CHAPTER 263. SALE OR LEASE OF PROPERTY BY COUNTIES
LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE
TITLE 8. ACQUISITION, SALE, OR LEASE OF PROPERTY
SUBTITLE B. COUNTY ACQUISITION, SALE, OR LEASE OF PROPERTY
CHAPTER 263. SALE OR LEASE OF PROPERTY BY COUNTIES
SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS FOR REAL PROPERTY
Sec. 263.001. SALE OR LEASE OF REAL PROPERTY. (a) The
commissioners court of a county, by an order entered in its
minutes, may appoint a commissioner to sell or lease real
property owned by the county. The sale or lease must be made at a
public auction held in accordance with this section unless this
chapter provides otherwise.
(b) The appointed commissioner must publish notice of the
auction before the 20th day before the date the auction is held.
The notice must be published in English in a newspaper in the
county in which the real property is located and in the county
that owns the real property if not the same county. The notice
must be published once a week for three consecutive weeks before
the date the auction is held.
(c) If the real property is sold, a deed that is made on behalf
of the county by the appointed commissioner in conformance with
the order entered under Subsection (a) and that is properly
acknowledged, proved, and recorded is sufficient to convey the
county's interest in the property.
Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 149, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987.
Sec. 263.002. ABANDONED SEAWALL OR HIGHWAY PROPERTY. (a) If
abandoned seawall or highway right-of-way property is no longer
needed for such a purpose, the county may sell or lease the
property only according to the following priorities:
(1) to an abutting or adjoining landowner;
(2) to the person who originally granted the right-of-way to the
county or the grantor's heirs or assigns;
(3) exclusively for public use to the United States, this state,
or a municipality within the municipal boundaries of which the
property is located; or
(4) at public auction in accordance with Section 263.001.
(b) A sale or lease to the public under this section is subject
to any restrictions and prohibitions contained in the deed of
conveyance under which the county originally acquired title to
the property.
(c) Before the commissioners court of the county sells or leases
the property to an abutting or adjoining landowner or to the
original grantor or the grantor's heirs or assigns, the
commissioners court, in addition to notice published in
accordance with Section 263.001, shall appoint an appraiser to
determine the fair market value and fair lease value of the
property to be sold or leased. The appraiser shall report those
values to the commissioner appointed to sell or lease the
property under Section 263.001. The appointed commissioner may
not sell or lease the property for an amount that is less than
the reported fair market value or fair lease value, as the case
may be.
(d) Before the commissioner sells or leases the property, the
commissioner shall report to the commissioners court the amount
of the proposed purchase or lease price. The commissioners court
shall determine whether an offer of sale, purchase, or lease is
reasonable and shall accept or reject the offer. The
commissioners court may reject any offer it determines to be
unreasonable.
(e) In addition to the sale price, a purchaser of abandoned
seawall or highway right-of-way property must pay all costs of
conducting the sale, including the appraisal fee.
Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 149, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987.
Sec. 263.003. SCHOOL LANDS. (a) The commissioners court of a
county shall provide for the protection, preservation, and
disposition of lands granted to the county for educational
purposes.
(b) The commissioners court may dispose of land granted to the
county for educational purposes only as provided by law.
Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 149, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987.
Sec. 263.004. RESTRICTIONS, CONDITIONS, AND LIMITATIONS. (a)
In a conveyance of real property, the commissioners court of a
county may provide for restrictions, conditions, and limitations
that it determines are necessary or proper.
(b) Each conveyance of abandoned seawall right-of-way property
under Section 263.002 must contain a restriction that a structure
may not be placed within 50 feet, or a greater distance
determined by the commissioners court, of the landward boundary
of the seawall right-of-way retained by the county.
(c) In the order and notice required by Section 263.001, the
commissioners court shall give a substantial statement of any
restriction, condition, or limitation to which a conveyance is
subject.
Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 149, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987.
Sec. 263.005. USE BY PUBLIC UTILITY OR COMMON CARRIER. If, at
the time real property, or an interest in real property, is sold,
leased, or exchanged under this subchapter, a public utility or
common carrier that has the right of eminent domain is using the
property for right-of-way and easement purposes, the sale, lease,
exchange, conveyance, and surrender of possession of the property
or interest are subject to the right of and continued use by the
public utility or common carrier.
Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 149, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987.
Sec. 263.006. EXCHANGE OF REAL PROPERTY. (a) The commissioners
court of a county, by an order entered in its minutes, may
authorize the exchange of an interest in real property owned by
the county for an interest in real property owned by an
individual, private partnership or corporation, or other private
entity, to be used for one or more public purposes for which a
county otherwise may acquire land. The exchange transaction may
include a partial cash payment.
