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Texas Water Code - Chapter 54 Municipal Utility Districts

Legal Research Home > Texas Laws > Water Code > Texas Water Code - Chapter 54 Municipal Utility Districts

  • Texas Water Code Section 54.001 - Definitions
    In this chapter: (1) "District" means a municipal utility district operating under this chapter. (2) "Board" means the board of directors of a district. (3) ...
  • Texas Water Code Section 54.011 - Creation Of District
    A municipal utility district may be created under and subject to the authority, conditions, and restrictions of Article XVI, Section 59, of the Texas Constitution. ...
  • Texas Water Code Section 54.012 - Purposes Of A District
    A district shall be created for the following purposes: (1) the control, storage, preservation, and distribution of its storm water and floodwater, the water of ...
  • Texas Water Code Section 54.013 - Composition Of District
    (a) A district may include the area in all or part of any county or counties including all or part of any cities and other ...
  • Texas Water Code Section 54.014 - Petition
    When it is proposed to create a district, a petition requesting creation shall be filed with the commission. The petition shall be signed by a ...
  • Texas Water Code Section 54.015 - Contents Of Petition
    The petition shall: (1) describe the boundaries of the proposed district by metes and bounds or by lot and block number, if there is a ...
  • Texas Water Code Section 54.016 - Consent Of City
    (a) No land within the corporate limits of a city or within the extraterritorial jurisdiction of a city, shall be included in a district unless ...
  • Texas Water Code Section 54.0161 - Review Of Creation By County
    (a) If all or part of a proposed district is to be located outside the extraterritorial jurisdiction of a city, the commissioners court of the ...
  • Texas Water Code Section 54.0162 - Option Of Selection By District Composed Of Noncontiguous Areas Located In The Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Of Two Municipalities
    (a) A municipal utility district composed of noncontiguous areas that on January 1, 1995, are contained in the extraterritorial jurisdiction of two municipalities may choose, ...
  • Texas Water Code Section 54.0163 - Option Of Selection Of Extraterritorial Jurisdiction For Certain Districts
    (a) The board of a district that is located in the extraterritorial jurisdictions of more than one municipality by resolution may select the municipality that ...
  • Texas Water Code Section 54.018 - Notice And Hearing On District Creation
    If a petition is filed under Section 54.014, the commission shall give notice of an application as required by Section 49.011 and may conduct a ...
  • Texas Water Code Section 54.020 - Hearing
    (a) If the commission determines that a hearing is necessary under Section 49.011, the commission shall conduct a hearing and accept evidence on the sufficiency ...
  • Texas Water Code Section 54.021 - Granting Or Refusing Petition
    (a) If the commission finds that the petition conforms to the requirements of Section 54.015 and that the project is feasible and practicable and is ...
  • Texas Water Code Section 54.022 - Temporary Directors
    If the commission grants the petition, it shall appoint five temporary directors to serve until permanent directors are elected. Added by Acts 1971, 62nd Leg., ...
  • Texas Water Code Section 54.023 - Appeal From The Order Of The Commission
    Any person who signed the petition, any city, or any person who appeared in person or by attorney or agent and offered testimony for or ...
  • Texas Water Code Section 54.024 - Supervision By Commission
    The rights, powers, privileges, authority, and functions conferred on a district by granting of a petition for creation shall be subject to the continuing right ...
  • Texas Water Code Section 54.025 - Qualification Of Temporary Directors
    After a district has been organized, each temporary director shall execute a bond in accordance with the provisions of Section 49.055 and shall take the ...
  • Texas Water Code Section 54.030 - Conversion Of Certain Districts Into Districts Operating Under This Chapter
    (a) Any water improvement district, water control and improvement district, fresh water supply district, levee improvement district, irrigation district, or any other conservation and reclamation ...
  • Texas Water Code Section 54.031 - Establishing Date For Hearing
    When the resolution requesting conversion is filed, the commission, or someone authorized by the commission, shall fix a date, time, and place when the conversion ...
