The bill, H.B. No. 4689, proposes an amendment to the Local Government Code by adding Section 43.1057, which allows municipalities to annex areas adjacent to contiguous or connecting railroad rights-of-way. Specifically, it permits a municipality to annex an additional area alongside the initial area being annexed under Subchapters C-3, C-4, C-5, or D, provided that the additional area is adjacent to a railway right-of-way that runs parallel to the municipality's boundaries and is contiguous to the area being annexed. Furthermore, the bill stipulates that each owner of the additional area must agree to the annexation.

Additionally, the bill clarifies that for the purposes of determining municipal boundaries, any area adjacent or contiguous to the initial area being annexed will be considered as such in relation to the annexing municipality. It also specifies that Section 43.054 does not apply to the annexation of the additional area described in this new section. The bill is set to take effect immediately upon receiving a two-thirds vote from both houses or on September 1, 2025, if that vote is not achieved.

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