bill rewriting which special districts need a website

The text as introduced · 781 words

89R2787 JBD-D

By: Hinojosa of Hidalgo
S.B. No. 444

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to a requirement that certain special purpose districts

cause certain information to be posted on an Internet website.

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

SECTION 1. Section 2051.202, Government Code, is amended by

amending Subsections (a), (b), and (d) and adding Subsections (b-1)

and (e) to read as follows:

(a) In this section, "special purpose district" has the

meaning assigned by Section 403.0241 [ means a political subdivision

of this state with geographic boundaries that define the

subdivision's territorial jurisdiction. The term does not include

a municipality, county, junior college district, independent

school district, groundwater conservation district, river

authority, or political subdivision with statewide jurisdiction ].

(b) This section applies only to a special purpose district

described by Section 403.0241(b) [ that:

[ (1) is authorized by the state by a general or special

law to impose an ad valorem tax;

[ (2) during the most recent fiscal year imposed an ad

valorem tax;

[ (3) during the most recent fiscal year:

[ (A) had bonds outstanding;

[ (B) had gross receipts from operations, loans,

taxes, or contributions in excess of $250,000; or

[ (C) had cash and temporary investments in excess

of $250,000; and

[ (4) at the beginning of the most recent fiscal year,

had a population of 500 or more, as determined by the governing body

of the special purpose district ].

(b-1) This section does not apply to a groundwater

conservation district or a river authority.

(d) A special purpose district shall post or cause to be

posted on an Internet website the following information, if

applicable:

(1) the name of the special purpose district;

(2) the name and term of office of each member of the

governing body of the special purpose district;

(3) the contact information for the main office of the

special purpose district, including the physical address, the

mailing address, and the telephone number;

(4) the official contact information for each member

of the governing body of the special purpose district;

(5) if the special purpose district employs a person

as a general manager or executive director, or in another position

to perform duties or functions comparable to those of a general

manager or executive director, the name of the general manager,

executive director, or person that performs those duties;

(6) if the special purpose district contracts with a

utility operator, the contact information for a person representing

the utility operator, including a mailing address and telephone

number;

(7) if the special purpose district contracts with a

tax assessor-collector, the contact information for a person

representing the tax assessor-collector, including a mailing

address and telephone number;

(8) if the special purpose district imposes an ad

valorem tax, the rate of the ad valorem tax of the special purpose

district;

(9) if the special purpose district imposes a sales

and use tax, the rate of the sales and use tax of the special purpose

district;

(10) any notice of tax hearing required to be given

under Chapter 26, Tax Code, or Section 49.236, Water Code;

(11) the location and schedule of meetings of the

governing body of the special purpose district;

(12) a statement substantially similar to the

following: "Residents of the district have the right to request the

designation of a meeting location within the district under Section

49.062(g), Water Code. A description of this process can be found at

(insert link to the Internet website described by Section

49.062(g), Water Code).";

(13) each notice of a meeting of the governing body of

the special purpose district under Subchapter C, Chapter 551, for

meetings conducted in the current calendar year and the immediately

preceding calendar year;

(14) the minutes of a public meeting of the governing

body of the special purpose district under Section 551.021 for

meetings conducted in the current calendar year and the immediately

preceding calendar year; [ and ]

(15) the most recent financial audit of the special

purpose district ; and

(16) if the special purpose district has elected

officers:

(A) the date and location of the next election

for each office; and

(B) the requirements and deadline for filing for

candidacy for each office .

(e) A special purpose district must post the information

required by Subsection (d)(16)(B) continuously for at least one

year before the date of the election for the office.

SECTION 2. Section 2051.201(c), Government Code, is

repealed.

SECTION 3. Section 2051.202(e), Government Code, as added

by this Act, applies only to an office the election for which takes

place after January 1, 2027.

SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.