(b) Except as provided by Subsection (d), before the
commissioners court exchanges an interest in real property under
this section, notice that the county will consider offers for an
exchange of the interest in real property must be published in
English in a newspaper of general circulation in the county in
which the real property is located and in the county that owns
the interest if not the same county. The notice must be published
once a week for three consecutive weeks before the date of the
exchange, with the date of the first publication being before the
20th day before the date of the exchange.
(c) The county shall obtain an appraisal of the fair market
value of the interest in real property owned and being exchanged
by the county, and the appraisal is conclusive for purposes of
this section of the value so determined. An exchange may not be
made under this section for a total consideration, including cash
and interest in real property, that is less than the fair market
value of the interest in real property being exchanged by the
county. The commissioners court may reject any and all offers
made under this section.
(d) An exchange of an interest in real property originally
acquired by the county for street, right-of-way, or easement
purposes as consideration for the acquisition of another interest
in real property for street, right-of-way, or easement purposes
is not subject to the notice requirements of Subsection (b) but
is subject to the appraisal required by Subsection (c), whether
or not the exchange transaction includes a partial cash payment.
(e) This section does not apply to the exchange of an interest
in real property owned by a county for an interest in real
property owned by the United States, this state, or a
municipality or other political subdivision of this state.
Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 149, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987.
Sec. 263.007. SALE OR LEASE OF REAL PROPERTY THROUGH SEALED-BID
PROCEDURE. (a) The commissioners court of a county may adopt a
procedure by which the county may sell or lease through a
sealed-bid or sealed-proposal procedure any real property,
including space in a building, owned by the county.
(b) The procedure must include a requirement that the county
publish, before a sale or lease is made, a notice of its intent
to sell or lease, as appropriate, the real property. The notice
must:
(1) be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the
county the commissioners court represents and, if the real
property is located in another county, in a newspaper of general
circulation in that other county;
(2) be published on two dates, with the date of the second
publication occurring before the 14th day before the date the
award of the sale or lease is made;
(3) include a description of the real property, including its
location; and
(4) include a description of the procedure by which sealed bids
or sealed proposals for the sale or lease may be submitted.
(c) Before selling property under this section, the
commissioners court shall:
(1) obtain an appraisal of the property's fair market value; and
(2) determine a minimum bid amount, based on the appraisal.
(d) Under the procedure, the commissioners court may reject any
and all bids submitted.
(e)(1) The commissioners court of a county may lease real
property owned or controlled by the county that was formerly
owned or controlled by the Texas Department of Mental Health and
Mental Retardation to a federal, state, or local government
entity for any purpose or to a nonprofit organization that is
exempt from federal taxation under Section 501(c)(3), Internal
Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. Section 501(c)(3)), to conduct
health and human service activities or such other activities
which the commissioners court finds to be in the public interest,
without using the sealed-bid or sealed-proposal process described
in Subsection (a) and without using any other competitive bidding
process which would otherwise be required by law.
(2) The commissioners court of a county with a population of one
million or more that contains two or more municipalities with a
population of 250,000 or more may lease real property owned or
controlled by the county to a for-profit entity to conduct health
and human service activities which the commissioners court finds
to be in the public interest, without using the sealed-bid or
sealed-proposal process described in Subsection (a) and without
using any other competitive bidding process which would otherwise
be required by law.
(3) Except as provided by Subdivision (4), a commissioners court
of a county that chooses to lease under this subsection shall
declare its intent to do so through written notice posted in the
same place and manner as the commissioners court posts its
regular meeting agenda not later than 30 days prior to the
beginning of the lease period. In setting the terms and
conditions of the lease, including but not limited to the amount
of the lease payment, the commissioners court may consider local
business custom regarding leases and the reasonable market value
of the leasehold, but the commissioners court is not bound
thereby and may also consider the extent to which the provision
of services or the other activities to be performed by the lessee
will benefit the public. This subsection does not limit the
ability of a commissioners court to enter into interlocal
agreements, contracts, or any other arrangement permitted by law.
(4) The 30-day posting period provided by Subdivision (3) does
not apply to a lease under Subdivision (1) or (2) if:
(A) the duration of the lease is 95 days or less; and
(B) the lease is to provide short-term emergency disaster relief
services to persons as a result of a disaster in the county or to
evacuees from another area as a result of an emergency evacuation
from that area.
(f) The procedure authorized by this section is an alternative
procedure to the procedure authorized by Section 272.001.
Added by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 1, Sec. 60(a), eff. Aug. 28,
1989. Amended by Acts 1990, 71st Leg., 6th C.S., ch. 13, Sec. 1,
eff. June 14, 1990; Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 145, Sec. 1, eff.
