89R19482 SCF-D
By: Bell of Kaufman, Gerdes, Noble, Zwiener, H.B. No. 391
Holt, et al.
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.