Bill Text: TX SB2621 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating to the creation of the Briar Branch Estates Municipal Utility District of Hunt County; granting a limited power of eminent domain; providing authority to issue bonds; providing authority to impose assessments, fees, and taxes.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-05-26 - Recommendations filed with the Senate [SB2621 Detail]

Download: Texas-2023-SB2621-Introduced.html

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88R24442 ANG-F
By: Hughes S.B. No. 2621

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the creation of the Briar Branch Estates Municipal
Utility District of Hunt County; granting a limited power of
eminent domain; providing authority to issue bonds; providing
authority to impose assessments, fees, and taxes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subtitle F, Title 6, Special District Local Laws
Code, is amended by adding Chapter 8011A to read as follows:
CHAPTER 8011A. BRIAR BRANCH ESTATES MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT OF
HUNT COUNTY
SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS
Sec. 8011A.0101. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
(1) "Board" means the district's board of directors.
(2) "Commission" means the Texas Commission on
Environmental Quality.
(3) "Director" means a board member.
(4) "District" means the Briar Branch Estates
Municipal Utility District of Hunt County.
Sec. 8011A.0102. NATURE OF DISTRICT. The district is a
municipal utility district created under Section 59, Article XVI,
Texas Constitution.
Sec. 8011A.0103. CONFIRMATION AND DIRECTOR ELECTION
REQUIRED. The temporary directors shall hold an election to
confirm the creation of the district and to elect five permanent
directors as provided by Section 49.102, Water Code.
Sec. 8011A.0104. CONSENT OF MUNICIPALITY REQUIRED. The
temporary directors may not hold an election under Section
8011A.0103 until each municipality in whose corporate limits or
extraterritorial jurisdiction the district is located has
consented by ordinance or resolution to the creation of the
district and to the inclusion of land in the district as required by
applicable law.
Sec. 8011A.0105. FINDINGS OF PUBLIC PURPOSE AND BENEFIT.
(a) The district is created to serve a public purpose and benefit.
(b) The district is created to accomplish the purposes of:
(1) a municipal utility district as provided by
general law and Section 59, Article XVI, Texas Constitution; and
(2) Section 52, Article III, Texas Constitution, that
relate to the construction, acquisition, improvement, operation,
or maintenance of macadamized, graveled, or paved roads, or
improvements, including storm drainage, in aid of those roads.
Sec. 8011A.0106. INITIAL DISTRICT TERRITORY. (a) The
district is initially composed of the territory described by
Section 2 of the Act enacting this chapter.
(b) The boundaries and field notes contained in Section 2 of
the Act enacting this chapter form a closure. A mistake made in the
field notes or in copying the field notes in the legislative process
does not affect the district's:
(1) organization, existence, or validity;
(2) right to issue any type of bond for the purposes
for which the district is created or to pay the principal of and
interest on a bond;
(3) right to impose a tax; or
(4) legality or operation.
SUBCHAPTER B. BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Sec. 8011A.0201. GOVERNING BODY; TERMS. (a) The district
is governed by a board of five elected directors.
(b) Except as provided by Section 8011A.0202, directors
serve staggered four-year terms.
Sec. 8011A.0202. TEMPORARY DIRECTORS. (a) The temporary
board consists of:
(1) Bobby Pannkuk;
(2) Rob Lyday;
(3) Peter Kim;
(4) Julio Ramos; and
(5) Harvey Chavez.
(b) Temporary directors serve until the earlier of:
(1) the date permanent directors are elected under
Section 8011A.0103; or
(2) the fourth anniversary of the effective date of
the Act enacting this chapter.
(c) If permanent directors have not been elected under
Section 8011A.0103 and the terms of the temporary directors have
expired, successor temporary directors shall be appointed or
reappointed as provided by Subsection (d) to serve terms that
expire on the earlier of:
(1) the date permanent directors are elected under
Section 8011A.0103; or
(2) the fourth anniversary of the date of the
appointment or reappointment.
(d) If Subsection (c) applies, the owner or owners of a
majority of the assessed value of the real property in the district
may submit a petition to the commission requesting that the
commission appoint as successor temporary directors the five
persons named in the petition. The commission shall appoint as
successor temporary directors the five persons named in the
petition.
SUBCHAPTER C. POWERS AND DUTIES
Sec. 8011A.0301. GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES. The district
has the powers and duties necessary to accomplish the purposes for
which the district is created.
