HB 1453

relating to the issuance of anticipation notes and certificates of
obligation by certain local governments.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1.  Section 1431.001(2), Government Code, is amended
(2)  "Eligible countywide district" means a flood
control district [or a hospital district] the boundaries of which
are substantially coterminous with the boundaries of a county with
a population of three million or more [or a hospital district
created in a county with a population of more than 1.2 million that
was not included in the boundaries of a hospital district before
SECTION 2.  Section 1431.002, Government Code, is amended by
adding Subsection (d) to read as follows:
(d)  Except as provided by this subsection, the governing
body of an issuer may not authorize an anticipation note to pay a
contractual obligation to be incurred if a bond proposition to
authorize the issuance of bonds for the same purpose was submitted
to the voters during the preceding five years and failed to be
approved.  The governing body of an issuer may authorize an
anticipation note that the governing body is otherwise prohibited
from authorizing under this subsection in a case described by
Section 271.045(a)(1)(B) or (C), Local Government Code.
SECTION 3.  Sections 271.043(7) and (7-a), Local Government
Code, are amended to read as follows:
(7)  "Issuer" means a municipality or[,] county[, or
hospital district established under Chapter 281, Health and Safety
(7-a)  "Public work" [for an issuer that is a
[(A)]  means any of the following public
improvements as authorized by law:
(A) [(i)]  a street, road, highway, bridge,
sidewalk, or parking structure;
(D) [(iv)]  a utility system, water supply
project, water treatment plant, wastewater treatment plant, or
water or wastewater conveyance facility;
(F) [(vi)]  a flood control and drainage
[(vii)  a public safety facility, including
a police station, fire station, emergency shelter, jail, or
[(ix)  an administrative office building
housing the governmental functions of the municipality or county;
[(xii)  a park or recreation facility that
is generally accessible to the public and is part of the municipal
[(B)  means the rehabilitation, expansion,
reconstruction, or maintenance of an existing stadium, arena, civic
center, convention center, or coliseum that is owned and operated
by the municipality or county or by an entity created to act on
behalf of the municipality or county; and
[(i)  a facility for which more than 50
percent of the average annual usage is or is intended to be for
professional or semi-professional sports;
[(ii)  a new stadium, arena, civic center,
convention center, or coliseum that is or is intended to be leased
by a single for-profit tenant for more than 180 days in a single
SECTION 4.  Section 271.045, Local Government Code, is
amended by amending Subsections (a) and (b) and adding Subsections
(f) and (g) to read as follows:
(a)  The governing body of an issuer may authorize
certificates only as necessary to pay a contractual obligation:
(1)  to be incurred for the construction, renovation,
repair, or improvement of a public work that the governing body
(A)  to comply with a state or federal law or rule,
but only if the issuer has been officially notified of
noncompliance with the law or rule [(1)  construction of any public
(B)  to mitigate the impact of a public health
emergency in the jurisdiction of the issuer that poses an imminent
danger to the physical health or safety of the residents of the
(C)  to finance the cleanup, mitigation, or
remediation of a natural disaster in the jurisdiction of the issuer
subject to a state of disaster declared by:
(i)  the governor under Section 418.014,
Government Code, in the fiscal year that the certificates are
(ii)  the presiding officer of the governing
body of the issuer under Section 418.108, Government Code, in the
fiscal year that the certificates are authorized; or
(D)  to comply with a court order [(2)  purchase
of materials, supplies, equipment, machinery, buildings, land, and
rights-of-way for authorized needs and purposes]; or
(2)  for professional services necessary for a public
work described by Subdivision (1) [(3)  payment of contractual
obligations for professional services, including services provided
by tax appraisers, engineers, architects, attorneys, map makers,
auditors, financial advisors, and fiscal agents].
(b)  If necessary because of a change order for a contractual
obligation incurred for the construction, renovation, repair, or
improvement of a public work [orders], the governing body of an
issuer may authorize the issuance of certificates [may be
authorized] in an amount not to exceed 15 [25] percent of the [a]
contractual obligation [incurred for the construction of public
works], but certificates may be delivered only in the amount
necessary to discharge the contractual obligation [obligations].
