H.B. No. 2380
AN ACT
relating to the creation of the Montgomery County Municipal Utility
District No. 173; 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 8077 to read as follows:
CHAPTER 8077. MONTGOMERY COUNTY MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT NO. 173
SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS
Sec. 8077.0101. 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 Montgomery County Municipal
Utility District No. 173.
Sec. 8077.0102. NATURE OF DISTRICT. The district is a
municipal utility district created under Section 59, Article XVI,
Texas Constitution.
Sec. 8077.0103. 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. 8077.0104. CONSENT OF MUNICIPALITY REQUIRED. The
temporary directors may not hold an election under Section
8077.0103 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.
Sec. 8077.0105. 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. 8077.0106. 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. 8077.0201. GOVERNING BODY; TERMS. (a) The district is
governed by a board of five elected directors.
(b) Except as provided by Section 8077.0202, directors
serve staggered four-year terms.
Sec. 8077.0202. TEMPORARY DIRECTORS. (a) The temporary
board consists of:
(1) Will Holstein;
(2) Adam Flaaten;
(3) Juan Galvan;
(4) Lisa Nickel; and
(5) Justin Hausman.
(b) Temporary directors serve until the earlier of:
(1) the date permanent directors are elected under
Section 8077.0103; 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 8077.0103 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 8077.0103; 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. 8077.0301. GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES. The district
has the powers and duties necessary to accomplish the purposes for
which the district is created.
Sec. 8077.0302. 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. 8077.0303. 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. 8077.0304. 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. 8077.0305. 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. 8077.0306. DIVISION OF DISTRICT. (a) The district may
be divided into two or more new districts only if the district:
(1) has no outstanding bonded debt; and
(2) is not imposing ad valorem taxes.
(b) 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.
(c) Any new district created by the division of the district
may, at the time the new district is created, contain only:
(1) land within the area described by Section 2 of the
Act enacting this chapter; or
(2) any land adjacent to the area described by Section
2 of the Act enacting this chapter if that adjacent land is:
(A) not within the extraterritorial jurisdiction
of a city; or
(B) within the extraterritorial jurisdiction of
a city and that adjacent land has been approved for inclusion in the
district under the consent ordinance or resolution adopted by a
city under Section 8077.0104.
(d) 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.
(e) The board may adopt an order dividing the district
before or after the date the board holds an election under Section
8077.0103 to confirm the district's creation.
(f) An order dividing the district must:
(1) name each new district;
(2) include the metes and bounds description of the
territory of each new district;
(3) appoint temporary directors for each new district;
and
(4) provide for the division of assets and liabilities
between or among the new districts.
(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 Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and record the
order in the real property records of each county in which the
district is located.
(h) Any new district created by the division of the district
shall hold a confirmation and directors' election as required by
Section 8077.0103.
(i) Municipal consent by a city is not required for the
creation of any new district created under this section.
(j) Any 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.
(k) If the voters of a new district do not confirm the
creation of the new district, the assets, obligations, territory,
and governance of the new district revert to that of the original
district.
Sec. 8077.0307. LIMITATION ON USE OF EMINENT DOMAIN. The
district may not exercise the power of eminent domain outside the
district boundaries to acquire a site or easement for:
(1) a recreational facility, as defined by Section
49.462, Water Code; or
(2) a road project authorized by Section 8077.0303.
SUBCHAPTER D. GENERAL FINANCIAL PROVISIONS
Sec. 8077.0401. 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 8077.0403.