Sec. 8011A.0302. MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT POWERS AND
DUTIES. The district has the powers and duties provided by the
general law of this state, including Chapters 49 and 54, Water Code,
applicable to municipal utility districts created under Section 59,
Article XVI, Texas Constitution.
Sec. 8011A.0303. AUTHORITY FOR ROAD PROJECTS. Under
Section 52, Article III, Texas Constitution, the district may
design, acquire, construct, finance, issue bonds for, improve,
operate, maintain, and convey to this 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.
Sec. 8011A.0304. ROAD STANDARDS AND REQUIREMENTS. (a) A
road project must 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.
(b) If a road project is not located in the corporate limits
or extraterritorial jurisdiction of a municipality, the road
project must meet all applicable construction standards,
subdivision requirements, and regulations of each county in which
the road project is located.
(c) If the state will maintain and operate the road, the
Texas Transportation Commission must approve the plans and
specifications of the road project.
Sec. 8011A.0305. COMPLIANCE WITH MUNICIPAL CONSENT
ORDINANCE OR RESOLUTION. The district shall comply with all
applicable requirements of any ordinance or resolution that is
adopted under Section 54.016 or 54.0165, Water Code, and that
consents to the creation of the district or to the inclusion of land
in the district.
Sec. 8011A.0306. DIVISION OF DISTRICT. (a) The board, on
its own motion or on receipt of a petition signed by the owner or
owners of a majority of the assessed value of the real property in
the district, may adopt an order dividing the district.
(b) An order dividing a district may create one or more new
districts and may provide for the continuation of the district.
(c) An order dividing the district shall:
(1) name any new district;
(2) include the metes and bounds description of the
territory of each of the districts;
(3) appoint temporary directors for any new district;
and
(4) provide for the division of assets and liabilities
between the districts.
(d) The board may adopt an order dividing the district
before or after the date the board holds an election to confirm the
district's creation.
(e) The district may be divided only if the district:
(1) has never issued any bonds; and
(2) is not imposing ad valorem taxes.
(f) A new district created by the division of the district
may not, at the time the new district is created, contain any land
outside the area described by Section 2 of the Act enacting this
chapter.
(g) On or before the 30th day after the date of adoption of
an order dividing the district, the district shall file the order
with the commission and record the order in the real property
records of each county in which the district is located.
(h) This chapter applies to any new district created by the
division of the district, and a new district has all the powers and
duties of the district.
(i) A new district created by the division of the district
shall hold a confirmation and directors' election.
(j) If the creation of the new district is confirmed, the
new district shall provide the election date and results to the
commission.
(k) A new district created by the division of the district
must hold an election as required by this chapter to obtain voter
approval before the district may impose a maintenance tax or issue
bonds payable wholly or partly from ad valorem taxes.
(l) The district may continue to rely on confirmation,
directors', bond, or tax elections held prior to the division.
(m) Municipal consent to the creation of the district and to
the inclusion of land in the district acts as municipal consent to
the creation of any new district created by the division of the
district and to the inclusion of land in the new district.
SUBCHAPTER D. GENERAL FINANCIAL PROVISIONS
Sec. 8011A.0401. ELECTIONS REGARDING TAXES OR BONDS. (a)
The district may issue, without an election, bonds and other
obligations secured by:
(1) revenue other than ad valorem taxes; or
(2) contract payments described by Section
8011A.0403.
(b) The district must hold an election in the manner
provided by Chapters 49 and 54, Water Code, to obtain voter approval
before the district may impose an ad valorem tax or issue bonds
payable from ad valorem taxes.
(c) The district may not issue bonds payable from ad valorem
taxes to finance a road project unless the issuance is approved by a
vote of a two-thirds majority of the district voters voting at an
election held for that purpose.
Sec. 8011A.0402. OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE TAX. (a) If
authorized at an election held under Section 8011A.0401, the
district may impose an operation and maintenance tax on taxable
property in the district in accordance with Section 49.107, Water
Code.
(b) The board shall determine the tax rate. The rate may not
exceed the rate approved at the election.
Sec. 8011A.0403. CONTRACT TAXES. (a) In accordance with
Section 49.108, Water Code, the district may impose a tax other than
an operation and maintenance tax and use the revenue derived from
the tax to make payments under a contract after the provisions of
the contract have been approved by a majority of the district voters
voting at an election held for that purpose.
