Texas Vernon's Civil Statutes § 1175 Enumerated Powers

Art. 1175. ENUMERATED POWERS. A home-rule municipality has the following powers:

1. To prohibit the use of any street, alley, highway or grounds of the city by any telegraph, telephone, electric light, street railway, interurban railway, steam railway, gas company, or any other character of public utility without first obtaining the consent of the governing authorities expressed by ordinance and upon paying such compensation as may be prescribed and upon such condition as may be provided by any such ordinance. To determine, fix and regulate the charges, fares or rates of any person, firm or corporation enjoying or that may enjoy the franchise or exercising any other public privilege in said city and to prescribe the kind of service to be furnished by such person, firm or corporation, and the manner in which it shall be rendered, and from time to time alter or change such rules, regulations and compensation; provided that in adopting such regulations and in fixing or changing such compensation, or determining the reasonableness thereof, no stock or bonds authorized or issued by any corporation enjoying the franchise shall be considered unless proof that the same have been actually issued by the corporation for money paid and used for the development of the corporate property, labor done or property actually received in accordance with the laws and Constitution of this State applicable thereto. In order to ascertain all facts necessary for a proper understanding of what is or should be a reasonable rate or regulation, the governing authority shall have full power to inspect the books and compel the attendance of witnesses for such purpose.

2. Provided that in all cities of over twenty-five thousand inhabitants, the governing body of such city, when the public service of such city may require the same, shall have the right and power to compel any street railway or other public utility corporation to extend its lines of service into any section of said city not to exceed two miles, all told, in any one year.

3. Whenever any city may determine to acquire any public utility using and occupying its streets, alleys, and avenues as hereinbefore provided, and it shall be necessary to condemn the said public utility, the city may obtain funds for the purpose of acquiring the said public utility and paying the compensation therefor, by issuing bonds, notes or other evidence of indebtedness and shall secure the same by fixing a lien upon the said properties constituting the said public utility so acquired by condemnation or purchase or otherwise; said security shall apply alone to said properties so pledged; and such further regulations may be provided by any charter for the proper financing or raising the revenue necessary for obtaining any public utilities and providing for the fixing of said security.

Acts 1913, p. 307; Acts 1921, p. 169; Acts 1963, 58th Leg., p. 447, ch. 160, art. II.

Subd. 19 amended by Acts 1967, 60th Leg., p. 189, ch. 100, Sec. 1, eff. Aug. 28, 1967; Subd. 35 added by Acts 1975, 64th Leg., p. 237, ch. 89, Sec. 8, eff. Jan. 1, 1976; Subd. 35 added by Acts 1975, 64th Leg., p. 627, ch. 258, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1975. Renumbered subd. 36 and amended by Acts 1979, 66th Leg., p. 905, ch. 413, Sec. 1, eff. June 6, 1979. Amended by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 149, Sec. 8(a), eff. Sept. 1, 1987. Subd. 37 added by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 79, Sec. 1, eff. May 12, 1987; Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 1057, Sec. 1, eff. Aug. 31, 1987; Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 1082, Sec. 1, eff. June 20, 1987. Amended by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 1, Sec. 49(b), 86(b), eff. Aug. 28, 1989; Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678, Sec. 4, eff. Sept. 1, 1989; Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 455, Sec. 1, eff. Aug. 30, 1993; Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 23, eff. Sept. 1, 1995; Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 227, Sec. 27, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.

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Last modified: September 28, 2016