(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. 8077.0402. OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE TAX. (a) If
authorized at an election held under Section 8077.0401, 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. 8077.0403. 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. 8077.0501. 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. 8077.0502. 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. 8077.0503. 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 Montgomery County Municipal Utility District
No. 173 initially includes all the territory contained in the
following area:
A METES & BOUNDS description of a certain 170.1 acre (7,411,386
square feet) tract of land situated in the Joseph Lindley Survey,
Abstract No. 25 in Montgomery County, Texas, being all of a called
169.059 acre tract conveyed to Ranch Hill Texas, LLC by Special
Warranty Deed recorded in Clerk's File No. 2018049384, Montgomery
County Official Public Records of Real Property; said 170.1 acre
(7,411,386 square feet) tract of land being more particularly
described as follows with all bearings being based on the Texas
Coordinate System, Central Zone, NAD 83:
BEGINNING at a 1/2-inch iron rod found being the southwest corner of
a called 10.00 acre tract conveyed to Robert W. Bucher by Warranty
Deed recorded in Clerk's File No. 2002016103, Montgomery County
Official Public Records of Real Property, being in the north
right-of-way of Calvary Road (based on a width of 80 feet), and
being the southeast corner of said 169.059 acre tract and the herein
described tract;
THENCE, North 77°24'58" West, 1,673.57 feet to a 1/2-inch iron pipe
found being in the north right-of-way of said Calvary Road and being
an angle point of the herein described tract;
THENCE, North 77°03'14" West, 1,096.54 feet to a point for corner
being in the north right-of-way of said Calvary Road, being the
southeast corner of a called 4.9839 acre tract conveyed to Clyde and
Sharon Scruggs by Warranty Deed recorded in Clerk's File
No. 8507804, Montgomery County Official Public Records of Real
Property, being in the centerline of a creek, and being the
southwest corner of the herein described tract;
THENCE, along the centerline of said creek the following
seventy-three (73) courses and distances:
1. North 16°00'53" East, 51.75 feet to a point for corner;
2. North 76°46'26" East, 69.85 feet to a point for corner;
3. North 78°52'59" East, 48.13 feet to a point for corner;
4. North 51°38'11" East, 50.85 feet to a point for corner;
5. North 11°33'41" East, 37.07 feet to a point for corner;
6. North 52°12'40" East, 28.54 feet to a point for corner;
7. North 51°50'02" West, 24.97 feet to a point for corner;
8. North 88°11'32" East, 35.50 feet to a point for corner;
9. North 29°32'26" East, 110.78 feet to a point for corner;
10. North 75°15'58" East, 68.34 feet to a point for corner;
11. South 51°48'30" East, 50.53 feet to a point for corner;
12. North 79°13'23" East, 40.81 feet to a point for corner;
13. North 04°40'00" West, 136.22 feet to a point for corner;
14. North 32°07'37" East, 60.12 feet to a point for corner;
15. North 46°36'30" East, 57.30 feet to a point for corner;
16. North 21°11'07" West, 54.47 feet to a point for corner;
17. North 02°52'33" East, 76.04 feet to a point for corner;
18. North 30°36'40" East, 45.00 feet to a point for corner;
19. South 46°17'54" East, 52.83 feet to a point for corner;
20. North 67°43'12" East, 31.12 feet to a point for corner;
21. North 27°10'54" East, 22.94 feet to a point for corner;
22. North 76°09'31" East, 96.44 feet to a point for corner;
23. North 18°14'48" East, 65.58 feet to a point for corner;
24. North 75°18'54" East, 80.12 feet to a point for corner;
25. North 17°19'16" East, 64.17 feet to a point for corner;
26. North 31°12'56" East, 40.21 feet to a point for corner;
27. South 56°34'55" East, 74.19 feet to a point for corner;
28. North 58°03'36" East, 43.72 feet to a point for corner;
29. North 15°16'42" East, 34.96 feet to a point for corner;
30. North 26°46'27" West, 101.00 feet to a point for corner;
31. North 77°07'08" West, 45.13 feet to a point for corner;
32. South 23°52'02" West, 33.69 feet to a point for corner;
33. North 34°55'39" West, 30.58 feet to a point for corner;
34. North 04°43'54" East, 139.56 feet to a point for corner;
35. North 49°52'03" East, 80.12 feet to a point for corner;
36. North 36°59'46" West, 32.71 feet to a point for corner;
37. South 83°09'49" West, 89.05 feet to a point for corner;
38. North 01°08'58" West, 51.10 feet to a point for corner;
39. South 89°33'42" East, 70.61 feet to a point for corner;
40. North 18°08'04" West, 82.98 feet to a point for corner;
41. North 65°47'07" East, 72.32 feet to a point for corner;
42. North 21°45'28" West, 108.76 feet to a point for corner;
43. North 46°54'26" West, 27.86 feet to a point for corner;
44. South 36°24'46" West, 124.21 feet to a point for corner;
45. South 68°31'55" West, 89.46 feet to a point for corner;
