Texas 2025 - 89th Regular

Texas Senate Bill SB3035 Latest Draft

Bill / Introduced Version Filed 03/28/2025

Download
.pdf .doc .html
                            89R20472 MP-F
 By: Creighton S.B. No. 3035




 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 AN ACT
 relating to the creation of the Montgomery County Water Control and
 Improvement District No. 7; 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 I, Title 6, Special District Local Laws
 Code, is amended by adding Chapter 9094 to read as follows:
 CHAPTER 9094.  MONTGOMERY COUNTY WATER CONTROL AND IMPROVEMENT
 DISTRICT NO. 7
 SUBCHAPTER A.  GENERAL PROVISIONS
 Sec. 9094.0101.  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 Water
 Control and Improvement District No. 7.
 Sec. 9094.0102.  NATURE OF DISTRICT.  The district is a water
 control and improvement district created under Section 59, Article
 XVI, Texas Constitution.
 Sec. 9094.0103.  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. 9094.0104.  CONSENT OF MUNICIPALITY REQUIRED. The
 temporary directors may not hold an election under Section
 9094.0103 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 as required by
 applicable law.
 Sec. 9094.0105.  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 water control and improvement district as
 provided by general law and Section 59, Article XVI, Texas
 Constitution, including the collection, transportation,
 processing, disposal, and control of domestic, industrial, or
 communal waste and the gathering, conducting, diverting, and
 control of local stormwater or other harmful excesses of water; 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. 9094.0106.  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. 9094.0201.  GOVERNING BODY; TERMS.  (a)  The district is
 governed by a board of five elected directors.
 (b)  Except as provided by Section 9094.0202, directors
 serve staggered four-year terms.
 Sec. 9094.0202.  TEMPORARY DIRECTORS.  (a)  On or after the
 effective date of the Act enacting this chapter, 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 temporary directors the five persons
 named in the petition.  The commission shall appoint as temporary
 directors the five persons named in the petition.
 (b)  Temporary directors serve until the earlier of:
 (1)  the date permanent directors are elected under
 Section 9094.0103; 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 9094.0103 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 9094.0103; 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. 9094.0301.  GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES.  The district
 has the powers and duties necessary to accomplish the purposes for
 which the district is created.
 Sec. 9094.0302.  WATER CONTROL AND IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT
 POWERS AND DUTIES.  The district has the powers and duties provided
 by the general law of this state, including Chapters 49 and 51,
 Water Code, applicable to water control and improvement districts
 created under Section 59, Article XVI, Texas Constitution, and
 specifically including the powers and duties authorized under
 Subchapter H, Chapter 51, Water Code.
 Sec. 9094.0303.  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. 9094.0304.  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. 9094.0305.  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 42.042 or 42.0425, Local Government Code, and
 consents to the creation of the district or to the inclusion of land
 in the district.
 Sec. 9094.0306.  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 9094.0303.
 SUBCHAPTER D.  GENERAL FINANCIAL PROVISIONS
 Sec. 9094.0401.  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 9094.0403.
 (b)  The district must hold an election in the manner
 provided by Chapters 49 and 51, 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. 9094.0402.  OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE TAX.  (a)  If
 authorized at an election held under Section 9094.0401, 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. 9094.0403.  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. 9094.0501.  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. 9094.0502.  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 Chapter 51, Water Code.
 Sec. 9094.0503.  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.
 Sec. 9094.0504.  BONDS FOR RECREATIONAL FACILITIES. (a)
 The district may develop recreational facilities and issue bonds
 for recreational facilities as provided by Chapter 49, Water Code,
 regardless of whether the district's territory overlaps with the
 territory of a political subdivision that is authorized to develop
 recreational facilities and issue bonds for recreational
 facilities under Chapter 49, Water Code.
 (b)  The authority of the district to develop recreational
 facilities and issue bonds for recreational facilities under this
 section does not limit the authority of another political
 subdivision whose territory the territory of the district may
 overlap, wholly or partly, to develop recreational facilities and
 issue bonds for recreational facilities under Chapter 49, Water
 Code.
