MONTGOMERY COUNTY MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT NO. 144

Tex. SPEC. DIST. LOCAL LAWS Code ch. 7953
in effect

Tex. SPEC. DIST. LOCAL LAWS Code § 7953.001. DEFINITIONS.

In this chapter: (1) "Board" means the district's board of directors. (2) "Commission" means the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. (3) "Director" means a board member. (4) "District" means the Montgomery County Municipal Utility District No. 144. Added by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 492 (S.B. 1005 ), Sec. 1, eff. June 16, 2015.

Tex. SPEC. DIST. LOCAL LAWS Code § 7953.002. NATURE OF DISTRICT.

The district is a municipal utility district created under Section 59 , Article XVI, Texas Constitution. Added by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 492 (S.B. 1005 ), Sec. 1, eff. June 16, 2015.

Tex. SPEC. DIST. LOCAL LAWS Code § 7953.003. CONFIRMATION AND DIRECTORS' ELECTION REQUIRED.

The temporary directors shall hold an election to confirm the creation of the district and to elect five permanent directors as provided by Section 49.102 , Water Code. Added by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 492 (S.B. 1005 ), Sec. 1, eff. June 16, 2015.

Tex. SPEC. DIST. LOCAL LAWS Code § 7953.004. CONSENT OF MUNICIPALITY REQUIRED.

The temporary directors may not hold an election under Section 7953.003 until each municipality in whose corporate limits or extraterritorial jurisdiction the district is located has consented by ordinance or resolution to the creation of the district and to the inclusion of land in the district. Added by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 492 (S.B. 1005 ), Sec. 1, eff. June 16, 2015.

Tex. SPEC. DIST. LOCAL LAWS Code § 7953.005. FINDINGS OF PUBLIC PURPOSE AND BENEFIT.

(a) The district is created to serve a public purpose and benefit. (b) The district is created to accomplish the purposes of: (1) a municipal utility district as provided by general law and Section 59 , Article XVI, Texas Constitution; and (2) Section 52 , Article III, Texas Constitution, that relate to the construction, acquisition, improvement, operation, or maintenance of macadamized, graveled, or paved roads, or improvements, including storm drainage, in aid of those roads. Added by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 492 (S.B. 1005 ), Sec. 1, eff. June 16, 2015.

Tex. SPEC. DIST. LOCAL LAWS Code § 7953.006. INITIAL DISTRICT TERRITORY.

(a) The district is initially composed of the territory described by Section 2 of the Act enacting this chapter. (b) The boundaries and field notes contained in Section 2 of the Act enacting this chapter form a closure. A mistake made in the field notes or in copying the field notes in the legislative process does not affect the district's: (1) organization, existence, or validity; (2) right to issue any type of bond for the purposes for which the district is created or to pay the principal of and interest on a bond; (3) right to impose a tax; or (4) legality or operation. Added by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 492 (S.B. 1005 ), Sec. 1, eff. June 16, 2015.

Tex. SPEC. DIST. LOCAL LAWS Code § 7953.007. ELIGIBILITY FOR INCLUSION IN TAX INCREMENT REINVESTMENT ZONE.

(a) The district is eligible to be included in a tax increment reinvestment zone created under Chapter 311 , Tax Code. (b) If the City of Conroe has created or creates a tax increment reinvestment zone described by Subsection (a) that includes all or part of the territory of the district, the City of Conroe and the board of directors of the zone or a developer of property within the tax increment reinvestment zone that receives or will receive money from the tax increment fund, by contract with the district, may grant money to the district from the tax increment fund to be used for a permissible purpose of the district, including: (1) the right to pledge the money as security for a bond or other obligation issued by the district; and (2) any permissible purpose of a corporation under Section 380.002 (b), Local Government Code. Added by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 492 (S.B. 1005 ), Sec. 1, eff. June 16, 2015. SUBCHAPTER B. BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Tex. SPEC. DIST. LOCAL LAWS Code § 7953.051. GOVERNING BODY; TERMS.

(a) The district is governed by a board of five elected directors. (b) Except as provided by Section 7953.052 , directors serve staggered four-year terms. Added by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 492 (S.B. 1005 ), Sec. 1, eff. June 16, 2015.

