Monitoring the Session

SB 1965

bill adding steps before districts annex faraway land

Did not pass

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review
Sen. Phil KingRSenate 10

Initial review · graded Oct 22, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade

Caption

relating to requirements for the addition of noncontiguous territory to certain special districts.

Caption from analyzed text · version H.

Summary

More than three miles away or in another county? County review first.

The bill adds extra notice and county review steps when certain special districts, such as water and improvement districts, try to annex land that does not touch the district and sits more than three miles away or in another county. It touches those districts, the landowners in the area to be annexed, and the county commissioners court and county clerk where the land sits. On the ground, owners get certified mail, the county gets 30 days' notice, and the district cannot take in the land if the petitioner refuses the county's request for the petition and related information.

Labels

Labels: GOT HALFWAY. Passed the Senate on May 6, 2025. Died in the House: voted out of the Natural Resources committee 9-0, no floor vote.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-SB1965 · 2025-03-05

SOLD BY

ITEM

relating to requirements for the addition of noncontiguous territory to certain special districts.

WHAT IT DOES

More than three miles away or in another county? County review first.

The bill adds extra notice and county review steps when certain special districts, such as water and improvement districts, try to annex land that does not touch the district and sits more than three miles away or in another county. It touches those districts, the landowners in the area to be annexed, and the county commissioners court and county clerk where the land sits. On the ground, owners get certified mail, the county gets 30 days' notice, and the district cannot take in the land if the petitioner refuses the county's request for the petition and related information.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version E · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version E · May 13, 2025

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

HISTORY

  1. Received by the Secretary of the Senate
  2. Filed
  3. Read first time
  4. Referred to Local Government
  5. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  6. Considered in public hearing
  7. Testimony taken in committee
  8. Left pending in committee
  9. Considered in public hearing
  10. Vote taken in committee
  11. Reported favorably as substituted
  12. Recommended for local & uncontested calendar
  13. Committee report printed and distributed
  14. Placed on intent calendar
  15. Rules suspended-Regular order of business
  16. Read 2nd time
  17. Amendment(s) offered FA1 King
  18. Amended
  19. Vote recorded in Journal
  20. Passed to engrossment as amended
  21. Vote recorded in Journal
  22. Three day rule suspended
  23. Record vote
  24. Read 3rd time
  25. Passed
  26. Record vote
  27. Reported engrossed
  28. Received from the Senate
  29. Read first time
  30. Referred to Natural Resources
  31. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  32. Considered in public hearing
  33. Left pending in committee
  34. Considered in public hearing
  35. Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
  36. Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
  37. Committee report distributed
  38. Committee report sent to Calendars
  39. Considered in Calendars
  40. Placed on General State Calendar
FILED UNDER

DEBT AND SPECIAL DISTRICTS

THE TEXT

“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.”

Bill text, House committee report version (H)

The bill puts a county check and owner notice on far-off annexations that would otherwise extend a special district's taxing, bond and condemnation reach without local notice.

SIGNED FOR BY

Senate · 31 yea · 0 nay

Sources

Senate: Final passage · May 6, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

All floor motions and other positions below.

No flags

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Donors

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$30KErle Nye, Jr.$20,000Gideon Powell$20,000

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 · Oct 27, 2024 to Jun 30, 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 Lawsuit Reform PAC$30,300.00

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$30,300.00

Cash
$30,000.00
Paid by others
$300.00
Total
$30,300.00
fundraiser $300.00

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.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 12, 2024 to Sep 26, 2025. 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: 100982783, 101007450, 101026985.

Erle Nye, Jr.$20,000.00
Gideon Powell$20,000.00
Money

Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.

×

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$30,300.00

Cash
$30,000.00
Paid by others
$300.00
Total
$30,300.00
fundraiser $300.00

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.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 12, 2024 to Sep 26, 2025. 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: 100982783, 101007450, 101026985.

Votes3

Senate May 6, 2025

Yea
31
Nay
0
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

Senate journal

Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.

Sources

Senator King moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that CSSB 1965 be placed on its third reading and final passage. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 31 (published)
  • Nay: 0 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate May 6, 2025

Yea
31
Nay
0
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

Senate journal

Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.

Sources

Senator King moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that CSSB 1965 be placed on its third reading and final passage. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 31 (published)
  • Nay: 0 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate May 6, 2025

Yea
Not printed
Nay
Not printed
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

Senate journal

Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.

Voice vote. No numeric tally or individual yeas are inferred.

Sources

CSSB 1965 as amended was passed to engrossment by a viva voce vote.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: Not printed
  • Nay: Not printed
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Witnesses5
For
3
Against
2
On
0
Names

For

  • City of Houston1 registration
  • Texas Farm Bureau1 registration
  • Texas Realtors1 registration

Against

  • Allen Boone Humphries Robinson LLP1 registration
  • Harris County Fresh Water Supply District 611 registration
Sources

5 parsed registrations across the loaded witness lists.

Derived stock of witness registrations. Repeated appearances count separately. Organizations and self-representation appear as printed.

Senate witness list. Source snapshot 2026-10-20, Central time.

Fiscal

No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version E · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version E · May 13, 2025

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

How this was graded

Analysis of text version H by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 22, 2026, against the published rubric.