 SECTION 2.  The Montgomery County Water Control and
 Improvement District No. 7 initially includes all the territory
 contained in the following area:
 BEING 480.79 acres of land in the Samuel Lindley Survey,
 Abstract Number 23, the William Hulon Survey, Abstract Number 262,
 the John Tong Survey, Abstract Number 39, and the George Lonis
 Survey, Abstract Number 313 in Montgomery County, Texas, being a
 portion of the called 811.345 acre tract described under "Schedule
 1", a portion of the called 71.884 acre tract described under
 "Schedule 2", all of the 4.15 acre tract described under "Schedule
 4" and all of the called 4.15 acre tract described under "Schedule
 5" in the deed from William McComb Dunwoody to Esperanza Ranch LLC,
 recorded under Document Number 2024075466 of the Official Public
 Records of Montgomery County, Texas, said 480.79-acre tract being
 more particularly described by metes and bounds as follows with
 bearings based on the Texas Coordinate System of 1983, Central
 Zone:
 BEGINNING at an axle found for the north corner of a called
 2.872-acre tract described in the deed from Cynthia Ann Uhlenhop,
 et al. to Willis Conservation Partners LLC recorded under Document
 No. 2021144058 of the Official Public Records of Montgomery County,
 Texas, in the southerly line of said called 71.884-acre tract;
 THENCE North 63° 15' 50" East - 6,378.60 feet to a 5/8-inch
 iron rod with cap stamped "IDS" set for the beginning of a curve to
 the right, in the westerly right-of-way line of the International &
 Great Northern Railroad right-of-way (150'-wide at this section) as
 recorded under Volume 5, Page 108 of the Deed Records of Montgomery
 County, Texas;
 THENCE with the westerly right-of-way line of said railroad,
 the following courses, and distances:
 in a southerly direction, with said curve to the right,
 having a radius of 2,074.19 feet, a central angle of 48° 47' 22", a
 chord bearing and distance of South 07° 51' 36" East - 1,713.37 feet,
 and an arc distance of 1,766.25 feet, to a 5/8-inch iron rod with
 cap stamped "IDS" set for the end of curve;
 South 16° 32' 05" West - 1,140.45 feet to a 5/8-inch iron rod
 with cap stamped "IDS" set in a branch for an angle corner of the
 herein described tract, in the northerly line of a called
 24.4558-acre tract described in the deed from Charlie Richard Sump
 to Grey Turner recorded under Document Number 2008080381 of the
 Official Public Records of Montgomery County, Texas;
 THENCE, with the meanders of said branch, the following
 courses, and distances:
 South 78° 56' 01" West - 16.37 feet to an angle corner of the
 herein described tract;
 North 79° 21' 47" West - 13.09 feet to an angle corner of the
 herein described tract;
 North 50° 54' 23" West - 13.06 feet to an angle corner of the
 herein described tract;
 North 76° 07' 54" West - 16.22 feet to an angle corner of the
 herein described tract;
 North 66° 31' 55" West - 44.39 feet to an angle corner of the
 herein described tract;
 South 56° 30' 04" West - 15.70 feet to an angle corner of the
 herein described tract;
 South 25° 28' 20" West - 18.10 feet to an angle corner of the
 herein described tract;
 South 57° 37' 15" West - 15.60 feet to an angle corner of the
 herein described tract;
 North 47° 48' 54" West - 14.83 feet to an angle corner of the
 herein described tract;
 North 01° 52' 39" West - 10.35 feet to an angle corner of the
 herein described tract;
 North 14° 34' 17" West - 14.83 feet to an angle corner of the
 herein described tract;
 North 38° 04' 42" West - 30.67 feet to an angle corner of the
 herein described tract;
 North 77° 25' 52" West - 52.76 feet to an angle corner of the
 herein described tract;
 North 45° 12' 15" West - 4.96 feet to an angle corner of the
 herein described tract;
 South 79° 16' 54" West - 25.85 feet to an angle corner of the
 herein described tract;
