The bill, S.B. No. 1503, proposes amendments to the Health and Safety Code regarding the expansion of emergency services districts into municipal territories. It modifies Section 775.051(a) to require that petitions for inclusion in a district must be signed by at least 50 qualified voters or a majority of those voters, whichever is less, and must also show the names of municipalities whose consent is necessary for the annexation. Additionally, a new Section 775.0515 is introduced, outlining the process for annexing territory within a municipality's limits or extraterritorial jurisdiction. This includes a requirement for a written request to be presented to the municipality's governing body, which must provide written consent within 60 days for the annexation to proceed.

The new section also stipulates that if the municipality does not consent within the specified timeframe, a majority of qualified voters and owners of at least 50 percent of the territory can petition the governing body to provide fire control and emergency medical services. If the governing body fails to act on this petition within six months, it will be considered consent for the annexation. Furthermore, if the territory includes an industrial district, consent must be obtained in the same manner. The bill specifies that the governing body's consent expires six months after it is given and clarifies that these provisions do not apply to territories in unincorporated areas of counties with populations of 3.3 million or more. The changes will take effect on September 1, 2025, and will only apply to petitions filed after that date.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Health and Safety Code 775.051 (Health and Safety Code 775)