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HB 1410 – 2021 Legislation
 HB 1410 increases the maximum amount of park bonds that may be
outstanding from one percent to three percent for water districts that
demonstrate fiscal restraint and operational integrity.
 To be eligible, districts must meet TCEQ requirements for 100%
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reimbursement, which are:

o a ratio of debt to certified assessed valuation of 10 percent or
less;
o a credit rating that conforms to commission rules;
o a credit enhanced rating on the district’s proposed bond issue
that conforms to commission rules; or

o a master district contract pursuant to Section 49.108, Water
Code.
 The three percent limit applies to all master district contract revenue
park bonds and is calculated using the total value of taxable property
in the districts making payments under the contract.

 HB 1410 also provides that a city, in its consent to a district creation,
may not prohibit the district from issuing bonds for a purpose
authorized by law for the district, including parks and recreation.

Please thank Rep. Murphy and Sen. Creighton for championing this
legislation. They are tireless advocates for water districts. We could not
have asked for better sponsors.

We are also thankful for the organizations that spearheaded this
legislation, which include Houston Wilderness, the Association of Water
Board Directors, West Houston Association, and several other
organizations representing land developers. Representatives of these
organizations traveled to Austin to provide important testimony on the

legislation (see picture below).

Finally, thanks go to the hundreds of organizations and water districts that
submitted letters and resolutions of support. These efforts were extremely

helpful to show the strong support behind the legislation.

2 Section 293.47(a), Title 30, Texas Administrative Code

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