  • Texas Water Code Section 54.032 - Conversion Of District: Notice
    (a) Notice of the conversion hearing shall be given by publishing notice in a newspaper with general circulation in the county or counties in which ...
  • Texas Water Code Section 54.033 - Conversion Of District; Findings
    (a) After a hearing, if the commission finds that conversion of the district into one operating under this chapter would serve the best interest of ...
  • Texas Water Code Section 54.034 - Effect Of Conversion
    A district which is converted into a district operating under this chapter shall: (1) be constituted a municipal utility district operating under and governed by ...
  • Texas Water Code Section 54.035 - Reservation Of Certain Powers For Converted Districts
    (a) Any district after converting into a municipal utility district may continue to exercise all necessary specific powers under any specific conditions provided by the ...
  • Texas Water Code Section 54.036 - Directors To Continue Serving
    The existing board of a district converted to a municipal utility district under the provisions of this chapter shall continue to serve as the board ...
  • Texas Water Code Section 54.037 - Regional Plan Implementation Agencies
    (a) This section applies only to regional plan implementation agencies, referred to in this section as agency, created as provided below. An agency may only ...
  • Texas Water Code Section 54.101 - Board Of Directors
    A district shall be governed by a board of five directors. Added by Acts 1971, 62nd Leg., p. 781, ch. 84, § 1. ...
  • Texas Water Code Section 54.102 - Qualifications For Directors
    To be qualified to serve as a director, a person shall be at least 18 years old, a resident citizen of the State of Texas, ...
  • Texas Water Code Section 54.103 - Limitation On Filling Vacancies
    A board may not appoint a person to fill a vacancy on the board if the person: (1) resigned from the board: (A) in the ...
  • Texas Water Code Section 54.201 - Powers
    (a) A district shall have the functions, powers, authority, rights, and duties which will permit accomplishment of the purposes for which it was created. (b) ...
  • Texas Water Code Section 54.203 - Municipal Solid Waste
    A district is authorized to purchase, construct, acquire, own, operate, maintain, repair, improve, extend, or establish a municipal solid waste collection and disposal system, including ...
  • Texas Water Code Section 54.205 - Adopting Rules And Regulations
    A district may adopt and enforce reasonable rules and regulations to: (1) secure and maintain safe, sanitary, and adequate plumbing installations, connections, and appurtenances as ...
  • Texas Water Code Section 54.2051 - Service Connections To Certain Dwelling Units
    (a) If the tenant of an individually metered dwelling unit applies to a district for utility service for that unit, the district may not require ...
  • Texas Water Code Section 54.2052 - Plumbing Code
    Notwithstanding any other law, a district is not required to adopt a plumbing code. A district may adopt and enforce one or more plumbing codes ...
  • Texas Water Code Section 54.206 - Effect Of Rules
    After the required publication, rules adopted by the district under Section 54.205 of this code shall be recognized by the courts as if they were ...
  • Texas Water Code Section 54.207 - Publication Of Rules
    (a) The board shall publish once a week for two consecutive weeks a substantive statement of the rules and the penalty for their violation in ...
  • Texas Water Code Section 54.208 - Effective Date Of Rules
    The penalty for violation of a rule is not effective and enforceable until five days after the publication of the notice. Five days after the ...
  • Texas Water Code Section 54.209 - Limitation On Use Of Eminent Domain
    A district may not exercise the power of eminent domain outside the district boundaries to acquire: (1) a site for a water treatment plant, water ...
  • Texas Water Code Section 54.234 - Acquiring Road Utility District Powers
    Any district, which has the power to levy taxes, may petition the commission to acquire the powers granted to road utility districts operating pursuant to ...
  • Texas Water Code Section 54.235 - Authority To Contract
    Any district created by general law or special act of the legislature in existence for at least 10 years which lies within a county that ...
  • Texas Water Code Section 54.2351 - Contracts With Other Districts Or Water Supply Corporations
    (a) In this section, "authorized water district" means a district created under Section 52(b)(1) or (2), Article III, or Section 59, Article XVI, Texas Constitution. ...
