Fort Bend-backed bill would let counties create industrial development districts with taxing powers within boundaries

Chairman Bettencourt laid out House Bill 4,308 and recognized Senate sponsor Senator Miles to explain the committee substitute.

Senator Miles said the bill "creates a county industrial development district act and establishes a structured framework through which the commissioner's court may create an industrial development district." The committee substitute brackets applicability to counties with population less than 800,000 that border a county with population over 4,000,000 (Fort Bend County was identified in committee as the county intended to use the mechanism).

Fort Bend County Commissioner W. A. "Andy" Myers testified in favor, describing a resolution from all five Fort Bend commissioners court members supporting the bill. Myers said the county needs industrial sites that can be developed and made user-ready in 12–18 months to compete for major employers; he said current county processes can take "at least 36" months. Myers explained the districts would be similar to municipal utility districts (MUDs) but would require a district election and would not use county ad valorem taxes to retire district debt; any levied property tax would apply only to parcels within the district.

Committee members asked practical questions about who would vote in district elections, whether property owners or corporate parcels would be included, and whether Union Pacific or other landowners had provided letters of support; Myers said he had spoken with railroad interests but did not have a letter of support yet.

The chair opened and closed public testimony; the committee substitute to House Bill 4,308 was left pending subject to call of the chair.