Tex. SPEC. DIST. LOCAL LAWS Code § 7953.052. TEMPORARY DIRECTORS.

(a) On or after the effective date of the Act enacting this chapter, the owner or owners of a majority of the assessed value of the real property in the district may submit a petition to the commission requesting that the commission appoint as temporary directors the five persons named in the petition. The commission shall appoint as temporary directors the five persons named in the petition. (b) Temporary directors serve until the earlier of: (1) the date permanent directors are elected under Section 7953.003 ; or (2) the fourth anniversary of the effective date of the Act enacting this chapter. (c) If permanent directors have not been elected under Section 7953.003 and the terms of the temporary directors have expired, successor temporary directors shall be appointed or reappointed as provided by Subsection (d) to serve terms that expire on the earlier of: (1) the date permanent directors are elected under Section 7953.003 ; or (2) the fourth anniversary of the date of the appointment or reappointment. (d) If Subsection (c) applies, the owner or owners of a majority of the assessed value of the real property in the district may submit a petition to the commission requesting that the commission appoint as successor temporary directors the five persons named in the petition. The commission shall appoint as successor temporary directors the five persons named in the petition. Added by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 492 (S.B. 1005 ), Sec. 1, eff. June 16, 2015. SUBCHAPTER C. POWERS AND DUTIES

Tex. SPEC. DIST. LOCAL LAWS Code § 7953.101. GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES.

The district has the powers and duties necessary to accomplish the purposes for which the district is created. Added by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 492 (S.B. 1005 ), Sec. 1, eff. June 16, 2015.

Tex. SPEC. DIST. LOCAL LAWS Code § 7953.102. MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT POWERS AND DUTIES.

The district has the powers and duties provided by the general law of this state, including Chapters 49 and 54 , Water Code, applicable to municipal utility districts created under Section 59 , Article XVI, Texas Constitution. Added by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 492 (S.B. 1005 ), Sec. 1, eff. June 16, 2015.

Tex. SPEC. DIST. LOCAL LAWS Code § 7953.103. AUTHORITY FOR ROAD PROJECTS.

Under Section 52 , Article III, Texas Constitution, the district may design, acquire, construct, finance, issue bonds for, improve, operate, maintain, and convey to this state, a county, or a municipality for operation and maintenance macadamized, graveled, or paved roads, or improvements, including storm drainage, in aid of those roads. Added by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 492 (S.B. 1005 ), Sec. 1, eff. June 16, 2015.

Tex. SPEC. DIST. LOCAL LAWS Code § 7953.104. ROAD STANDARDS AND REQUIREMENTS.

(a) A road project must meet all applicable construction standards, zoning and subdivision requirements, and regulations of each municipality in whose corporate limits or extraterritorial jurisdiction the road project is located. (b) If a road project is not located in the corporate limits or extraterritorial jurisdiction of a municipality, the road project must meet all applicable construction standards, subdivision requirements, and regulations of each county in which the road project is located. (c) If the state will maintain and operate the road, the Texas Transportation Commission must approve the plans and specifications of the road project. Added by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 492 (S.B. 1005 ), Sec. 1, eff. June 16, 2015.

Tex. SPEC. DIST. LOCAL LAWS Code § 7953.105. COMPLIANCE WITH MUNICIPAL CONSENT ORDINANCE OR RESOLUTION.

(a) The district shall comply with all applicable requirements of any ordinance or resolution that is adopted under Section 54.016 or 54.0165 , Water Code, and that consents to the creation of the district or to the inclusion of land in the district. (b) In addition to all the rights and remedies provided by other law, if the district violates the terms of an ordinance or resolution described by Subsection (a), the municipality is entitled to injunctive relief or a writ of mandamus issued by a court requiring the district and the district's officials to observe and comply with the terms of the ordinance or resolution. Added by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 492 (S.B. 1005 ), Sec. 1, eff. June 16, 2015.

Tex. SPEC. DIST. LOCAL LAWS Code § 7953.106. EFFECT OF ANNEXATION BY CITY OF CONROE.

