BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 410 By: Middleton Natural Resources 4/11/2025 As Filed AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT The Coastal Texas Protection and Restoration Project (CTPR) is aimed at reducing risks to public health and the economy, restoring critical ecosystems, and advancing coastal resiliency. The goal of the CTPR project is to manage coastal storm risk with a defense strategy along the Texas Gulf Coast, while maintaining future economic growth. As the CTPR is advancing, it is critical that the project design does not compromise navigation safety or negatively impact two-way traffic vessel movement, anchorages, supply-chain logistics or federal, state, or local economies. To ensure this, the Houston Pilots at San Jacinto College Maritime Technology Center conducted a research study to evaluate maritime implications for commercial ship transits through the channel under the proposed project design. The recommendation was that the gate complex location and design must be engineered and constructed to accommodate future growth of a wider and deeper channel, enabling continued growth in commerce for years to come. Additionally, there is a need for increased accountability and oversight of the Gulf Coast Protection District (GCPD) to ensure citizen input and approval of actions taken by the GCPD to fund such projects. S.B. 410 seeks to accomplish these goals by clarifying that the implementation of a GCPD project shall not compromise navigation safety or two-way traffic vessel movement in a way that violates a rule adopted by the board of pilot commissioners for the ports of Harris County (Subchapter B, Chapter 66, Transportation Code). S.B. 410 also permits the governor to appoint the GCPD presiding officer from among the board members, and requires a voter threshold of 67 percent for approval of an ad valorem tax imposed by the GCPD to ensure affected citizens have a voice in actions taken by the district. As proposed, S.B. 410 amends current law relating to the management and operation of the Gulf Coast Protection District. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 9502.0201(i), Special District Local Laws Code, to require the governor to appoint, rather than the board of directors of the Gulf Coast Protection District (district) to elect, a presiding officer from among the directors to serve in that position for two years. SECTION 2. Amends Section 9502.0301, Special District Local Laws Code, by adding Subsection (f), as follows: (f) Prohibits implementation of a project described by Subsection (a) (relating to authorizing the district to take certain actions) from compromising navigation safety or two-way traffic vessel movement as required by Subchapter B (Board of Pilot Commissioners), Chapter 66 (Houston Bond Licensing and Regulatory Act), Transportation Code. SECTION 3. Amends Section 9502.0302, Special District Local Laws Code, as follows: Sec. 9502.0302. TAXES AND BONDS. (a) Requires the district, subject to Subsection (d), to hold an election in the manner provided by Chapter 49 (Provisions Applicable to All Districts), Water Code, to obtain voter approval before the district is authorized to impose an ad valorem tax or issue bonds payable from ad valorem taxes. Makes a nonsubstantive change. (b)-(c) Makes no changes to these subsections. (d) Provides that the threshold for voter approval of an ad valorem tax imposed by the district under this section is 67 percent. Deletes existing text authorizing the district to grant an abatement for a tax owed to the district in the manner provided by Chapter 312 (Property Redevelopment and Tax Abatement Act), Tax Code. SECTION 4. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2025.
BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center S.B. 410
By: Middleton
Natural Resources
4/11/2025
As Filed
Senate Research Center
S.B. 410
By: Middleton
Natural Resources
4/11/2025
As Filed
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
The Coastal Texas Protection and Restoration Project (CTPR) is aimed at reducing risks to public health and the economy, restoring critical ecosystems, and advancing coastal resiliency. The goal of the CTPR project is to manage coastal storm risk with a defense strategy along the Texas Gulf Coast, while maintaining future economic growth.
As the CTPR is advancing, it is critical that the project design does not compromise navigation safety or negatively impact two-way traffic vessel movement, anchorages, supply-chain logistics or federal, state, or local economies. To ensure this, the Houston Pilots at San Jacinto College Maritime Technology Center conducted a research study to evaluate maritime implications for commercial ship transits through the channel under the proposed project design. The recommendation was that the gate complex location and design must be engineered and constructed to accommodate future growth of a wider and deeper channel, enabling continued growth in commerce for years to come.
Additionally, there is a need for increased accountability and oversight of the Gulf Coast Protection District (GCPD) to ensure citizen input and approval of actions taken by the GCPD to fund such projects.
S.B. 410 seeks to accomplish these goals by clarifying that the implementation of a GCPD project shall not compromise navigation safety or two-way traffic vessel movement in a way that violates a rule adopted by the board of pilot commissioners for the ports of Harris County (Subchapter B, Chapter 66, Transportation Code).
S.B. 410 also permits the governor to appoint the GCPD presiding officer from among the board members, and requires a voter threshold of 67 percent for approval of an ad valorem tax imposed by the GCPD to ensure affected citizens have a voice in actions taken by the district.
As proposed, S.B. 410 amends current law relating to the management and operation of the Gulf Coast Protection District.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 9502.0201(i), Special District Local Laws Code, to require the governor to appoint, rather than the board of directors of the Gulf Coast Protection District (district) to elect, a presiding officer from among the directors to serve in that position for two years.
SECTION 2. Amends Section 9502.0301, Special District Local Laws Code, by adding Subsection (f), as follows:
(f) Prohibits implementation of a project described by Subsection (a) (relating to authorizing the district to take certain actions) from compromising navigation safety or two-way traffic vessel movement as required by Subchapter B (Board of Pilot Commissioners), Chapter 66 (Houston Bond Licensing and Regulatory Act), Transportation Code.
SECTION 3. Amends Section 9502.0302, Special District Local Laws Code, as follows:
Sec. 9502.0302. TAXES AND BONDS. (a) Requires the district, subject to Subsection (d), to hold an election in the manner provided by Chapter 49 (Provisions Applicable to All Districts), Water Code, to obtain voter approval before the district is authorized to impose an ad valorem tax or issue bonds payable from ad valorem taxes. Makes a nonsubstantive change.
(b)-(c) Makes no changes to these subsections.
(d) Provides that the threshold for voter approval of an ad valorem tax imposed by the district under this section is 67 percent. Deletes existing text authorizing the district to grant an abatement for a tax owed to the district in the manner provided by Chapter 312 (Property Redevelopment and Tax Abatement Act), Tax Code.
SECTION 4. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2025.