HB 4858
Pierson ‘Water Districts’ Bill Also Covers Municipal Management Districts
Died in committee
Verdict: Smells
Why it's charged
Caption mismatch
The caption says the bill covers "certain water districts," but Section 1 amends Chapter 375 of the Local Government Code. That chapter covers municipal management districts, not water districts, so the caption is narrower than the body.
Caption mismatchInitial review · graded Oct 20, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade
Caption
relating to the reservation of land for recreational facilities in certain water districts.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Summary
Caption: water districts. Bill: management districts too. Recreation land with no size, deadline or penalty.
The bill requires new municipal management districts and new municipal utility districts to set aside land for recreational facilities. It touches the boards of these special districts created on or after September 1, 2025. Those boards must reserve a "reasonable portion" of district territory for recreation "as soon as practicable," with no set size, deadline, or penalty spelled out.
Labels
Labels: NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Mar 13, 2025 and referred to the House Culture, Recreation & Tourism committee. No public hearing. The bill died.
Receipt
The receipt
89R-HB4858 · 2025-03-13
SOLD BY
+ 1 coauthor
ITEM
relating to the reservation of land for recreational facilities in certain water districts.
WHAT IT DOES
Caption: water districts. Bill: management districts too. Recreation land with no size, deadline or penalty.
The bill requires new municipal management districts and new municipal utility districts to set aside land for recreational facilities. It touches the boards of these special districts created on or after September 1, 2025. Those boards must reserve a "reasonable portion" of district territory for recreation "as soon as practicable," with no set size, deadline, or penalty spelled out.
CHARGES
[x] CAPTION MISMATCHanalysis confidence 45%
The caption says the bill covers "certain water districts," but Section 1 amends Chapter 375 of the Local Government Code. That chapter covers municipal management districts, not water districts, so the caption is narrower than the body.
TOTAL
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
HISTORY
- Filed
- Read first time
- Referred to Culture, Recreation & Tourism
FILED UNDER
THE TEXT
…“the board shall reserve a reasonable portion of the district's territory for recreational facilities”…
Bill text, introduced version (I)
The bill puts a new land-reservation duty on newly created management districts and municipal utility districts.
THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
Donors
Not tied to this bill.
Sources
The author's campaign account only. Own money and internal transfers are separate on the member page.
Derived itemized flow · Jul 6, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Texans for Truth and Liberty PAC$90,000.00
Texans for Truth and Liberty PAC
$90,000.00
- Cash
- $90,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $90,000.00
Also funds 44 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jun 24, 2025 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Jun 25, 2025 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Report IDs: 101006727, 101058404, 101071824.
Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$32,500.00
Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC
$32,500.00
- Cash
- $32,500.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $32,500.00
Also funds 137 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 24, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Sep 23, 2024 to Oct 13, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Report IDs: 100983941, 101006727, 101028341, 101058404, 101071824.
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$30,000.00
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC
$30,000.00
- Cash
- $30,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $30,000.00
Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Jul 29, 2024 to Sep 7, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Report IDs: 100983941, 101068368.
Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
Texans for Truth and Liberty PAC
$90,000.00
- Cash
- $90,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $90,000.00
Also funds 44 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jun 24, 2025 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Jun 25, 2025 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Report IDs: 101006727, 101058404, 101071824.
Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC
$32,500.00
- Cash
- $32,500.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $32,500.00
Also funds 137 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 24, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Sep 23, 2024 to Oct 13, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Report IDs: 100983941, 101006727, 101028341, 101058404, 101071824.
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC
$30,000.00
- Cash
- $30,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $30,000.00
Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Jul 29, 2024 to Sep 7, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Report IDs: 100983941, 101068368.
Votes
No floor vote loaded for this bill.
Fiscal
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
How this was graded
Analysis of text version I by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 20, 2026, against the published rubric.
Sources
Texas House · Filed Mar 13, 2025
04/03/2025 H Referred to Culture, Recreation & Tourism: Apr 3 2025 12:38PM
Texas Legislature Online · Introduced
Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:19 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.
House committee · Culture, Recreation & Tourism · Final status: Died in committee
Subjects
Parks & Wildlife--General
Special Districts & Authorities--Municipal Utility Districts
RECREATIONAL & CULTURAL FACILITIES
Text
The text as introduced · 192 words
89R14151 SCR-D By: Pierson H.B. No. 4858 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the reservation of land for recreational facilities in certain water districts. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter E, Chapter 375, Local Government Code, is amended by adding Section 375.099 to read as follows: Sec. 375.099. RESERVATION OF LAND FOR RECREATIONAL FACILITIES. (a) This section applies only to a district created on or after September 1, 2025. (b) As soon as practicable after the creation of the district, the board shall reserve a reasonable portion of the district's territory for recreational facilities as defined by Section 49.462, Water Code. SECTION 2. Subchapter D, Chapter 54, Water Code, is amended by adding Section 54.244 to read as follows: Sec. 54.244. RESERVATION OF LAND FOR RECREATIONAL FACILITIES. (a) This section applies only to a district created on or after September 1, 2025. (b) As soon as practicable after the creation of the district, the board shall reserve a reasonable portion of the district's territory for recreational facilities as defined by Section 49.462. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.