May 19, 1995; Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 14, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1,
1999.
Amended by:
Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch.
138, Sec. 1, eff. May 18, 2007.
Sec. 263.008. BROKER AGREEMENTS AND FEES FOR THE SALE OF REAL
PROPERTY. (a) In this section, "broker" means a person licensed
as a broker under Chapter 1101, Occupations Code.
(b) The commissioners court of a county may contract with a
broker to sell a tract of real property that is owned by the
county.
(c) The commissioners court of a county may pay a fee if a
broker produces a ready, willing, and able buyer to purchase a
tract of real property.
(d) If a contract made under Subsection (b) requires a broker to
list the tract of real property for sale for at least 30 days
with a multiple-listing service used by other brokers in the
county, the commissioners court on or after the 30th day after
the date the property is listed may sell the tract of real
property to a ready, willing, and able buyer who is produced by
any broker using the multiple-listing service and who submits the
highest cash offer.
(e) The commissioners court may sell a tract of real property
under this section without complying with the requirements for
conducting a public auction, including the requirements
prescribed by Section 263.001.
Added by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 421, Sec. 1, eff. Aug. 26,
1991. Amended by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1328, Sec. 1, eff.
June 18, 1999; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1276, Sec. 14A.790, eff.
Sept. 1, 2003.
SUBCHAPTER B. DISPOSITION OF CERTAIN REAL OR PERSONAL PROPERTY
Sec. 263.051. AIRPORT LAND. (a) The commissioners court of a
county may lease to any person any land acquired, by a purchase
or gift, by the county for an airport and may lease any
facilities on that land, unless the lease is prohibited by the
terms of the grant of the land to the county. The commissioners
court shall determine the conditions of the lease.
(b) The commissioners court may make contracts relating to
natural resources, including oil, gas, and other minerals, owned
by the county by virtue of the ownership of airport land,
including contracts for the exploration and development of those
resources. The commissioners court may execute and deliver
mineral deeds to or leases of all or part of the resources or
rights to the resources. The commissioners court shall determine
the terms of and consideration for the contract, which may
include oil payments, gas payments, overriding royalties, and
similar payments.
(c) For the maintenance, improvement, and operation of the
airport and the facilities on the airport land, the commissioners
court shall use:
(1) proceeds received from the lease of the surface of the
airport land or the facilities on that land for airport purposes
or purposes related to the operation of the airport; and
(2) proceeds received from charges for the use of the airport
for airport purposes.
(d) If at the end of the fiscal year a part of the proceeds
covered by Subsection (c) remains unspent, the commissioners
court may spend that amount for any lawful purpose.
(e) The commissioners court, for any lawful purpose, may spend:
(1) proceeds from the sale of minerals or mineral rights under
airport land and proceeds from the execution of mineral leases,
including cash bonuses, delay rentals, and royalties; and
(2) proceeds from the lease of the surface of airport land or
facilities on that land for purposes other than airport purposes
or purposes other than those relating to the operation of an
airport.
Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 149, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987.
Sec. 263.052. CERTAIN LAND, HOUSING, OR FACILITIES ACQUIRED FROM
UNITED STATES. (a) A county may:
(1) lease or rent any land, housing, or facility acquired under
Section 270.004;
(2) establish and revise the amount charged for the lease or
rental;
(3) arrange or contract for the furnishing of services or
facilities for, or in connection with, that land, housing, or
facility or the occupants of that land, housing, or facility;
(4) sell or exchange all or part of that land or housing; and
(5) execute oil, gas, or mineral leases for all or part of that
land.
(b) The commissioners court of the county shall determine the
terms of an oil, gas, or mineral lease executed under this
section and the consideration for the lease, which may include
oil or gas payments, overriding royalties, and similar payments.
(c) The commissioners court may execute conveyances of minerals
or mineral rights and may contract for the exploration and
development of minerals under all or part of the land.
Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 149, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987.
Sec. 263.053. SALE AND SUBSEQUENT LEASE OR LICENSE OF PROPERTY
IN COUNTIES WITH POPULATION OF MORE THAN 250,000. (a) This
section applies only to counties with a population of more than
250,000.
(b) The commissioners court of the county may sell land,
buildings, facilities, or equipment for the purpose of making
contracts for the lease or rental of land, buildings, facilities,
or equipment or for receiving services from others for county
purposes. The commissioners court may pay regular monthly bills
for utilities, such as electricity, gas, and water, for the
property leased or rented or for the services received.