(b) A contract approved by the district voters may contain a
provision stating that the contract may be modified or amended by
the board without further voter approval.
SUBCHAPTER E. BONDS AND OTHER OBLIGATIONS
Sec. 8011A.0501. AUTHORITY TO ISSUE BONDS AND OTHER
OBLIGATIONS. The district may issue bonds or other obligations
payable wholly or partly from ad valorem taxes, impact fees,
revenue, contract payments, grants, or other district money, or any
combination of those sources, to pay for any authorized district
purpose.
Sec. 8011A.0502. TAXES FOR BONDS. At the time the district
issues bonds payable wholly or partly from ad valorem taxes, the
board shall provide for the annual imposition of a continuing
direct ad valorem tax, without limit as to rate or amount, while all
or part of the bonds are outstanding as required and in the manner
provided by Sections 54.601 and 54.602, Water Code.
Sec. 8011A.0503. BONDS FOR ROAD PROJECTS. At the time of
issuance, the total principal amount of bonds or other obligations
issued or incurred to finance road projects and payable from ad
valorem taxes may not exceed one-fourth of the assessed value of the
real property in the district.
SECTION 2. The Briar Branch Estates Municipal Utility
District of Hunt County initially includes all the territory
contained in the following area:
All of that certain lot, tract, or parcel of land situated in the
Benjamin Lindsey Survey, Abstract No. 635, the James Moore Survey,
Abstract No. 654, and the George W. Van Cleave Survey, Abstract
No. 1074, Hunt County, Texas, being all of that certain tract of
land described in the deed from Jacky G. Leinart to Jerry L.
Leinart, as recorded in Document Number 2010-11417 of the Reap
Property Records of Hunt County, Texas (hereinafter called Subject
Tract One), being all of that certain tract of land described in the
deed from Jacky G. Leinart to Jerry L. Leinart, as recorded in
Document Number 2010-11416 of the Real Property Records of Hunt
County, Texas (hereinafter called Subject Tract Two), and being
more particularly described by metes and bounds as follows:
BEGINNING at a 1/2" iron rod with plastic cap stamped "STOVALL &
ASSOC" found for a corner lying in the projected centerline of
County Road Number 1076 and in the North line of that certain tract
of land described in the deed from Aurthur W. Doyle to Arthur W.
Doyle, et ux, as recorded in Volume 902, Page 681 of the Official
Public Records of Hunt County, Texas, said corner being an outside
ell corner of the said Subject Tract One, and the Southeast corner
of that certain tract of land described in the deed from Larry
Coursey, et ux to Jason M. Circle, et al, as recorded in Document
Number 2019-08100 of the Records of Hunt County, Texas;
THENCE N. 00 deg. 47 min. 27 sec. W. a distance of 1459.33 feet along
the centerline of the said County Road Number 1076, the West line of
the said Subject Tract One, the West line of the said Subject Tract
Two, the East line of the said Circle tract, and the East line of
that certain tract of land described as First Tract, Tract Two in
the deed from Rita Rene Hammack to Gary Wright Hammack, as recorded
in Volume 829, Page 261 of the Official Public Records of Hunt
County, Texas to a 1/2" iron rod with plastic cap stamped "STOVALL &
ASSOC" found for a corner lying in the intersection of the said
County Road Number 1076 and County Road Number 1074, said corner
being the Northwest corner of the said Subject Tract Two, and the
Southwest corner of that certain tract of land described in the deed
from William Sidney Lanier to GLA Ventures, LLC, as recorded in
Document Number 2021-15288 of the Records of Hunt County, Texas;
THENCE N. 89 deg. 24 min. 32 sec. E. a distance of 2914.28 feet along
the centerline of County Road Number 1074, the North line of the
said Subject Tract Two, the South line of the said Ventures tract,
the South line of that certain tract of land described in the deed
from Marty Allan O'Brien, et ux, to Robert John Crowell, as recorded
in Document Number 2021-23485 of the Records of Hunt County, Texas
to a 1/2" iron rod with plastic cap stamped "STOVALL & ASSOC" found
for a corner lying in the projected centerline of the said County
Road Number 1074, and the West line of that certain tract of land
described in the deed from S. K. Greer, et ux to Hunt County School
Trustee, as recorded in Volume 245, Page 653 of the Deed Records of
Hunt County, Texas, said corner being the Northeast corner of the
said Subject Tract Two and the Southeast corner of the said Crowell
