Bill > HB4404

This bill modifies the Texas Water Code to require that petitions for creating certain special districts (water control and improvement districts, freshwater supply districts, and municipal utility districts) located outside of municipal boundaries must now include detailed plans for law enforcement, fire protection, and emergency services, as well as ensure that roads can accommodate fire truck turnarounds. Specifically, when a commissioners court or the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) reviews a petition to create such a district, they must now consider and verify that adequate emergency services will be provided and that road infrastructure can support emergency vehicle access. These new requirements apply to district creation petitions filed on or after the bill's effective date, which will be either immediately upon receiving a two-thirds vote in the Texas Legislature or on September 1, 2025, if that threshold is not met. The bill aims to ensure that new special districts have robust public safety infrastructure and services in place before being approved, particularly in areas outside of existing municipal boundaries where such services might be limited.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=HB4404