(c) The commissioners court of the county may enter into any
for-profit or other licensing agreement with a seller of wireless
communications service that may include a license to collocate
wireless communications technology on property owned by the
county.
(d) If a majority of the commissioners court determines that the
facilities and equipment are essential for the proper
administration of county government, the commissioners court may
pay for the facilities and equipment and for the regular monthly
bills from the general fund of the county. The commissioners
court must make the payment by warrant in the manner that
payments for other obligations of the county are made.
(e) A construction project initiated for a purpose authorized by
this section may be awarded only by a contract that provides for
the payment of the prevailing wage for all mechanics, laborers,
and others employed in the construction project. The
commissioners court of Tarrant County shall set the prevailing
wage, which must be the same prevailing wage set by the
commissioners court of that county for all construction projects
involving the expenditure of county funds.
(f) On or before the expiration of a contract made under this
section, the facilities may be purchased by the county and paid
for from its general fund if a majority of the commissioners
court agrees that the purchase price is reasonable.
Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 149, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987.
Amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 585, Sec. 1, eff. June 20,
2003.
Sec. 263.054. RELINQUISHMENT OF ABANDONED LAND. The
commissioners court of a county by order may, as if there has
been a failure of consideration, relinquish and convey land
donated to the county for county purposes to the donor of the
land or the donor's successor in title if:
(1) on the date of the order, the land has been abandoned and
not used by the county for the purpose of the donation for more
than 40 years; and
(2) it is shown that the donor of the land and the donor's
successors in title have been in actual, continuous, open,
peaceful, and adverse possession of the land for 40 years or more
preceding the date of the order.
Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 149, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987.
Sec. 263.055. CONVEYANCE OF PROPERTY FROM COUNTY TO TEXAS
A&I UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION, INC. (a) A county may convey
surplus personal or real property of the county at a private sale
to Texas A&I University Foundation, Inc., for any fair
consideration approved by the commissioners court of the county.
(b) Property conveyed under this section must be used for higher
education purposes in the county that conveyed the property. If
at any time after the date a conveyance of real property is
executed under this section the real property is used for a
purpose other than a higher education purpose, ownership of the
property reverts to the county that conveyed the property.
(c) For a conveyance under this section to be effective, the
commissioners court must authorize the conveyance by an order
entered in its minutes. The order must:
(1) describe the property to be conveyed;
(2) state the consideration to be paid; and
(3) direct the county judge of the county to execute in the name
of the county a conveyance to Texas A&I University
Foundation, Inc., and to promptly make the conveyance on payment
of the consideration to the appropriate officer of the county.
(d) An instrument of conveyance executed by the county judge
must be in the form and contain the covenants and warranties
prescribed by the commissioners court.
Added by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 393, Sec. 1, eff. Aug. 30,
1993.
SUBCHAPTER C. LEASE OR SALE OF REAL PROPERTY FOR PRIVATELY OWNED
HOTEL
Sec. 263.101. APPLICATION OF SUBCHAPTER TO POPULOUS COUNTIES.
This subchapter applies only to a county with a population of
more than 1.3 million.
Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 149, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987.
Amended by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 669, Sec. 79, eff. Sept. 1,
2001.
Sec. 263.102. LEASE. (a) The commissioners court of the county
may lease real property owned by the county and air rights above
that property to an individual or a private corporation or
association, and make agreements with an individual or a private
corporation or association for the construction, ownership,
maintenance, operation, or expansion of a privately owned hotel
and related facilities that are operated in conjunction with an
existing convention center owned by the county.
(b) The commissioners court may lease real property under this
section regardless of the property's being encumbered by existing
revenue bonds. In leasing the property, the commissioners court
must comply with all applicable conditions of existing revenue
bonds except those waived by the holders of the bonds.
Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 149, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987.
Sec. 263.103. CREATION OF ENCUMBRANCE. (a) A lease or other
agreement executed under this subchapter may not subject the real
property to a pledge or mortgage, other than existing revenue
bonds, refunding bonds, or other indentures for the release of
existing revenue bonds, or to an encumbrance that did not exist
on the date the lease or agreement was executed.
(b) A lease under this subchapter must specifically provide that
the real property subject to the lease is not encumbered or
mortgaged by the lease or by any agreement executed in connection
with the lease.
Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 149, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987.
Sec. 263.104. LENDING CREDIT. A county executing a lease under
this subchapter may not in any way lend its credit to an
individual or a private corporation or association in connection
with the lease.
Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 149, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987.
Sec. 263.105. CONDITIONS OF LEASE. (a) A lease under this
subchapter may initially be effective for the term of a mortgage
covering the construction of the hotel and related facilities.
