A municipality generally must give written consent before a qualifying political subdivision can be created in its extraterritorial jurisdiction, and it may not add extra conditions beyond those allowed by the Water Code.
Sec. 42.042. CREATION OF POLITICAL SUBDIVISION TO SUPPLY WATER OR SEWER SERVICES, ROADWAYS, OR DRAINAGE FACILITIES IN EXTRATERRITORIAL JURISDICTION. (a) A political subdivision, one purpose of which is to supply fresh water for domestic or commercial use or to furnish sanitary sewer services, roadways, or drainage, may not be created in the extraterritorial jurisdiction of a municipality unless the governing body of the municipality gives its written consent by ordinance or resolution in accordance with this subsection and the Water Code. In giving its consent, the municipality may not place any conditions or other restrictions on the creation of the political subdivision other than those expressly permitted by Sections 54.016(e) and (i), Water Code. (b) If the governing body fails or refuses to give its consent for the creation of the political subdivision, including a water district previously created by an act of the legislature, on mutually agreeable terms within 90 days after the date the governing body receives a written request for the consent, a majority of the qualified voters of the area of the proposed political subdivision and the owners of at least 50 percent of the land in the proposed political subdivision may petition the governing body to make available to the area the water, sanitary sewer services, or both that would be provided by the political subdivision. (c) If, within 120 days after the date the governing body receives the petition, the governing body fails to make a contract with a majority of the qualified voters of the area of the proposed political subdivision and the owners of at least 50 percent of the land in the proposed political subdivision to provide the services, that failure constitutes the governing body's consent to the creation of the proposed political subdivision. (d) The consent to the creation of the political subdivision is only an authorization to initiate proceedings to create the political subdivision as provided by law. (e) Repealed by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1070, Sec. 55, eff. Sept. 1, 1997. (f) If the municipality fails or refuses to give its consent to the creation of the political subdivision, including a water district previously created by an act of the legislature, or fails or refuses to execute a contract providing for the water or sanitary sewer services requested within the time limits prescribed by this section, the applicant may petition the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for the creation of the political subdivision or the inclusion of the land in a political subdivision. The commission shall allow creation or confirmation of the creation of the political subdivision or inclusion of the land in a proposed political subdivision on finding that the municipality either does not have the reasonable ability to serve or has failed to make a legally binding commitment with sufficient funds available to provide water and wastewater service adequate to serve the proposed development at a reasonable cost to the landowner. The commitment must provide that construction of the facilities necessary to serve the land will begin within two years and will be substantially completed within 4-1/2 years after the date the petition was filed with the municipality. (g) On an appeal taken to the district court from the ruling of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, all parties to the commission hearing must be made parties to the appeal. The court shall hear the appeal within 120 days after the date the appeal is filed. If the case is continued or appealed to a higher court beyond the 120-day period, the court shall require the appealing party or party requesting the continuance to post a bond or other adequate security in the amount of damages that may be incurred by any party as a result of the appeal or delay from the commission action. The amount of the bond or other security shall be determined by the court after notice and hearing. On final disposition, a court may award damages, including any damages for delays, attorney's fees, and costs of court to the prevailing party. (h) A municipality may not unilaterally extend the time limits prescribed by this section through the adoption of preapplication periods or by passage of any rules, resolutions, ordinances, or charter provisions. However, the municipality and the petitioner may jointly petition the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to request an extension of the time limits. (i) Repealed by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 1058, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989. (j) The consent requirements of this section do not apply to the creation of a special utility district under Chapter 65, Water Code. If a special utility district is to be converted to a district with taxing authority that provides utility services, this section applies to the conversion. (k) This section, except Subsection (i), applies only to the proposed political subdivision's area located in the extraterritorial jurisdiction of the municipality. Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 149, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987. Amended by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 1, Sec. 3(b), eff. Aug. 28, 1989; Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 1058, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989; Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 76, Sec. 11.254, eff. Sept. 1, 1995. Amended by: Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1098 (H.B. 3378), Sec. 1, eff. June 15, 2007. Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1128 (H.B. 2590), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2019.