By: Kolkhorst S.B. No. 1733
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the composition of the board of the Calhoun Port
Authority.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 5003.051, Special District Local Laws
Code, is amended to read as follows:
Sec. 5003.051. BOARD OF NAVIGATION COMMISSIONERS. The port
authority is governed by a board of seven [six] commissioners.
SECTION 2. Section 5003.053, Special District Local Laws
Code, is amended to read as follows:
Sec. 5003.053. ELECTION; TERMS. (a) One commissioner is
elected by the voters of the entire port authority. One
commissioner is elected from each of the six navigation
commissioner precincts as described by Section 5003.052.
(b) The [six] commissioners who represent the six precincts
who are elected at the first election after a division of the port
authority into new precincts under Section 5003.052 shall draw lots
after the election to select three commissioners to serve two-year
terms and three commissioners to serve four-year terms. Successor
commissioners serve terms as provided by Subsection (c) [(b)].
(c) [(b)] Except as provided by Subsection (b) [(a)],
commissioners are elected for staggered four-year terms at
elections held each odd-numbered year on the uniform election date
in May.
SECTION 3. Section 5003.054(b), Special District Local Laws
Code, is amended to read as follows:
(b) The application must include an affidavit made by the
applicant under oath disclosing that the applicant is:
(1) a bona fide resident of:
(A) if the applicant seeks to represent a
precinct, the precinct that the person seeks to represent; or
(B) if the applicant seeks to represent the port
authority at large, the port authority; and
(2) a qualified voter who owns real property in the
area.
SECTION 4. (a) The Calhoun Port Authority shall hold the
first election to elect an at-large commissioner, as provided by
Section 5003.053, Special District Local Laws Code, as amended by
this Act, on the uniform election date in May 2027.
(b) Not later than the 30th day after the effective date of
this Act, the governor shall appoint an at-large commissioner to
the board of the Calhoun Port Authority to serve a term that expires
on the date that the candidate elected to the office of the at-large
commissioner in May 2027 qualifies to serve. The person appointed
by the governor must meet the qualifications provided by Section
5003.054(b), Special District Local Laws Code, as amended by this
Act.
SECTION 5. (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 6. 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.