 South 89° 04' 32" West - 14.57 feet to an angle corner of the
 herein described tract;
 North 75° 57' 36" West - 22.40 feet to an angle corner of the
 herein described tract;
 North 87° 58' 13" West - 8.64 feet to an angle corner of the
 herein described tract;
 North 75° 30' 21" West - 51.28 feet to an angle corner of the
 herein described tract;
 South 81° 28' 13" West - 21.81 feet to an angle corner of the
 herein described tract;
 North 77° 18' 46" West - 17.85 feet to an angle corner of the
 herein described tract;
 North 40° 59' 22" West - 22.21 feet to an angle corner of the
 herein described tract;
 South 76° 12' 26" West - 6.62 feet to an angle corner of the
 herein described tract;
 South 21° 51' 39" West - 19.71 feet to an angle corner of the
 herein described tract;
 South 51° 10' 57" West - 10.38 feet to an angle corner of the
 herein described tract;
 North 85° 39' 49" West - 10.10 feet to an angle corner of the
 herein described tract;
 North 54° 08' 34" West - 23.60 feet to an angle corner of the
 herein described tract;
 North 79° 52' 02" West - 16.42 feet to an angle corner of the
 herein described tract;
 North 59° 14' 01" West - 43.81 feet to an angle corner of the
 herein described tract;
 North 63° 43' 51" West - 55.52 feet to an angle corner of the
 herein described tract;
 North 47° 36' 10" West - 63.00 feet to an angle corner of the
 herein described tract;
 North 71° 47' 51" West - 67.00 feet to a 5/8-inch iron rod
 found for the northwest corner of said called 24.4558-acre tract
 and an angle corner of the herein described tract;
 THENCE South 17° 01' 54" West - 1421.65 feet, with the
 westerly line of said 24.4558-acre tract, to a bent 5/8-inch iron
 rod found for the most westerly southwest corner of said
 called-24.4558-acre tract and an angle corner of the herein
 described tract;
 THENCE South 29° 23' 58" East - 98.52 feet, continuing with
 the southwesterly line of said 24.4558-acre tract, to an angle iron
 found for the most southerly southwest corner of said called
 24.4558 acre-tract, and an angle corner for the herein described
 tract, from which a found 5/8-inch iron rod bears South 59° 17' 45"
 East - 5.94 feet;
 THENCE South 59° 39' 58" East - 621.72 feet, with the
 southernly line of said called 24.4558-acre tract, to a 5/8-inch
 iron rod with cap stamped "IDS" set for an angle corner of the
 herein described tract, in the westerly right-of-way line of the
 International & Great Northern Railroad right-of-way (200'-wide at
 this section) as recorded under Volume X, Page 517 of the Deed
 Records of Montgomery County, Texas;
 THENCE South 16° 32' 05" West - 1,553.26 feet, with the
 westerly right-of-way line of said railroad, to a 5/8-inch iron rod
 with cap stamped "IDS" set for the beginning of a curve to the left;
 THENCE, in a southerly direction, with said curve to the
 left, having a radius of 5829.58 feet, a central angle of 07° 52'
 09", a chord bearing and distance of South 13° 54' 59" West - 800.02
 feet, and an arc distance of 800.65 feet, to a 5/8-inch iron rod
 with cap stamped "IDS" set for the most easterly southeast corner of
 the herein described tract, in the north line of a called 0.945 acre
 tract described in the deed from Dorthy Meaux to James Mitchell
 recorded under Document Number 2020072625 of the Official Public
 Records of Montgomery County, Texas, from which a found 1/2-inch
 iron rod bears North 60° 11' 06" East - 65.61 feet;
 THENCE South 60° 12' 26" West - 348.09 feet, with the
 northwesterly line of said called 0.945-acre tract, to a 5/8-inch
 iron rod with cap stamped IDS set for an angle corner of the herein
 described tract;
 THENCE South 26° 16' 27" East - 34.52 feet to a "MAG" nail with
 shiner engraved "IDS" set for the most southerly southeast corner
 of the herein described tract, in the centerline of Coaltown Road, a
 public, black top road with an apparent right-of-way of 60 feet, no
