GOVERNMENT CODE

TITLE 9. PUBLIC SECURITIES

SUBTITLE F. SPECIFIC AUTHORITY FOR STATE OR LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO ISSUE SECURITIES

CHAPTER 1371. OBLIGATIONS FOR CERTAIN PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS

SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS

Sec. 1371.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:

(1) "Credit agreement" means a loan agreement, revolving credit agreement, agreement establishing a line of credit, letter of credit, reimbursement agreement, insurance contract, commitment to purchase obligations, purchase or sale agreement, interest rate management agreement, or other commitment or agreement authorized by a governing body in anticipation of, related to, or in connection with the authorization, issuance, sale, resale, security, exchange, payment, purchase, remarketing, or redemption of some or all of an issuer's obligations or interest on obligations, or both, or as otherwise authorized by this chapter.

(2) "Eligible project" means:

(A) the acquisition or construction of or an improvement, addition, or extension to a public works, including a capital asset or facility incident and related to the operation, maintenance, or administration of the public works, and:

(i) with respect to a property or a facility for the generation of electric power and energy, fuel acquisition or the development or transportation of power, energy, or fuel;

(ii) with respect to a property or a facility for a public transportation system:

(a) a building, terminal, garage, shop, or other structure, rolling stock, equipment, or another facility for mass public transportation; or

(b) a vehicle parking area or a facility necessary or convenient for the beneficial use and access of persons and vehicles to a station, terminal, yard, car, or bus, or for the protection or environmental enhancement of a facility for mass public transportation; and

(iii) with respect to a property or a facility for a port facility, a wharf or dock, a warehouse, grain elevator, or other storage facility, a bunkering facility, port-related railroad or bridge, floating plant or facility, lightering facility, cargo handling facility, towing facility, or any other facility or aid incident to or useful in the operation of a port facility;

(B) a causeway, bridge, tunnel, turnpike, highway, or combination of those facilities, including:

(i) a necessary overpass, underpass, interchange, entrance plaza, tollhouse, service station, approach, fixture, accessory, or item of equipment, or a storage, administration, or other necessary building; and

(ii) a property right or other interest acquired in connection with those facilities;

(C) a public improvement owned by a county that serves the purpose of attracting visitors and tourists to the county, including a civic center, auditorium, exhibition hall, coliseum, stadium, or parking area;

(D) a project for which there exists authorized but unissued obligations approved by a majority of the voters of the issuer or for which the issuer is authorized to issue other indebtedness payable from ad valorem taxes;

(E) a project for which an issuer is authorized to issue revenue bonds secured, in whole or in part, by revenue derived from or related to student loans; or

(F) an approved venue project under Chapter 334 or 335, Local Government Code.

(3) "Governing body" means the board, council, commission, commissioners court, or other designated body, acting individually or jointly as authorized by law, that is authorized by law to issue public securities for or on behalf of an issuer.

(3-a) "Interest rate management agreement" means an agreement that provides for an interest rate transaction, including a swap, basis, forward, option, cap, collar, floor, lock, or hedge transaction, a similar transaction, or any combination of those types of transactions. The term includes:

(A) a master agreement that provides standard terms for transactions;

(B) an agreement to transfer collateral as security for transactions; or

(C) a confirmation of transactions.

(4) "Issuer" means:

(A) a home-rule municipality that:

(i) adopted its charter under Section 5, Article XI, Texas Constitution;

(ii) has a population of 50,000 or more; and

(iii) has outstanding long-term indebtedness that is rated by a nationally recognized rating agency for municipal securities in one of the four highest rating categories for a long-term obligation;

(B) a conservation and reclamation district created and organized as a river authority under Section 52, Article III, or Section 59, Article XVI, Texas Constitution;

(C) a joint powers agency organized and operating under Chapter 163, Utilities Code;

(D) a metropolitan rapid transit authority, regional transportation authority, or coordinated county transportation authority created, organized, or operating under Chapter 451, 452, or 460, Transportation Code;

(E) a conservation and reclamation district organized or operating as a navigation district under Section 52, Article III, or Section 59, Article XVI, Texas Constitution;

(F) a district organized or operating under Section 59, Article XVI, Texas Constitution, that has all or part of two or more municipalities within its boundaries;

(G) a state agency, including a state institution of higher education;

(H) a hospital authority created or operating under Chapter 262 or 264, Health and Safety Code, in a county that:

(i) has a population of more than 3.3 million; or

(ii) is included, in whole or in part, in a standard metropolitan statistical area of this state that includes a county with a population of more than 2.5 million;

(I) a hospital district in a county that has a population of more than 2.5 million;

