HB 3335
AN ACT relating to the authority of a county to dispose of surplus and
89th Regular Session
Jan 14, 2025 - Jun 2, 2025 • Session ended
Awaiting Committee Assignment
Bill filed, pending referral to House committee
Committee
Not yet assigned
Fiscal Note
Not available
What This Bill Does
This Texas bill expands county commissioners' authority to dispose of surplus and salvage property by allowing them to donate items to civic or charitable organizations under specific conditions. Counties can donate property if selling it would likely result in no bids or minimal returns, the donation serves a public purpose, and the organization provides adequate consideration like handling transportation or disposal expenses. The bill provides counties more flexibility in managing surplus property while ensuring taxpayer interests are protected.
Subject Areas
Bill Text
relating to the authority of a county to dispose of surplus and salvage property to a civic or charitable organization. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 263.152(a), Local Government Code, is (a) The commissioners court of a county may: (1) periodically sell the county's surplus or salvage property by competitive bid or auction, except that competitive bidding or an auction is not necessary if the purchaser is another county or a political subdivision within the county that is selling the surplus or salvage property; (2) offer the property as a trade-in for new property of the same general type if the commissioners court considers that action to be in the best interests of the county; (3) order any of the property to be destroyed or otherwise disposed of as worthless if the commissioners court undertakes to sell that property under Subdivision (1) and is unable to do so because no bids are made; (4) dispose of the property by donating it to a civic or charitable organization located in the county if the commissioners court determines that: (A) [undertaking to sell the property under Subdivision (1) would likely result in no bids or a bid price that is less than the county's expenses required for the bid process; [(B)] the donation serves a public purpose; [and] (B) the county can retain sufficient control over the donation process to ensure that the public purpose of the (C) the organization will provide the county with adequate consideration, such as relieving the county of transportation or disposal expenses related to the property; (5) transfer gambling equipment in the possession of the county following its forfeiture to the state to the Texas Facilities Commission for sale under Section 2175.904, Government (6) order any vehicle retired under a program designed to encourage the use of low-emission vehicles to be crushed and recycled, if practicable, without a competitive bid or auction. SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2025.
Bill History
Bill filed: AN ACT relating to the authority of a county to dispose of surplus and
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