Sec. 8509.0051.  ANNEXATION OF TERRITORY.  (a)  Territory, whether or not contiguous to the district, may be annexed to the district in the manner provided by this section.
(b)  The board may annex territory or a municipality under this section only if a petition requesting annexation is filed with the board.  The petition must:
(1)  describe the territory to be annexed by metes and bounds, or otherwise, except that if the territory is the same as that contained in the boundaries of a municipality, the petition is sufficient if it states that the territory to be annexed is the territory contained in the municipal boundaries; and
(2)  be signed by 50 registered voters of the territory or municipality to be annexed, or a majority of the registered voters of that territory or municipality, whichever is fewer.
(c)  If the board determines that the petition complies with Subsection (b), that the annexation would be in the best interest of the territory or municipality and the district, and that the district will be able to supply water to the territory or municipality, the board shall:
(1)  adopt a resolution stating the conditions, if any, under which the territory or municipality may be annexed to the district; and
(2)  set a time and place to hold a hearing on the question of whether the territory or municipality to be annexed will benefit from:
(A)  the improvements, works, or facilities owned or operated or contemplated to be owned or operated by the district; or
(B)  the other functions of the district.
(d)  At least 10 days before the date of the hearing, notice of the adoption of the resolution must be published one time in a newspaper of general circulation in the territory or municipality proposed to be annexed.  The notice must:
(1)  state the time and place of the hearing; and
(2)  describe the territory in the same manner in which Subsection (b) requires or permits the petition to describe the territory.
(e)  The hearing may proceed in the order and under the rules prescribed by the board and may be recessed.
(f)  Any interested person may appear at the hearing and offer evidence for or against the annexation.
(g)  If, at the conclusion of the hearing, the board finds that the property in the territory or municipality will benefit from the district's present or contemplated improvements, works, or facilities, the board shall adopt a resolution making a finding of the benefit and calling an election in the territory or municipality to be annexed.
(h)  The resolution must state:
(1)  the date of the election;
(2)  each place where the election will be held; and
(3)  the proposition to be voted on.
(i)  At least 10 days before the date set for the election, notice of the election must be given by publishing a substantial copy of the resolution calling the election one time in a newspaper of general circulation in the territory proposed to be annexed.
(j)  If a majority of the votes cast at the election are in favor of annexation, the board by resolution shall annex the territory to the district.
(k)  An annexation under this section is incontestable except in the manner and within the time for contesting elections under the Election Code.
(l)  In calling an election on the proposition for annexation of the territory or municipality, the board may include, as part of the same proposition or as a separate proposition, a proposition for:
(1)  the territory to assume its part of the district's tax-supported bonds then outstanding and those bonds previously voted but not yet sold; and
(2)  an ad valorem tax to be imposed on taxable property in the territory along with the tax in the rest of the district for payment of the bonds and maintenance taxes to be imposed as permitted by Section 8509.0252.
(m)  If an election under Subsection (l) fails, the annexed territory or municipality shall be excluded from the district.
Added by Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 468 (H.B. 4172), Sec. 1.03, eff. April 1, 2021.