  • Texas Water Code Section 54.236 - Street Or Security Lighting
    Subject to the provisions of this section, a district may purchase, install, operate, and maintain street lighting or security lighting within public utility easements or ...
  • Texas Water Code Section 54.237 - Enforcement Of Real Property Restrictions
    (a) As used in this section, "restriction" means a limitation on the use of real property that is established or incorporated in properly recorded covenants, ...
  • Texas Water Code Section 54.238 - Definitions
    In this subchapter: (1) "Developer" means a person who owns a tract of land within a district and who has divided or proposes to divide ...
  • Texas Water Code Section 54.239 - Appeal To The Commission Of Decision Of Board Regarding Facilities
    A person aggrieved by a decision of a board involving the cost, purchase, or use of facilities may appeal the decision to the commission by ...
  • Texas Water Code Section 54.240 - Notice
    The commission shall give notice of the petition to persons who the commission determines may be affected by the petition, including: (1) the board; (2) ...
  • Texas Water Code Section 54.241 - Action On The Petition
    (a) After notice and hearing, the commission shall render a written decision granting or denying the petition, in whole or in part. (b) In rendering ...
  • Texas Water Code Section 54.242 - Street Repair Or Maintenance
    A district created by general law or special act of the legislature in existence for at least 10 years may repair or maintain a street ...
  • Texas Water Code Section 54.243 - Disposition Of Impact Fees
    A district that charges a fee that is an impact fee as described in Section 395.001(4), Local Government Code, shall use the fees collected and ...
  • Texas Water Code Section 54.501 - Issuance Of Bonds
    The district may issue its bonds for any purpose authorized by this chapter, Chapter 49, or other applicable laws, including the purpose of purchasing, constructing, ...
  • Texas Water Code Section 54.502 - Form Of Bonds
    (a) A district may issue its bonds in various series or issues. (b) Bonds shall mature serially or otherwise not more than 40 years from ...
  • Texas Water Code Section 54.503 - Manner Of Repayment Of Bonds
    The board may provide for the payment of principal of and interest and redemption price on the bonds in any one of the following manners: ...
  • Texas Water Code Section 54.504 - Additional Security For Bonds
    (a) The bonds, within the discretion of the board, may be additionally secured by a deed of trust or mortgage lien on part or all ...
  • Texas Water Code Section 54.505 - Election On Tax Bonds
    Bonds payable solely from revenues may be issued by resolution or order of the board without an election, but no bonds, except refunding bonds, payable ...
  • Texas Water Code Section 54.507 - Notice Of Bond Election
    (a) Repealed by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 715, § 43, eff. Sept. 1, 1995. (b) All or any part of any facilities or improvements ...
  • Texas Water Code Section 54.510 - Provisions Of Bonds
    (a) In the orders or resolutions authorizing the issuance of bonds, including refunding bonds, the board may provide for the flow of funds, the establishment ...
  • Texas Water Code Section 54.512 - Sale Or Exchange Of Bonds
    (a) The board shall sell the bonds on the best terms and for the best possible price but none of the bonds may be sold ...
  • Texas Water Code Section 54.514 - Refunding Bonds
    (a) A district may issue bonds to refund all or any part of its outstanding bonds, notes, or other obligations including matured but unpaid interest ...
  • Texas Water Code Section 54.5161 - Review Of Bond Projects By Counties
    (a) Before the commission gives final approval on any bond issue for the purpose of financing a project of a district located wholly or partly ...
  • Texas Water Code Section 54.518 - Mandamus By Bondholders
    In addition to all other rights and remedies provided by the laws of the state, in the event the district defaults in the payment of ...
  • Texas Water Code Section 54.520 - Cancellation Of Unsold Bonds
    (a) The board, by order or resolution, may provide for the cancellation of all or any part of any bonds which have been submitted to ...
  • Texas Water Code Section 54.521 - Use Of Bond Proceeds To Pay Certain Interest
    The district may use bond proceeds to pay or to establish a reasonable reserve to pay not more than three years' interest on the notes ...
