SB1965 - Relating to requirements for the addition of noncontiguous territory to certain special districts.

      By: King S.B. No. 1965     (Bell of Montgomery)           A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to requirements for the addition of noncontiguous   territory to certain special districts.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 49.302(d), Water Code, is amended to   read as follows:          (d)  The secretary of the board shall issue a notice setting   forth the time and place of the hearing and describing the area   proposed to be annexed. Notice of the hearing shall be given :                 (1)   by posting copies of the notice in three public   places in the district and in one public place in the area proposed   to be annexed for at least 14 days before the day of the hearing ;                 (2)   [ and ] by publishing a copy of the notice in a   newspaper of general circulation in the county or counties in which   the area proposed to be annexed is located one time at least 14 days   before the day of the hearing ; and                 (3)     if applicable, in the manner prescribed by Section   49.3021 .          SECTION 2.  Subchapter J, Chapter 49, Water Code, is amended   by adding Section 49.3021 to read as follows:           Sec.   49.3021.     ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR CERTAIN   PETITIONS TO ADD LAND TO CERTAIN DISTRICTS. (a) This section   applies only to a district governed by:                 (1)  Chapter 51, 53, 54, 55, or 65 of this code; or                 (2)  Chapter 375, Local Government Code.           (b)     This section applies only to a petition filed under   Section 49.302 for the annexation of land that is noncontiguous to   the district and located at the time the petition is filed:                 (1)     more than three miles from the boundaries of the   district; or                 (2)     in a county other than any county in which the   district is located.           (c)     A district that receives a petition described by   Subsection (b), in addition to the notice requirements under   Section 49.302, shall provide notice of the hearing:                 (1)     in the manner required for notice of a regular   district meeting;                   (2)     unless notice is waived by the county, to the   county clerk of the county in which the land proposed to be annexed   is located not later than the 30th day before the date of the   hearing; and                 (3)     unless notice is waived by an owner, to each owner,   other than a petitioner, of taxable property as shown by the most   recent certified tax roll of the applicable central appraisal   district in the area proposed to be annexed by certified mail not   later than the 14th day before the date of the hearing.           (d)     On the request of the commissioners court of the county   in which the land proposed to be annexed is located, a petitioner   under this section shall submit to the commissioners court the   petition and any other relevant information reasonably requested by   the commissioners court relating to the proposed addition for   review. The board may not receive the proposed area as an addition   to the district if the petitioner does not comply with the request   of the county.          SECTION 3.  The changes in law made by this Act apply only to   a petition submitted on or after the effective date of this Act. A   petition submitted before the effective date of this Act is   governed by the law in effect on the date the petition was   submitted, and the former law is continued in effect for that   purpose.          SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.