tract;
THENCE S. 00 deg. 43 min. 41 sec. E. a distance of 2269.39 feet along
the Centerline of the said County Road Number 1074, the East line of
the said Subject Tract Two, the East line of the said Subject Tract
One, the West line of the said Trustee tract, the West line of that
certain tract of land described in the deed from The Veterans Land
Board of Texas to J. B. McNatt, as recorded in Volume 576, Page 535
of the Deed Records of Hunt County, Texas, the West line of that
certain tract of land described in the deed from The Veterans Land
Board of Texas to Sherman A. Green as recorded in Volume 603, Page
120 of the Deed Record of Hunt County, Texas to a 1/2" iron rod found
for a corner at an angle point lying in the projected intersection
of the said County Road Number 1074 and County Road Number 1080,
said corner being the Southwest corner of the said Green tract and
the Northwest corner of that certain tract of land described in the
deed from Walton TX Wagner Fields Limited Partnership to Walton Tx
Wagner Fields Acquisition LP, as recorded in Document Number
2018-07298 of the Records of Hunt County, Texas;
THECNE S. 00 deg. 05 min. 52 sec. W. a distance of 203.41 feet along
the said County Road Number 1074, the East line of the said Subject
Tract One, and the West line of the said Acquisition tract to a 1/2"
iron rod with plastic cap stamped "STOVALL & ASSOC" set for a
corner, said corner being the Southeast corner of the said Subject
Tract One and an inside ell corner of the said Acquisition tract;
THENCE S. 89 deg. 19 min. 11 sec. W. at a distance of 18.20 feet
passing a 3/8" iron rod found for a reference and continuing in all
a distance of 2009.86 feet along the South line of the said Subject
Tract One, the North line of the said Acquisition tract, and
generally along a fence to a 5" Bois D' Arc fence corner post for a
corner lying in the East line of the said Doyle tract, said corner
being the Southwest corner of the said Subject Tract;
THENCE N. 00 deg. 36 min. 42 sec. W. a distance of 952.91 along the
West line of the said Subject Tract One and the East line of the said
Doyle tract to a 1/2" iron rod with plastic cap stamped "STOVALL &
ASSOC" set for a corner, said corner being an inside ell corner of
the said Subject Tract One;
THENCE N. 89 deg. 46 min. 37 sec. W. a distance of 516.69 feet along
the South line of the said Subject Tract One and the North line of
the said Doyle tract to a 1/2" iron rod with plastic cap stamped
"STOVALL & ASSOC" found for a corner, said corner being an outside
ell of the said Subject Tract One;
THENCE N. 00 deg. 12 min. 46 sec. E. a distance of 60.07 feet along
the West line of the said Subject Tract, the East line of the said
Doyle tract to a 1/2" iron rod with plastic cap stamped "STOVALL &
ASSOC" found for a corner, said corner being an inside ell corner of
the said Subject Tract;
THENCE S. 88 deg. 56 min. 31 sec. W. a distance of 386.19 feet along
the South line of the said Subject Tract One and the North line of
the said Doyle tract to the POINT OF BEGINNING and containing 145.19
acres of land.
SECTION 3. (a) The legal notice of the intention to
introduce this Act, setting forth the general substance of this
Act, has been published as provided by law, and the notice and a
copy of this Act have been furnished to all persons, agencies,
officials, or entities to which they are required to be furnished
under Section 59, Article XVI, Texas Constitution, and Chapter 313,
Government Code.
(b) The governor, one of the required recipients, has
submitted the notice and Act to the Texas Commission on
Environmental Quality.
(c) The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has filed
its recommendations relating to this Act with the governor, the
lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the house of
representatives within the required time.
(d) 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 4. (a) If this Act does not receive a two-thirds
vote of all the members elected to each house, Subchapter C, Chapter
8011A, Special District Local Laws Code, as added by Section 1 of
this Act, is amended by adding Section 8011A.0307 to read as
follows:
Sec. 8011A.0307. NO EMINENT DOMAIN POWER. The district may
not exercise the power of eminent domain.
(b) This section is not intended to be an expression of a
legislative interpretation of the requirements of Section 17(c),
Article I, Texas Constitution.
SECTION 5. 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, 2023.