46. North 30°02'30" West, 27.92 feet to a point for corner;
47. North 28°45'23" East, 259.17 feet to a point for corner;
48. North 87°35'41" West, 34.55 feet to a point for corner;
49. North 06°02'38" West, 64.31 feet to a point for corner;
50. North 25°43'30" East, 160.41 feet to a point for corner;
51. North 59°50'48" East, 35.64 feet to a point for corner;
52. South 66°51'12" East, 139.24 feet to a point for corner;
53. North 08°39'49" West, 81.92 feet to a point for corner;
54. North 37°22'23" East, 22.36 feet to a point for corner;
55. North 84°25'14" East, 89.59 feet to a point for corner;
56. North 62°53'36" East, 76.60 feet to a point for corner;
57. North 38°15'50" East, 91.56 feet to a point for corner;
58. North 18°02'10" West, 49.23 feet to a point for corner;
59. South 79°22'47" West, 69.62 feet to a point for corner;
60. North 33°01'08" West, 74.41 feet to a point for corner;
61. North 08°50'51" East, 48.23 feet to a point for corner;
62. North 51°01'41" East, 112.70 feet to a point for corner;
63. North 11°32'20" West, 26.25 feet to a point for corner;
64. North 75°58'54" West, 40.13 feet to a point for corner;
65. North 17°13'17" West, 48.25 feet to a point for corner;
66. North 35°42'48" East, 50.95 feet to a point for corner;
67. South 84°04'38" East, 35.18 feet to a point for corner;
68. South 05°17'32" East, 59.68 feet to a point for corner;
69. North 47°45'11" East, 63.33 feet to a point for corner;
70. North 09°16'24" West, 123.17 feet to a point for corner;
71. South 86°42'10" West, 77.72 feet to a point for corner;
72. North 52°41'46" West, 47.11 feet to a point for corner;
73. North 36°16'41" East, 233.03 feet to a point for corner being
the northeast corner of called Lot 1 conveyed to Adrian and Daniela
Gianina Rotaru by Warranty Deed with Vendor's Lien recorded in
Clerk's File No. 2017053987, Montgomery County Official Public
Records of Real Property, being the southeast corner of called
Tract 3 (Lot 35) conveyed to Bruce W. Tubbs and Maria Caughman by
Warranty Deed with Vendor's Lien recorded in Clerk's File
No. 2016082401, Montgomery County Official Public Records of Real
Property, being the most westerly corner of a called 443.135 acre
tract conveyed to CC Shepard Hill 443, L.P. by Special Warranty Deed
with Vendor's Lien recorded in Clerk's File No. 2018025658,
Montgomery County Official Public Records of Real Property, and
being the northwest corner of the herein described tract;
THENCE, South 77°18'54" East, at 14.59 feet passing a 1/2-inch iron
rod found being in the south line of said called 443.135 acre tract,
continuing for a total distance of 2,410.63 feet to a 5/8-inch iron
rod with cap found being an interior angle point of said called
443.135 acre tract and being the northeast corner of said 169.059
acre tract and the herein described tract;
THENCE, South 03°58'29" West, 1,540.88 feet to a wooden fence post
found being the most southerly corner of said called 443.135 acre
tract, being the northwest corner of a called 131.172 acre tract
conveyed to Barton J. and Melissa Halbaedier by Warranty Deed with
Vendor's Lien recorded in Clerk's File No. 2004022169, Montgomery
County Official Public Records of Real Property, and being an angle
point of the herein described tract;
THENCE, South 04°00'54" West, 730.23 feet to a wooden fence post
found being the southwest corner of said called 131.172 acre tract,
being in the north line of said called 10.00 acre tract and being an
angle point of the herein described tract;
THENCE, North 77°07'49" West, 578.00 feet to a 1/2-inch iron pipe
found being the northwest corner of said called 10.00 acre tract and
being an interior angle point of the herein described tract;
THENCE, South 11°31'45" West, 563.75 feet to the POINT OF BEGINNING,
CONTAINING 170.1 acres (7,411,386 square feet) of land in
Montgomery County, Texas filed in the office of Manhard Consulting,
Ltd. in The Woodlands, Texas.
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) Section 8077.0307, Special District Local
Laws Code, as added by Section 1 of this Act, takes effect only if
this Act receives a two-thirds vote of all the members elected to
each house.
(b) If this Act does not receive a two-thirds vote of all the
members elected to each house, Subchapter C, Chapter 8077, Special
District Local Laws Code, as added by Section 1 of this Act, is
amended by adding Section 8077.0307 to read as follows:
Sec. 8077.0307. NO EMINENT DOMAIN POWER. The district may
not exercise the power of eminent domain.
(c) 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, 2019.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 2380 was passed by the House on April
26, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 128, Nays 11, 2 present, not
voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 2380 was passed by the Senate on May
15, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 1.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: _____________________
Date
_____________________
Governor