissioners.

H.B. 1729 prohibits individuals who have served two or more full terms as Port Freeport commissioners from being elected to the position. Completing an unexpired term to fill a vacancy does not count as a full term for this purpose. The bill's term limit provisions do not apply to terms beginning before the bill's effective date.

H.B. 1729 amends current law relating to a limitation on the number of terms a person may serve as a commissioner of Port Freeport.

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 the heading to Section 5002.053, Special District Local Laws Code, to read as follows:

Sec. 5002.053. ELECTION BY POSITION; QUALIFICATIONS; TERM LIMITS.

SECTION 2. Amends Section 5002.053, Special District Local Laws Code, by adding Subsection (c), as follows:

(c) Prohibits a person, to be eligible to be elected as a port commission member (commissioner), from having previously served two or more full terms as a commissioner. Provides that the completion of the remainder of an unexpired term by a person elected or appointed to fill a vacancy does not constitute service for a full term for purposes of this subsection.

SECTION 3. Provides that Section 5002.053(c), Special District Local Laws Code, as added by this Act, does not apply to a term of office that began before the effective date of this Act.

SECTION 4. Provides that 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 5. Effective date: September 1, 2025.