Texas Water Code
Sec. § 60.039
Surface Lease

(a)

Except as provided by Subsection (c), the commission may lease the surface of land for not more than 50 years by the entry of an order on the minutes of the commission and the execution of a lease in the manner provided by the original order. The lease may not be extended beyond the 50-year period by renewal, extension, or otherwise.

(b)

The commission or the executive director of the district, or a person authorized by the commission or the executive director, may enter into a lease for a monthly tenancy or a tenancy from month to month. The lease term may only exceed one year if:

(1)

the commission enters an order on the minutes; and

(2)

the execution of the lease is in the manner provided by the original order for the lease.

(c)

This subsection applies only to a district that operates a port in this state that is wholly located in a county that borders the Gulf of Mexico and that is adjacent to a county that contains an international border and borders the Gulf of Mexico. The district may lease the surface of land for not more than 99 years or may extend a lease to a period not to exceed 99 years only if:

(1)

the lease conveys an interest in the surface of the land for residential purposes only;

(2)

at the time the lease will be entered into or extended, the district has not less than 50 leases in effect that convey an interest in the land surface for residential purposes only; and

(3)

any part of the land owned by the district is subdivided into lots intended for residential use.
Acts 1971, 62nd Leg., p. 110, ch. 58, Sec. 1, eff. Aug. 30, 1971. Amended by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 23, Sec. 1, eff. April 6, 1993; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 588, Sec. 1, eff. June 20, 2003.
Amended by:
Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1027 (H.B. 2770), Sec. 6, eff. June 17, 2011.
Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 539 (H.B. 1716), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2015.
Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 789 (H.B. 2610), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2017.
Sec. 60.040. PUBLICATION OF NOTICE FOR SALES, EASEMENTS, AND LEASES IN EXCESS OF 50 YEARS. (a) Before making a sale, easement, or lease of real property for more than 50 years, the district shall publish a notice in the manner provided in Section 60.035 (Notice of Certain Oil, Gas, and Mineral Leases).

(b)

A district may enter into negotiations with one or more potential buyers, easement grantees, or lessees before the publication of the notice without affecting the validity of the sale, easement, or lease.
Acts 1971, 62nd Leg., p. 110, ch. 58, Sec. 1, eff. Aug. 30, 1971. Amended by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 23, Sec. 2, eff. April 6, 1993; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 588, Sec. 2, eff. June 20, 2003.
Amended by:
Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 539 (H.B. 1716), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2015.
Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 427 (S.B. 1395), Sec. 3, eff. June 1, 2017.
Sec. 60.041. SECURITY FOR BIDS ON REAL PROPERTY TO BE SOLD OR LEASED FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS. Each bid submitted on real property to be sold or leased for more than 50 years under Section 60.040 shall be accompanied by a certified check, cashier’s check, or bidder’s bond with a responsible corporate surety authorized to do business in Texas. The check or bond shall be in an amount equal to five percent of the bid price for the real property or 100 percent of the first rental payment under the lease and shall guarantee that the bidder will perform the terms of the bid if it is accepted by the district.
Acts 1971, 62nd Leg., p. 110, ch. 58, Sec. 1, eff. Aug. 30, 1971. Amended by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 23, Sec. 3, eff. April 6, 1993; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 588, Sec. 3, eff. June 20, 2003.
Amended by:
Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 539 (H.B. 1716), Sec. 3, eff. September 1, 2015.
Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 427 (S.B. 1395), Sec. 4, eff. June 1, 2017.
Sec. 60.042. AWARD AND EXECUTION OF DEED OR LEASE IN EXCESS OF 50 YEARS. (a) After notice is published under Section 60.040, the district may sell or lease in accordance with that section all or any part of the real property to the highest and best bidder for an amount which is not less than the reasonable market value in the locality at the time and place of the sale or lease.

(b)

The commission shall adopt a resolution or order confirming the sale or lease. The resolution or order shall include or incorporate by reference the terms of the sale or lease and the consideration and shall provide that the executive director of the district, or a person authorized by the executive director of the district, is authorized to execute the deed or lease as soon as the successful bidder complies with the terms of the bid.
Acts 1971, 62nd Leg., p. 110, ch. 58, Sec. 1, eff. Aug. 30, 1971. Amended by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 23, Sec. 4, eff. April 6, 1993; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 588, Sec. 4, eff. June 20, 2003.
Amended by:
Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 427 (S.B. 1395), Sec. 5, eff. June 1, 2017.
Source
Tex. Legislature
Last accessed
Feb. 27, 2021
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