The bill, H.B. No. 4272, amends the Utilities Code to allow municipalities in Texas to require certificated telecommunications utilities and holders of state-issued certificates of franchise authority to relocate their facilities within municipal public rights-of-way. The relocation must be at the municipality's expense and is intended to facilitate the widening or straightening of streets or to accommodate other municipal projects. The bill specifies that the municipality must provide at least 30 days' notice before the relocation is required and must specify the new location for the facility along the right-of-way.

Key changes in the bill include the insertion of language that clarifies the municipality's responsibility for the costs associated with the relocation, as opposed to the utility's previous responsibility. Additionally, the bill removes the requirement for a 30-day notice to be phrased as "30 days' notice," instead specifying that notice must be given at least 30 days before the relocation date. The bill is set to take effect on September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Utilities Code 54.203, Utilities Code 66.011 (Utilities Code 66, Utilities Code 54)