Relating to various matters pertaining to certain governmental entities that operate port facilities.

89(R) SB 2080 - House Committee Report version - Bill Text

89R28558 ANG/CJC-F

By: Alvarado

S.B. No. 2080

(Perez of Harris)

Substitute the following for S.B. No. 2080:
No.

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to various matters pertaining to certain governmental

entities that operate port facilities.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter J, Chapter 441, Government Code, is

amended by adding Section 441.1681 to read as follows:

Sec.

441.1681.

ELECTRONIC STORAGE OF CERTAIN LOCAL

GOVERNMENT RECORDS. (a) The port commission of a navigation

district or port authority or a board of trustees established under

Chapter 54, Transportation Code, may establish alternative storage

and retention standards and procedures for the records of the

navigation district, port authority, or board of trustees.

The

rules must establish:

(1)

a process for the port commission or board of

trustees to use the alternative storage standards and procedures;

(2)

procedures for the conversion of hard copy

documents retained by the custodian of the navigation district,

port authority, or board of trustees to an electronic form and the

destruction of the hard copy documents; and

(3)

standards for electronic record management and the

preservation of documents retained by the custodian of the

navigation district, port authority, or board of trustees.

(b)

In establishing the standards and procedures under this

section, a port commission or board of trustees may not establish a

retention period that is shorter than a retention period required

under a state or federal law or court order.

SECTION 2. Section 2252.909(a), Government Code, as added

by Chapter 1008 (H.B. 2518), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular

Session, 2023, is amended to read as follows:

(a) In this section, "governmental entity" has the meaning

assigned by Section 2253.001
, except that the term does not include

a:

(1) navigation district;

(2) port authority; or

(3)

board of trustees established under Chapter 54,

Transportation Code
.

SECTION 3. Subchapter B, Chapter 5007, Special District

Local Laws Code, is amended by adding Section 5007.229 to read as

follows:

Sec.

5007.229.

CONTRACTS: CERTAIN PURCHASES.

Notwithstanding Section 60.403(a), Water Code, the port commission

may delegate authority to an authorized designated officer of the

port commission, the executive director of the authority, or an

authorized representative of the executive director to make routine

purchases or contracts in an amount not to exceed $500,000.

SECTION 4. Section 54.005, Transportation Code, is amended

to read as follows:

Sec. 54.005. APPLICABILITY OF OTHER LAW.
(a)
Except to the

extent that it conflicts or is inconsistent with this chapter,

Subchapter B, Chapter 1502, Government Code, applies to revenue

obligations issued under this chapter, and a municipality to which

this chapter applies has, with respect to a revenue obligation

issued under this chapter, each power granted by that subchapter.

(b)

A qualifying interest is considered to be an interest in

property used as an aid or facility incidental to or useful in the

operation or development of a port or waterway or in aid of

navigation-related commerce for purposes of Section 25.07, Tax

Code, and the qualifying interest may not be listed in the name of

the owner of the qualifying interest in the appraisal records of the

appraisal district that appraises the property to which the

interest relates as provided by that section. To the extent of any

conflict with Section 25.07, Tax Code, this section controls with

respect to a qualifying interest.

(c)

For purposes of Subsection (b), "qualifying interest"

means a leasehold or other possessory interest in real property

that is:

(1) managed or controlled by:

(A) the governing body of a municipality; or

(B) a board; and

(2)

established by a lease or other agreement

authorized by Section 54.003 or 54.053.

SECTION 5. Section 54.054, Transportation Code, is amended

by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsections (c) and (d) to

read as follows:

(a) Except
for routine purchases and contracts and
as

otherwise provided by this chapter, the board may award a contract

involving the expenditure of funds in excess of the amount

applicable to an expenditure of funds by a municipality under

Section 252.021(a), Local Government Code, only by competitive

bidding.

(c)

The board, an authorized designated officer of the

board, the general manager employed by the board, or an authorized

representative of the general manager may make routine purchases or

contracts in an amount not to exceed $50,000.

The board may

delegate authority to an authorized designated officer of the

board, the general manager employed by the board, or an authorized

representative of the general manager to make routine purchases or

contracts under this section in an amount not to exceed $500,000.

(d)

Professional services shall be procured in accordance

with Subchapter A, Chapter 2254, Government Code.

SECTION 6. Subchapter Q, Chapter 60, Water Code, is amended

by adding Section 60.503 to read as follows:

Sec.

60.503.

CLOSED MEETINGS. Notwithstanding Section

551.103, Government Code, a port commission is not required to make

a recording of the proceedings of a closed meeting to deliberate

security measures, including cybersecurity measures, related to

the navigation district or port authority.

SECTION 7. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.