 recordings found;
 THENCE, with the approximate centerline of said Coaltown
 Road, the following courses and distances:
 North 80° 49' 29" West - 108.43 feet to an angle corner of the
 herein described tract;
 North 73° 16' 14" West - 138.89 feet to an angle corner of the
 herein described tract;
 North 64° 25' 14" West - 100.89 feet to an angle corner of the
 herein described tract;
 North 53° 04' 58" West - 29.93 feet to an angle corner of the
 herein described tract;
 North 54° 58' 17" West - 23.99 feet to an angle corner of the
 herein described tract;
 North 52° 11' 03" West - 48.04 feet to an angle corner of the
 herein described tract;
 North 50° 38' 46" West - 325.17 feet to an angle corner of the
 herein described tract;
 North 49° 25' 44" West - 76.77 feet to an angle corner of the
 herein described tract;
 North 47° 56' 19" West - 40.79 feet to an angle corner of the
 herein described tract;
 North 47° 34' 53" West - 526.27 feet to an angle corner of the
 herein described tract;
 North 47° 17' 06" West - 525.44 feet to an angle corner of the
 herein described tract;
 North 58° 40' 14" West - 444.46 feet to an angle corner of the
 herein described tract;
 North 81° 45' 14" West - 138.89 feet to an angle corner of the
 herein described tract;
 South 71° 29' 36" West - 247.21 feet to an angle corner of the
 herein described tract;
 North 77° 00' 14" West - 256.26 feet to an angle corner of the
 herein described tract;
 North 35° 04' 24" West - 727.84 feet to an angle corner of the
 herein described tract;
 North 27° 44' 24" West - 538.94 feet to an angle corner of the
 herein described tract;
 THENCE North 44° 29' 33" West - 549.77 feet to a "MAG" nail
 with shiner engraved "IDS" set for an angle corner of the herein
 described tract;
 THENCE North 12° 09' 57" East, at 25.89 feet pass a 1/2-inch
 iron rod with cap stamped "TPS 10083400" found for the southeast
 corner of a called 0.945-acre tract described in the deed from BJD
 LLC - Series B to Sonia Catillo P. recorded under Document Number
 2016062853 of the Official Public Records of Montgomery County,
 Texas, a total distance of 268.54 feet to bent axle found for the
 northeast corner of said called 0.945 acre tract and an angle corner
 of the herein described tract;
 THENCE North 77° 49' 22" West - 442.92 feet to a 5/8-inch iron
 rod with cap stamped "IDS" set for the west corner of a called
 0.322-acre tract described in the deed from Lee Anna Grigsby to A.
 T. Dalnoki and Wife Jo Ann Dalnoki recorded under Document Number
 8947528 of the Official Public Records of Montgomery County, Texas,
 in the apparent northerly right-of-way line of said Coaltown Road;
 THENCE North 52° 25' 33" West - 63.51 feet, with said
 northerly right-of-way line, to a 5/8-inch iron rod with cap
 stamped "IDS" set for an angle corner of the herein described tract;
 THENCE North 77° 35' 20" West - 331.13 feet, continuing with
 the northerly right-of-way line of said Coaltown Road, to a
 5/8-inch iron rod found for the southeast corner of a called
 9.21-acre tract described as "Tract 2" in the deed to Samuel D. Page
 recorded under Document Number 20212031648 of the Official Public
 Records of Montgomery County, Texas;
 THENCE North 12° 11' 45" East, at 471.32 feet pass a 5/8-inch
 iron rod found for the northeast corner of said called 9.21-acre
 tract and the southeast corner of the said called 2.872-acre tract,
 a total distance of 644.37 feet to the POINT OF BEGINNING of the
 herein described tract and containing 480.79 acres of land.
 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 9094.0306, 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 9094, Special
 District Local Laws Code, as added by Section 1 of this Act, is
 amended by adding Section 9094.0306 to read as follows:
 Sec. 9094.0306.  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, 2025.