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This key section generally prohibits the enactment of special or local laws. Approximately two-thirds of state constitution have one or more provisions addressing this matter. | This key section generally prohibits the enactment of special or local laws. Approximately two-thirds of state constitution have one or more provisions addressing this matter. | ||
The primary types of local or special bills authorized by the Texas Constitution are bills: | |||
(1) creating or affecting a conservation and reclamation district, a category that | |||
includes various kinds of water-related districts and similar special-purpose districts (Section 59, | |||
Article XVI); | |||
(2) creating or affecting a hospital district (Sections 4 through 11, Article IX); | |||
(3) relating to the preservation of game and fish (Section 56(b)(1), Article III); | |||
(4) dealing with the courts system, including district courts, county courts, | |||
statutory county courts, and municipal courts (Sections 1, 7, 8, and 21, Article V); | |||
(5) creating or affecting a road utility district or various water-related districts and | |||
similar special-purpose districts (Section 52, Article III); | |||
(6) granting aid or a release from the payment of taxes in cases of public calamity | |||
(Section 51, Article III; Section 10, Article VIII); | |||
(7) creating or relating to the operation of airport authorities (Section 12, Article | |||
IX); | |||
(8) providing for the consolidation of governmental offices and functions of | |||
political subdivisions comprising or located in a county (Section 64, Article III); | |||
(9) relating to fence laws (Section 56(b)(2), Article III); | |||
(10) relating to stock laws (Section 23, Article XVI); or | |||
(11) providing for local road maintenance (Section 9(e), Article VIII). | |||
Such provisions serve a variety of purposes. Two are: (1) preventing the Legislature from usurping local control; and (2) providing more time for the Legislature to address statewide matters. | Such provisions serve a variety of purposes. Two are: (1) preventing the Legislature from usurping local control; and (2) providing more time for the Legislature to address statewide matters. |