Texas 2025 89th Regular

Texas House Bill HB2337 House Committee Report / Bill

Filed 04/14/2025

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                    89R21834 JCG-F
 By: Frank H.B. No. 2337
 Substitute the following for H.B. No. 2337:
 By:  Hefner C.S.H.B. No. 2337




 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 AN ACT
 relating to the concurrent jurisdiction of this state over United
 States military installations with respect to certain subject
 matters.
 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 2204, Government Code, is
 amended by adding Section 2204.104 to read as follows:
 Sec. 2204.104.  AUTHORITY TO ACCEPT CONCURRENT JURISDICTION
 OF THIS STATE OVER UNITED STATES MILITARY INSTALLATIONS. (a)  In
 this section:
 (1)  "Political subdivision" includes a municipality,
 county, or any special-purpose district or authority.
 (2)  "State agency" means a state agency in any branch
 of state government.
 (3)  "Status offense" means conduct that a child
 commits that would not, under state law, be an offense if committed
 by an adult.
 (b)  On written application of an authorized representative
 of the United States to the governor, the governor, in the name and
 on behalf of this state, may accept the establishment of concurrent
 jurisdiction of this state with the United States over land in this
 state owned or acquired by the United States under this subchapter
 for a military purpose authorized by Section 2204.101. An
 application may seek full or partial concurrent jurisdiction, and
 the proposal may include land where no federal jurisdiction exists
 or land where this state previously ceded jurisdiction to the
 United States.
 (c)  The application under Subsection (b) must:
 (1)  state the name and position of the authorized
 representative and identify the federal law authorizing the
 representative to bind the United States in transactions involving
 the jurisdiction of the United States;
 (2)  subject to Subdivision (3), state each subject
 matter over which concurrent jurisdiction is being established;
 (3)  if the application is submitted for the purpose of
 establishing concurrent jurisdiction over juvenile delinquency and
 status offenses, expressly state that purpose;
 (4)  be accompanied by proper evidence of the ownership
 or acquisition of the land; and
 (5)  include or have attached an accurate description
 by metes and bounds of the land that is the subject of the
 application.
 (d)  The governor's acceptance under this section must:
 (1)  be written;
 (2)  specify each element of the application that the
 governor accepts, including each subject matter over which
 concurrent jurisdiction is being established; and
 (3)  include a procedure allowing for the termination
 of the concurrent jurisdiction that is the subject of the
 application.
 (e)  The governor may negotiate with the applicant the
 specific details regarding the termination procedure required by
 Subsection (d)(3).
 (f)  The establishment of concurrent jurisdiction under this
 section takes effect on the date on which the governor files the
 following documents for recording with the secretary of state:
 (1)  the application received under Subsection (b),
 including the metes and bounds of the land; and
 (2)  the governor's written acceptance under Subsection
 (d).
 (g)  After recording the documents filed under Subsection
 (f), the secretary of state shall:
 (1)  provide a certified copy of the documents to the
 authorized representative who applied under Subsection (b); and
 (2)  file the documents for recording with each county
 clerk of the county in which the land that is the subject of the
 application or notice is located.
 (h)  On the establishment of concurrent jurisdiction over
 land under this section, a state agency or political subdivision
 may enter into a memorandum of understanding with any officer or
 agency of the United States for the purpose of coordinating and
 assigning duties with respect to the concurrent jurisdiction.
 (i)  Any establishment of concurrent jurisdiction under this
 section must include, at minimum, the concurrent jurisdiction
 retained under Section 2204.103.
 (j)  A state agency, a political subdivision of this state,
 and any officer, employee, or agent of the state agency or political
 subdivision is not liable for acts or omissions occurring on land
 over which concurrent jurisdiction is established under this
 section.
 SECTION 2.  The heading to Section 2204.103, Government
 Code, is amended to read as follows:
 Sec. 2204.103.  CESSION OF JURISDICTION TO UNITED STATES;
 RETENTION OF AUTHORITY TO EXECUTE LEGAL PROCESS.
 SECTION 3.  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, 2025.