H.B. No. 139 AN ACT relating to the exercise of urban renewal powers by certain counties. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 374.902(b), Local Government Code, is amended to read as follows: (b) A county with a population of more than 250,000 and located along an international border or a county with a population of more than 1.3 million may exercise the powers provided for municipalities under this chapter with respect to areas of the county that are not within the corporate boundaries of a municipality. A county with a population of more than 250,000 and located along an international border may exercise the powers provided for municipalities under this chapter with respect to areas of the county located within the corporate boundaries of a municipality, if the municipality approves the county's participation in an urban renewal project through an interlocal agreement under Chapter 791, Government Code. The county may not exercise those powers until the commissioners court of the county adopts a resolution in the manner provided by Section 374.011 for adoption of a resolution by a municipality. The resolution must be approved at an election held in the county in the manner provided for a municipal election under Section 374.011. The adoption of the resolution is not approved unless a majority of the voters who vote on the question in the entire county as well as in each municipality in the county approve the adoption of the resolution. In a municipality that is only partially located in the affected county, only voters who reside in the county may vote. SECTION 2. 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, 2013. ______________________________ ______________________________ President of the Senate Speaker of the House I certify that H.B. No. 139 was passed by the House on April 25, 2013, by the following vote: Yeas 122, Nays 14, 2 present, not voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B. No. 139 on May 20, 2013, by the following vote: Yeas 138, Nays 6, 2 present, not voting. ______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House I certify that H.B. No. 139 was passed by the Senate, with amendments, on May 17, 2013, by the following vote: Yeas 28, Nays 3. ______________________________ Secretary of the Senate APPROVED: __________________ Date __________________ Governor