The bill amends Section 49.062 of the Water Code to establish new requirements for board meetings of certain rural area water districts. It specifies that boards must designate meeting locations inside the district or within 10 miles of its boundary at least once per quarter, unless impractical, in which case meetings can be held at another location within the county. Additionally, the definition of "rural area district" is updated to include districts where more than half of the projected retail water or sewer connections are active and that are not located in counties with populations exceeding 325,000.

Furthermore, the bill introduces provisions allowing rural area districts to conduct quarterly meetings via telephone or video conference, deviating from traditional in-person meetings, except for discussions regarding the district's tax rate, which must still occur in person. The changes aim to enhance accessibility and flexibility for rural water district boards while ensuring that they maintain a presence within their communities. The act is set to take effect on September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Water Code 49.062 (Water Code 49)