BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 5662

By: Gates

Natural Resources

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The bill author has informed the committee that a certain area in Fort Bend County lacks some of the necessary roads to support the area's development. H.B. 5662 seeks to address this issue by granting the Fort Bend County Water Control and Improvement District No. 12 the authority to undertake certain road projects and issue related bonds.

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. 5662 amends the Special District Local Laws Code to establish provisions relating to the Fort Bend County Water Control and Improvement District No. 12, including findings of public purpose and benefit. The bill authorizes the district, under specified provisions of the Texas Constitution, to design, acquire, construct, finance, issue bonds for, improve, operate, maintain, and convey to the 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. The bill requires a road project to 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. The bill requires a road project that is not located in the corporate limits or extraterritorial jurisdiction of a municipality to meet all applicable construction standards, subdivision requirements, and regulations of each county in which the road project is located. The bill requires the Texas Transportation Commission to approve the plans and specifications of the road project if the state will maintain and operate the road. The bill caps, at the time of issuance, the total principal amount of bonds or other obligations issued or incurred to finance road projects and payable from property taxes at one-fourth of the assessed value of the real property in the district.

H.B. 5662 establishes that all applicable requirements relating to the following have been fulfilled and accomplished with respect to the bill:

· the legal notice of intention to introduce;

· governor action;

· Texas Commission on Environmental Quality recommendations; and

· the state constitution and laws and legislative rules and procedures.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2025.