Sources

Texas Senate · Filed Mar 5, 2025

05/26/2025 H Placed on General State Calendar

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced · Senate Committee Report · Engrossed · House Committee Report

Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:20 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

Sponsors

House committee · Natural Resources · Committee vote 9 aye, 0 nay, 4 absent · Out of committee

Senate committee · Local Government · Committee vote 6 aye, 0 nay, 1 absent · Out of committee

Subjects

Special Districts & Authorities--Miscellaneous

Special Districts & Authorities--Water & Utility

Text

The text as introduced · 985 words

89R11630 SCR/JTZ-D

By: King
S.B. No. 1965

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the addition of territory to certain special districts.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 375.043(a), Local Government Code, is

amended to read as follows:

(a) A district may annex land as provided by Section 49.301

and Chapter 54, Water Code, subject to the approval of the governing

body of the municipality. In all areas of conflict, Section 54.750,

Water Code, takes precedence over all prior statutory enactments

regarding a district to which this chapter applies.

SECTION 2. Section 51.7131, Water Code, is amended to read

as follows:

Sec. 51.7131. ALTERNATIVE SUBSTITUTION PROCEDURES.

Notwithstanding this subchapter, a district may substitute land in

the manner provided by Sections 54.739-54.747 and 54.750 .

SECTION 3. Subchapter O, Chapter 51, Water Code, is amended

by adding Sections 51.715 and 51.7151 to read as follows:

Sec. 51.715. LIMITATION ON ADDITION OF NONCONTIGUOUS LAND.

(a) A district may not add noncontiguous land to the district under

this subchapter or Section 49.301 or 49.302 if the noncontiguous

land is located more than 200 feet from the boundaries of the

district at the time of the proposed addition.

(b) In all areas of conflict, Subsection (a) takes

precedence over all prior statutory enactments.

Sec. 51.7151. ADDING LAND BY PETITION OF LESS THAN ALL

LANDOWNERS. A district that holds a hearing under Section 49.302 to

annex land to the district shall, in addition to the notice

requirements of that section, provide notice of the hearing by

certified mail at least 14 days before the date of the hearing to:

(1) each landowner in the area proposed to be annexed

as shown by the most recent certified tax roll of the central

appraisal district of the county or counties in which the area is

located; and

(2) a municipality if the municipality's corporate

boundaries include or are adjacent to the area proposed to be

annexed.

SECTION 4. Subchapter H, Chapter 54, Water Code, is amended

by adding Sections 54.750 and 54.751 to read as follows:

Sec. 54.750. LIMITATION ON ADDITION OF NONCONTIGUOUS LAND.

(a) A district may not add noncontiguous land to the district under

this subchapter or Section 49.301 or 49.302 if the noncontiguous

land is located more than 200 feet from the boundaries of the

district at the time of the proposed addition.

(b) In all areas of conflict, Subsection (a) takes

precedence over all prior statutory enactments.

Sec. 54.751. ADDING LAND BY PETITION OF LESS THAN ALL

LANDOWNERS. A district that holds a hearing under Section 49.302 to

annex land to the district shall, in addition to the notice

requirements of that section, provide notice of the hearing by

certified mail at least 14 days before the date of the hearing to:

(1) each landowner in the area proposed to be annexed

as shown by the most recent certified tax roll of the central

appraisal district of the county or counties in which the area is

located; and

(2) a municipality if the municipality's corporate

boundaries include or are adjacent to the area proposed to be

annexed.

SECTION 5. Subchapter O, Chapter 55, Water Code, is amended

by adding Sections 55.701 and 55.702 to read as follows:

Sec. 55.701. LIMITATION ON ADDITION OF NONCONTIGUOUS LAND.

(a) A district may not add noncontiguous land to the district under

Section 49.301 or 49.302 if the noncontiguous land is located more

than 200 feet from the boundaries of the district at the time of the

proposed addition.

(b) In all areas of conflict, Subsection (a) takes

precedence over all prior statutory enactments.

Sec. 55.702. ADDING LAND BY PETITION OF LESS THAN ALL

LANDOWNERS. A district that holds a hearing under Section 49.302 to

annex land to the district shall, in addition to the notice

requirements of that section, provide notice of the hearing by

certified mail at least 14 days before the date of the hearing to:

(1) each landowner in the area proposed to be annexed

as shown by the most recent certified tax roll of the central

appraisal district of the county or counties in which the area is

located; and

(2) a municipality if the municipality's corporate

boundaries include or are adjacent to the area proposed to be

annexed.

SECTION 6. Subchapter H, Chapter 65, Water Code, is amended

by adding Sections 65.701 and 65.702 to read as follows:

Sec. 65.701. LIMITATION ON ADDITION OF NONCONTIGUOUS LAND.

(a) A district may not add noncontiguous land to the district under

Section 49.301 or 49.302 if the noncontiguous land is located more

than 200 feet from the boundaries of the district at the time of the

proposed addition.

(b) In all areas of conflict, Subsection (a) takes

precedence over all prior statutory enactments.

Sec. 65.702. ADDING LAND BY PETITION OF LESS THAN ALL

LANDOWNERS. A district that holds a hearing under Section 49.302 to

annex land to the district shall, in addition to the notice

requirements of that section, provide notice of the hearing by

certified mail at least 14 days before the date of the hearing to:

(1) each landowner in the area proposed to be annexed

as shown by the most recent certified tax roll of the central

appraisal district of the county or counties in which the area is

located; and

(2) any municipality that has territory in the area

proposed to be annexed.

SECTION 7. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to

an addition of land a petition for which is submitted on or after

the effective date of this Act. An addition of land a petition for

which is 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 8. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.