(f)  The governing body of an issuer that authorizes the
issuance of a certificate shall enter into a contract for the
construction, renovation, repair, or improvement of the public work
for which the issuance is authorized not later than the 180th day
after the date the governing body authorizes the issuance.
(g)  The governing body of an issuer that authorizes a
certificate to pay a contractual obligation under Subsection
(a)(1)(B) shall adopt a resolution describing the conditions and
circumstances of the public health emergency and making a
determination that the emergency exists.
SECTION 5.  Section 271.0461, Local Government Code, is
Sec. 271.0461.  ADDITIONAL PURPOSE FOR CERTIFICATES:
DEMOLITION OF DANGEROUS STRUCTURES [OR RESTORATION OF HISTORIC
STRUCTURES].  Certificates may be issued by any municipality for
the payment of contractual obligations to be incurred in
demolishing dangerous structures [or restoring historic
structures] and may be sold for cash, subject to the restrictions
and other conditions of Section 271.050.
SECTION 6.  Sections 271.047(c) and (d), Local Government
Code, are amended to read as follows:
(c)  A certificate may not mature over a period greater than
30 [40] years from the date of the certificate and may not bear
interest at a rate greater than that allowed by Chapter 1204,
(d)  Except as provided by this subsection, the governing
body of an issuer may not authorize a certificate to pay a
contractual obligation to be incurred if a bond proposition to
authorize the issuance of bonds for the same purpose was submitted
to the voters during the preceding five [three] years and failed to
be approved.  A governing body may authorize a certificate that the
governing body is otherwise prohibited from authorizing under this
[(1)]  in a case described by Section 271.045(a)(1)(B)
or (C) [Sections 271.056(1)-(3); and
[(2)  to comply with a state or federal law, rule, or
regulation if the political subdivision has been officially
notified of noncompliance with the law, rule, or regulation].
SECTION 7.  Sections 271.049(c) and (d), Local Government
Code, are amended to read as follows:
(c)  If before the date tentatively set for the authorization
of the issuance of the certificates or if before the authorization,
the municipal secretary or clerk if the issuer is a municipality,
or the county clerk if the issuer is a county, receives a petition
signed by at least two [five] percent of the registered [qualified]
voters of the issuer protesting the issuance of the certificates,
the issuer may not authorize the issuance of the certificates
unless the issuance is approved at an election ordered, held, and
conducted in the manner provided for bond elections under Chapter
(d)  This section does not apply to certificates issued for
the purposes described by Section 271.045(a)(1)(B) or (C) [Sections
SECTION 8.  Section 271.0525(c), Local Government Code, is
(c)  A petition to protest the issuance of refinancing
certificates under this section must be signed by at least two
percent of the registered [a number of qualified] voters of the
county [, residing in the county, equal to at least five percent of
the number of votes cast in that county for governor in the most
recent general election at which that office was filled].
SECTION 9.  Section 271.057(a), Local Government Code, is
(a)  Except as provided by Subsection (b), a contract let
under this subchapter for the construction, renovation, repair, or
improvement of public works or the purchase of materials,
equipment, supplies, or machinery and for which competitive bidding
is required by this subchapter must be let to the lowest responsible
bidder and, as the governing body determines, may be let on a
lump-sum basis or unit price basis.
SECTION 10.  Section 271.059, Local Government Code, is
Sec. 271.059.  CONTRACTOR'S BONDS.  If a contract is for the
construction, renovation, repair, or improvement of public works
and is required by this subchapter to be submitted to competitive
bidding, the successful bidder must execute a good and sufficient
payment bond and performance bond.  The bonds must each be:
(1)  in the full amount of the contract price; and
(2)  executed, in accordance with Chapter 2253,
Government Code, with a surety company authorized to do business in
SECTION 11.  Section 271.046, Local Government Code, is
SECTION 12.  The changes in law made by this Act apply only
to an anticipation note or certificate of obligation issued on or
after the effective date of this Act.  An anticipation note or
certificate of obligation issued before the effective date of this
Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the anticipation
note or certificate was issued, and the former law is continued in
SECTION 13.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.