Municiple Annexation Reform

In the 2017 special session the Texas Senate passes a bill to allow people to vote on whether a city can annex them or not. There had been an earlier version of the bill but it had died in the senate during the regular session. The bill had been filibustered on the last day of the regular session which they then added an amendment to the bill that provides a five-mile buffer around military zones in the special session. When the bill was passed in the special session Governor Greg Abbott stated “I’m proud to sign legislation ending forced annexation practices, which is nothing more than a form of taxation without representation, and I thank the Legislature for their attention to this important issue during the special session.” The Governor’s signature on the Senate Bill 6 was unwelcomed by many cities such as San Antonio, River Place and Austin. Since the Bill will restrict them from expanding. The annexation of cities have been fought since 2015 especially by the city of Houston. Although under the new law, Texans will now be able to vote on whether a city can annex areas outside of its limits. Texans will now have a voice when it comes to the annexation practices of local governments. The bill will go into effect December 1, 2017. In addition, Senate Bill would also prevent cities from annexing for limited purposes, which is often done in order to extend municipal regulations, such as environmental rules, without the city providing additional services.

In 1837, Texas was officially a “Lone Star Republic”. Sam Houston was president. The Republic of Texas wanted to become part of the United States. However, the issue divided the nation. Southern states supported the annexation because Texas would be a Pro-slavery State. Northern states opposed the annexation since, they were Anti-Slavery. On December 29, 1845 the United States Congress voted to admit Texas to the Union as a 28th State. Lone Star Republic went willingly due to its major debt. Thus, causing the Mexican-American war. Mexico losing the war lead to the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo, which was signed in Mexico City on February 2, 1848. Under the terms of the treaty, Mexico ceded to the United States approximately 525,000 square miles in exchange for a $15 million sum payment, and the assumption by the U.S. Government of up to $3.25 million worth of debts owed by Mexico to U.S. citizens. The Treaty was signed peace was slowly but surely restored amongst the two countries. Texas became part of the Union until, 1861 due to the civil war becoming a confederate state. Later rejoined the United States of America in 1865. Lone Star State has been part of the nation ever since.

In 1996, the City of Houston annexed an upscale subdivision called Kingwood. At the time, Kingwood was a twenty-year-old subdivision with homes. When the developer first approached Houston for water and sewer extensions, the city and the developer agreed that when the City of Houston got closer to the subdivision, the subdivision would consent to annexation. In the Legislative Session in 1997 citizens of Kingwood showed up and gave their opinions about not wanting to be annexed. The protests of Kingwood residents and others resulted in the passage of Senate Bill 89 in 1999 although the bill did not prohibit cities from annexing. The bill merely made the process much more complex, expensive, and time consuming in certain circumstances. Until the 2017 special session where the senate bill 6 was passed where Texans will now be able to vote on whether a city can annex areas outside of its limits. Texans will now have a voice when it comes to the annexation practices of local governments. San Antonio city council had been very upset over the push of the Municipal annexation reform due to them wanting to annex Converse, a city in Bexar County. The neighborhood, is more of a no-man's land. They have