HB2694 - Relating to the election and resignation of and filling of vacancies on the board of commissioners of the Brazoria Drainage District No. 4.

      H.B. No. 2694         AN ACT   relating to the election and resignation of and filling of   vacancies on the board of commissioners of the Brazoria Drainage   District No. 4.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 7, Chapter 991, Acts of the 74th   Legislature, Regular Session, 1995, is amended by amending   Subsections (a) and (f) and adding Subsection (a-1) to read as   follows:          (a)  The district is managed by a board of three   commissioners as provided by Chapter 56, Water Code, and each holds   an elected office designated as Place No. 1, Place No. 2, or Place   No. 3.  The board shall call and hold elections for the appropriate   number of commissioners on the uniform election date in May   [ November ] of each odd-numbered  [ even-numbered ] year.   The     [ Notwithstanding Section 56.063, Water Code, the ] commissioners   serve staggered four-year terms, each beginning June [ January ] 1 of   the year of [ following ] the commissioner's election and continuing   until the commissioner's successor in office is elected and has   qualified.           (a-1)     If a commissioner announces the commissioner's   candidacy, or in fact becomes a candidate, in any general, special,   or primary election for any office of profit or trust under the laws   of this state or the United States other than the office of   commissioner for the district at any time when the unexpired term of   office of the commissioner exceeds one year and 30 days, the   announcement or candidacy constitutes an automatic resignation of   the office of the commissioner.          (f)  A vacancy in a commissioner's office or other board   office shall be filled as provided by Section 49.105, Water Code [ by   appointment by the remaining commissioners if less than 290 days   remain before the date of the next regular election of one or more   commissioners. If the commissioners do not agree on an appointment   before the 61st day after the date the vacancy occurs, the   commissioners shall call and hold a special election to fill the   office before the 121st day after the date the vacancy occurs ].          SECTION 2.  Sections 7(b), (c), (d), (e), (h), and (i),   Chapter 991, Acts of the 74th Legislature, Regular Session, 1995,   are repealed.          SECTION 3.  (a)  The Brazoria Drainage District No. 4 shall   hold the first election to elect commissioners for Place No. 1 and   Place No. 2 as described by Section 7(a), Chapter 991, Acts of the   74th Legislature, Regular Session, 1995, as amended by this Act, on   the uniform election date in May 2029.          (b)  The Brazoria Drainage District No. 4 shall hold the   first election to elect the commissioner for Place No. 3 as   described by Section 7(a), Chapter 991, Acts of the 74th   Legislature, Regular Session, 1995, as amended by this Act, on the   uniform election date in May 2027.          (c)  The terms of the commissioners for Place No. 1 and Place   No. 2 serving on the board of commissioners of the Brazoria Drainage   District No. 4 on the effective date of this Act expire on the later   of May 31, 2029, or the date the commissioners elected under   Subsection (a) of this section have qualified.          (d)  The term of the commissioner for Place No. 3 serving on   the board of commissioners of the Brazoria Drainage District No. 4   immediately before the date of the election held under Subsection   (b) of this section expires on the later of May 31, 2027, or the date   the commissioner elected under that subsection has qualified.          SECTION 4.  (a)  The legal notice of the intention to   introduce this Act, setting forth the general substance of this   Act, has been published as provided by law, and the notice and a   copy of this Act have been furnished to all persons, agencies,   officials, or entities to which they are required to be furnished   under Section 59, Article XVI, Texas Constitution, and Chapter 313,   Government Code.          (b)  The governor, one of the required recipients, has   submitted the notice and Act to the Texas Commission on   Environmental Quality.          (c)  The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has filed   its recommendations relating to this Act with the governor, the   lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the house of   representatives within the required time.          (d)  All requirements of the constitution and laws of this   state and the rules and procedures of the legislature with respect   to the notice, introduction, and passage of this Act are fulfilled   and accomplished.          SECTION 5.  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.       ______________________________ ______________________________      President of the Senate Speaker of the House                   I certify that H.B. No. 2694 was passed by the House on May   16, 2025, by the following vote:  Yeas 120, Nays 11, 2 present, not   voting.     ______________________________   Chief Clerk of the House                 I certify that H.B. No. 2694 was passed by the Senate on May   28, 2025, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays 1.     ______________________________   Secretary of the Senate       APPROVED:  _____________________                      Date                           _____________________                    Governor