  • Texas Water Code Section 54.522 - Bonds For Street Repair Or Maintenance
    (a) The legislature finds that the condition of streets affects: (1) the control, storage, preservation, and distribution of the state's storm and flood waters; (2) ...
  • Texas Water Code Section 54.601 - Tax Levy For Bonds
    At the time bonds payable in whole or in part from taxes are issued, the board shall levy a continuing direct annual ad valorem tax ...
  • Texas Water Code Section 54.602 - Establishment Of Tax Rate In Each Year
    (a) Repealed by Acts 1979, 66th Leg., p. 2330, ch. 841, § 6(a)(3), eff. Jan. 1, 1982. (b) In determining the actual rate to be ...
  • Texas Water Code Section 54.603 - Mandamus By Bondholders
    In the event the board fails or refuses to levy a sufficient tax in each year which, together with other revenues or receipts which may ...
  • Texas Water Code Section 54.604 - Assessment And Collection Of District Taxes
    The assessor and collector shall assess and collect taxes for the district. Added by Acts 1971, 62nd Leg., p. 801, ch. 84, § 1. Amended ...
  • Texas Water Code Section 54.728 - Consolidation Of Districts
    Two or more districts governed by the provisions of this chapter may consolidate into one district as provided by Sections 54.729-54.733 of this code. Added ...
  • Texas Water Code Section 54.729 - Elections To Approve Consolidation
    (a) After the board of each district has agreed on the terms and conditions of consolidation, which may include the assumption by each district of ...
  • Texas Water Code Section 54.730 - Governing Consolidated Districts
    (a) After two or more districts are consolidated, they become one district and are governed as one district, except for the payment of debts created ...
  • Texas Water Code Section 54.731 - Debts Of Original Districts
    (a) After two or more districts are consolidated, the debts of the original districts shall be protected and may not be impaired. These debts may ...
  • Texas Water Code Section 54.732 - Assessment And Collection Of Taxes
    After consolidation, the district shall assess and collect taxes on property in the original districts to pay debts created by the original districts unless each ...
  • Texas Water Code Section 54.733 - Voted But Unissued Bonds
    In the event any consolidating district has voted but unissued bonds payable in whole or in part from taxation and the consolidated district assumed the ...
  • Texas Water Code Section 54.734 - Dissolution Of District Prior To Issuance Of Bonds
    (a) If the board considers it advisable before the issuance of any bonds, notes, or other indebtedness, the board may dissolve the district and liquidate ...
  • Texas Water Code Section 54.735 - Notice Of Hearing
    The board shall post notice of the hearing on the bulletin board at the courthouse door of each county in which the district is located ...
  • Texas Water Code Section 54.736 - Hearing
    The board shall hear all interested persons and shall consider their evidence at the time and place stated in the notice. Added by Acts 1971, ...
  • Texas Water Code Section 54.737 - Board's Order To Dissolve District
    If the board unanimously determines from the evidence that the best interests of the persons and property in the district will be served by dissolving ...
  • Texas Water Code Section 54.738 - Judicial Review Of Board's Order
    The board's decree to dissolve the district may be judicially reviewed in the manner set forth in Sections 54.708-54.710 of this code for the review ...
  • Texas Water Code Section 54.739 - Substituting Land Of Equal Value
    After the district is organized and acquires facilities with which to function for the purposes for which it was organized, and votes, issues and sells ...
  • Texas Water Code Section 54.740 - Requisites For Application For Exclusion
    An owner of land in the district not receiving services from the district may apply for its exclusion from the district boundaries if all taxes ...
  • Texas Water Code Section 54.741 - Inclusion Of Substitute Land Required
    An application for exclusion can only be considered by the board if an application is filed by an owner of other land lying outside the ...
  • Texas Water Code Section 54.742 - Application For Inclusion
    The application submitted by an owner of land proposed for inclusion shall set forth that the owner of the new land assumes the payment of ...
