89R19482 SCF-D
 
  By: Bell of Kaufman H.B. No. 391
 
  Substitute the following for H.B. No. 391:
 
  By:  Martinez C.S.H.B. No. 391
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to board of directors meeting locations of certain special
  districts.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 49.062(b-1), Water Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (b-1)  If the board of [In this subsection, "rural area
  district" means] a district in which more than half of the
  district's projected retail water or sewer connections are active
  [and that is not wholly or partly located in a county that as of the
  2010 Census had a population of 800,000 or more or bordered a county
  with a population of 800,000 or more.  If the board of a rural area
  district] conducts meetings at least quarterly, the board shall
  conduct a meeting at least once per quarter:
               (1)  at a designated meeting location:
                     (A)  inside the district;
                     (B)  [or] within 10 miles of the boundary of the
  district; or
                     (C)  if [at least once per quarter.  If] the board
  determines that it is not practical to meet inside the district or
  within 10 miles of the boundary of the district, [the district may
  conduct the quarterly meeting] at another designated meeting place
  in the county in which the district is located; or
               (2)  by telephone conference call or video conference
  call, as provided by Section 49.064(b).
         SECTION 2.  Section 49.064, Water Code, is amended to read as
  follows:
         Sec. 49.064.  MEETINGS. (a) The board shall hold such
  regular and special meetings as may be necessary for the proper
  conduct of the district's business. Except as provided by
  Subsection (b), all [All] meetings shall be conducted in accordance
  with [the open meetings law,] Chapter 551, Government Code. A
  meeting of a committee of the board, or a committee composed of
  representatives of more than one board, where less than a quorum of
  any one board is present is not subject to the provisions of [the
  open meetings law,] Chapter 551, Government Code.
         (b)  Notwithstanding Chapter 551, Government Code, the board
  may hold a regular or special meeting by telephone conference call
  or video conference call if at least one board member participating
  in the meeting is physically present at a location that is open to
  the public during the open portions of the meeting.  A board member
  who participates in a meeting by telephone conference call or video
  conference call shall be counted as present at the meeting for all
  purposes.
         SECTION 3.  Subchapter G, Chapter 54, Water Code, is amended
  by adding Section 54.6015 to read as follows:
         Sec. 54.6015.  PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER ADOPTION OF TAX
  RATE. A public hearing at which the adoption of a tax rate will be
  considered must be conducted:
               (1)  at a designated meeting location:
                     (A)  inside the district; or
                     (B)  within 10 miles of the boundary of the
  district; or
               (2)  by telephone conference call or video conference
  call, as provided by Section 49.064(b).
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.