(a) The City of Conroe may annex all or part of the district into its corporate limits without annexing the entire district under the terms of a development agreement between the City of Conroe and the owners of the land in the district that is covered by the development agreement. If a development agreement is not executed or the agreement has expired, nothing in this chapter limits the right of the City of Conroe to annex the district. (b) If the City of Conroe annexes all or part of the district into its corporate limits: (1) the district is not dissolved; (2) the ability of the district to issue bonds is not impaired or precluded; and (3) unless otherwise approved by the board and the governing body of the City of Conroe, the city: (A) may not take over the property or other assets of the district; (B) may not assume any debts, liabilities, or other obligations of the district; (C) is not obligated to perform any functions of the district; and (D) is not obligated to pay a landowner or developer for expenses incurred by the landowner or developer in connection with the district that would otherwise be eligible for reimbursement from the proceeds of bonds issued by the district. (c) Notwithstanding Section 54.016 (f)(2), Water Code, an allocation agreement between the City of Conroe and the district that provides for the allocation of the taxes or revenues of the district and the city following the date of inclusion of all the district's territory in the corporate limits of the city may provide that the total annual ad valorem taxes collected by the city and the district from taxable property in the district may exceed the city's ad valorem tax on that property. Added by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 492 (S.B. 1005 ), Sec. 1, eff. June 16, 2015.

Tex. SPEC. DIST. LOCAL LAWS Code § 7953.107. LIMITATION ON USE OF EMINENT DOMAIN.

The district may not exercise the power of eminent domain outside the district without the written consent of the City of Conroe. Added by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 492 (S.B. 1005 ), Sec. 1, eff. June 16, 2015. SUBCHAPTER D. GENERAL FINANCIAL PROVISIONS

Tex. SPEC. DIST. LOCAL LAWS Code § 7953.151. ELECTIONS REGARDING TAXES OR BONDS.

(a) The district may issue, without an election, bonds and other obligations secured by revenue other than ad valorem taxes. (b) The district must hold an election in the manner provided by Chapters 49 and 54 , Water Code, to obtain voter approval before the district may impose an ad valorem tax or issue bonds payable from ad valorem taxes. (c) The district may not issue bonds payable from ad valorem taxes to finance a road project unless the issuance is approved by a vote of a two-thirds majority of the district voters voting at an election held for that purpose. Added by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 492 (S.B. 1005 ), Sec. 1, eff. June 16, 2015.

Tex. SPEC. DIST. LOCAL LAWS Code § 7953.152. OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE TAX.

(a) If authorized at an election held under Section 7953.151 , the district may impose an operation and maintenance tax on taxable property in the district in accordance with Section 49.107 , Water Code. (b) The board shall determine the tax rate. The rate may not exceed the rate approved at the election. Added by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 492 (S.B. 1005 ), Sec. 1, eff. June 16, 2015. SUBCHAPTER E. BONDS AND OTHER OBLIGATIONS

Tex. SPEC. DIST. LOCAL LAWS Code § 7953.201. AUTHORITY TO ISSUE BONDS AND OTHER OBLIGATIONS.

The district may issue bonds or other obligations payable wholly or partly from ad valorem taxes, impact fees, revenue, contract payments, tax increment payments, grants, or other district money, or any combination of those sources, to pay for any authorized district purpose. Added by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 492 (S.B. 1005 ), Sec. 1, eff. June 16, 2015.

Tex. SPEC. DIST. LOCAL LAWS Code § 7953.202. TAXES FOR BONDS.

At the time the district issues bonds payable wholly or partly from ad valorem taxes, the board shall provide for the annual imposition of a continuing direct ad valorem tax, without limit as to rate or amount, while all or part of the bonds are outstanding as required and in the manner provided by Sections 54.601 and 54.602 , Water Code. Added by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 492 (S.B. 1005 ), Sec. 1, eff. June 16, 2015.

Tex. SPEC. DIST. LOCAL LAWS Code § 7953.203. BONDS FOR ROAD PROJECTS.

At the time of issuance, the total principal amount of bonds or other obligations issued or incurred to finance road projects and payable from ad valorem taxes may not exceed one-fourth of the assessed value of the real property in the district. Added by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 492 (S.B. 1005 ), Sec. 1, eff. June 16, 2015.
Source: TX Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Fetched: 6/29/2026