  • Texas Water Code Section 54.743 - Notice Of Hearing And Hearing Procedures
    The board shall give notice of the hearing on the applications for exclusion and inclusion in conformity with the notice and hearing requirements otherwise applicable ...
  • Texas Water Code Section 54.744 - Impairment Of Security
    For purposes of the board's consideration of the applications, the lands proposed for inclusion shall be deemed to be sufficient to avoid an impairment of ...
  • Texas Water Code Section 54.745 - Board's Resolution To Substitute
    If the board finds that all the conditions provided for the exclusion of land and inclusion of other land in the district exist and that ...
  • Texas Water Code Section 54.746 - Liability Of Excluded And Included Land
    The land excluded from the district is free from any lien or liability created on the excluded land by reason of its having been included ...
  • Texas Water Code Section 54.747 - Service To Included Land
    The district has the same right and obligation to furnish services to the included land that it previously had to furnish to the excluded land. ...
  • Texas Water Code Section 54.748 - Exclusion Of Land For Failure To Provide Sufficient Services; Bonds Outstanding
    (a) This section applies only to a district that has a total area of more than 5,000 acres. (b) The board shall call a hearing ...
  • Texas Water Code Section 54.749 - Tax Liability Of Excluded Land; Bonds Outstanding
    (a) Land excluded from the district under Section 54.748 that is pledged as security for any outstanding debt of the district remains pledged for its ...
  • Texas Water Code Section 54.801 - Authority To Establish Defined Areas Or Designated Property
    (a) A district that is composed of at least 1,500 acres may define areas or designate certain property of the district to pay for improvements, ...
  • Texas Water Code Section 54.802 - Defining Area And Designating Property To Be Benefited By Improvements
    (a) The board shall adopt a proposed plan that defines the particular area to be taxed by metes and bounds or designates the property to ...
  • Texas Water Code Section 54.803 - Notice Of Adoption Of Plans For Defined Area Or Designated Property And Hearing
    (a) After proposed plans for a defined area or designated property are adopted, the board shall publish notice of the adoption once a week for ...
  • Texas Water Code Section 54.804 - Order Adopting Plans For Defined Area Or Designated Property
    (a) After the hearing is completed, the board may approve the proposed plans for the defined area or designated property or may modify the proposed ...
  • Texas Water Code Section 54.805 - Obtaining Funds To Construct, Administer, Maintain, And Operate Improvements And Facilities In Defined Areas Or Designated Property
    On adoption of the plans as provided by Section 54.804 of this code and voter approval of the plans, the district, under the limitations of ...
  • Texas Water Code Section 54.806 - Procedure For Election
    (a) Before the adopted plans may become effective, they must be approved by the voters in the defined area or within the boundaries of the ...
  • Texas Water Code Section 54.807 - Ballots
    The ballot proposition for an election under this subchapter must be printed to provide for voting for or against defining the area or designating the ...
  • Texas Water Code Section 54.808 - Declaring Result And Issuing Order
    (a) If a majority of the voters voting at the election approve the proposition, the board shall declare the results and, by order, shall establish ...
  • Texas Water Code Section 54.809 - Issuance Of Bonds And Levy Of Tax For Defined Area Or Designated Property
    After the order is recorded, the district may issue its bonds to provide the specific plant, works, and facilities included in the plans adopted for ...
  • Texas Water Code Section 54.810 - Limitation On Other Bond Authorizations
    If the voters of the designated area authorize the issuance of bonds for a particular purpose, a district may not issue bonds from any other ...
  • Texas Water Code Section 54.811 - Pledge Of Faith And Credit
    If at an election, the voters approve the issuance of bonds and the levy of a tax that applies only to a designated area, the ...
  • Texas Water Code Section 54.812 - Notice To Purchasers
    (a) A person who sells or conveys real property located within the designated area of the district shall supplement the notice to purchaser required by ...
  • Texas Water Code Section 54.813 - Municipality's Authority Regarding Defined Area
    (a) This section applies only to a municipality any portion of which is located in a county with a population of more than 800,000 and ...
  • Last modified: August 11, 2007