(J) a nonprofit corporation organized to exercise the powers of a higher education loan authority under Section 53B.47(e), Education Code;

(K) a county:

(i) that has a population of more than 3.3 million; or

(ii) that, on the date of issuance of obligations under this chapter, has authorized, outstanding, or any combination of authorized and outstanding, indebtedness of at least $100 million secured by and payable from the county's ad valorem taxes and the authorized long-term indebtedness of which is rated by a nationally recognized rating agency of securities issued by local governments in one of the four highest rating categories for a long-term obligation;

(L) an independent school district that has an average daily attendance of 50,000 or more as determined under Section 48.005, Education Code;

(M) a municipality or county operating under Chapter 334, Local Government Code;

(N) a district created under Chapter 335, Local Government Code;

(O) a junior college district that has a total headcount enrollment of 40,000 or more based on enrollment in the most recent regular semester; or

(P) an issuer, as defined by Section 1201.002, that has:

(i) a principal amount of at least $100 million in outstanding long-term indebtedness, in long-term indebtedness proposed to be issued, or in a combination of outstanding or proposed long-term indebtedness; and

(ii) some amount of long-term indebtedness outstanding or proposed to be issued that is rated in one of the four highest rating categories for long-term debt instruments by a nationally recognized rating agency for municipal securities, without regard to the effect of any credit agreement or other form of credit enhancement entered into in connection with the obligation.

(5) "Obligation" means a public security as defined by Section 1201.002 or other obligation that may be issued by an issuer and that is expected to be rated, and before delivery is rated, by a nationally recognized rating agency for municipal securities in one of the three highest rating categories for a short-term debt instrument or one of the four highest rating categories for a long-term debt instrument. The term does not include an obligation payable wholly or partly from ad valorem taxes unless:

(A) issuance of the obligation or an obligation refunded by the obligation has been approved by the voters of the issuer in an election held for that purpose; or

(B) the issuer:

(i) is authorized by law to issue public securities payable wholly or partly from ad valorem taxes for the purpose for which the obligation is to be issued; and

(ii) has complied with any conditions imposed by law before its pledge of ad valorem taxes to pay the principal of or interest on the obligation.

(6) "Obligation authorization" means a resolution, order, or ordinance of a governing body authorizing the issuance of an obligation.

(7) "Project cost" means a cost or expense incurred in relation to an eligible project. The term includes:

(A) design, planning, engineering, and legal cost;

(B) acquisition cost of land or an interest in land;

(C) construction cost;

(D) cost of machinery, equipment, and other capital assets incident and related to the operation, maintenance, and administration of an eligible project; and

(E) financing cost, including:

(i) interest on obligations and payments on credit agreements during and after construction;

(ii) underwriter's discount or fee; and

(iii) cost of legal, financial, and other professional services.

(8) "Public works" means property or a facility for:

(A) the conservation, storage, supply, treatment, or transmission of water;

(B) the treatment, collection, or disposal of water-carried wastes or solid wastes;

(C) the generation, transmission, or distribution of electric power and energy;

(D) the acquisition, distribution, or storage of gas;

(E) a transit authority system, as defined by Section 451.001, Transportation Code, or a public transportation system, as defined by Section 452.001, Transportation Code;

(F) an airport as defined by Section 22.001, Transportation Code;

(G) a port facility, including a facility for the operation or development of a port or waterway or in aid of navigation or navigation-related commerce in a port or on a waterway;

(H) a project as defined by Section 284.001, Transportation Code; or

(I) the carrying out of a purpose or function for which an issuer may issue public securities.

Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 227, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999. Amended by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1064, Sec. 15, eff. Sept. 1, 1999; Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 669, Sec. 23, eff. Sept. 1, 2001; Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 769, Sec. 8, 9, eff. Sept. 1, 2001; Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1420, Sec. 8.011(a), eff. Sept. 1, 2001.

Amended by:

Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 641 (H.B. 2701), Sec. 4, eff. September 1, 2005.

Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 1005 (H.B. 647), Sec. 1, eff. June 18, 2005.

Acts 2006, 79th Leg., 3rd C.S., Ch. 9 (H.B. 153), Sec. 5, eff. May 31, 2006.

Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1310 (S.B. 968), Sec. 1, eff. June 15, 2007.

Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 557 (S.B. 1876), Sec. 4, eff. September 1, 2009.

Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 928 (H.B. 3070), Sec. 4, eff. September 1, 2009.

Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 943 (H.B. 3), Sec. 3.081, eff. September 1, 2019.

Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 644 (H.B. 4559), Sec. 51, eff. September 1, 2023.