The lease may provide to the parties constructing, owning, or
operating the hotel or related facilities an option to renew the
lease.
(b) The lease must be made on a competitive bid. Consideration
for the lease may not be less than the fair market lease value of
the property and air rights being leased.
(c) The parties to the lease mutually shall determine the other
conditions of the lease.
Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 149, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987.
Sec. 263.106. SALE. (a) The commissioners court of a county
may sell land owned by the county and the air rights above the
land to an individual or a private corporation or association if:
(1) all existing revenue bond obligations encumbering the land
have been fully discharged as to bondholders;
(2) a hotel has been built on the land in conjunction with an
existing convention center and the hotel has been operated
continuously for at least five years from its inception;
(3) the parties to an existing lease of land mutually agree to
the sale of the land and the air rights; and
(4) the county receives an amount for the land and air rights
that is fair under the market conditions existing at the time of
the sale.
(b) The commissioners court may impose deed restrictions or
reverters to preserve the use of the land for a purpose
consistent with the construction, expansion, ownership, and
operation of a hotel and related facilities in conjunction with a
convention center.
(c) A sale of land under this subchapter may include land
appurtenant to the land on which the hotel or related facilities
have been built.
Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 149, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987.
Sec. 263.107. EXPENDITURE OF TAX FUNDS. In an agreement
authorized by this subchapter, the commissioners court of a
county may spend tax funds consistent with state law but must
limit each commitment or expenditure of tax funds associated with
the agreement to an amount available from current revenues of the
county.
Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 149, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987.
SUBCHAPTER D. DISPOSITION OF SALVAGE OR SURPLUS PROPERTY
Sec. 263.151. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
(1) "Salvage property" means personal property, other than items
routinely discarded as waste, that because of use, time,
accident, or any other cause is so worn, damaged, or obsolete
that it has no value for the purpose for which it was originally
intended.
(2) "Surplus property" means personal property that:
(A) is not salvage property or items routinely discarded as
waste;
(B) is not currently needed by its owner;
(C) is not required for the owner's foreseeable needs; and
(D) possesses some usefulness for the purpose for which it was
intended.
Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 149, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987.
Amended by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 1, Sec. 61(b), eff. Aug. 28,
1989.
Sec. 263.152. DISPOSITION. (a) The commissioners court of a
county may:
(1) periodically sell the county's surplus or salvage property
by competitive bid or auction, except that competitive bidding or
an auction is not necessary if the purchaser is another county or
a political subdivision within the county that is selling the
surplus or salvage property;
(2) offer the property as a trade-in for new property of the
same general type if the commissioners court considers that
action to be in the best interests of the county;
(3) order any of the property to be destroyed or otherwise
disposed of as worthless if the commissioners court undertakes to
sell that property under Subdivision (1) and is unable to do so
because no bids are made;
(4) dispose of the property by donating it to a civic or
charitable organization located in the county if the
commissioners court determines that:
(A) undertaking to sell the property under Subdivision (1) would
likely result in no bids or a bid price that is less than the
county's expenses required for the bid process;
(B) the donation serves a public purpose; and
(C) the organization will provide the county with adequate
consideration, such as relieving the county of transportation or
disposal expenses related to the property;
(5) transfer gambling equipment in the possession of the county
following its forfeiture to the state to the Texas Building and
Procurement Commission for sale under Section 2175.904,
Government Code; or
(6) order any vehicle retired under a program designed to
encourage the use of low-emission vehicles to be crushed and
recycled, if practicable, without a competitive bid or auction.
(a-1) The commissioners court shall remit money received from
the Texas Building and Procurement Commission from the sale of
gambling equipment under Section 2175.904(c), Government Code,
less administrative expenses incurred by the county in connection
with the transfer and sale of the equipment, to the local law
enforcement agency that originally seized the equipment.
(b) If the property is earth-moving, material-handling, road
maintenance, or construction equipment, the commissioners court
may exercise a repurchase option in a contract in disposing of
property under Subsection (a)(1) or (a)(2). The repurchase price
of equipment contained in a previously accepted purchase contract
is considered a bid under Subsection (a)(1) or (a)(2).
(c) Repealed by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 43, Sec. 2; Acts 2003,
78th Leg., ch. 345, Sec. 3.
Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 149, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987.
Amended by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 1, Sec. 61(b), eff. Aug. 28,
1989; Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 416, Sec. 3, eff. Sept. 1, 1991;
Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 237, Sec. 1, eff. Aug. 30, 1993; Acts
1995, 74th Leg., ch. 746, Sec. 5, eff. Aug. 28, 1995; Acts 1999,
76th Leg., ch. 254, Sec. 1, eff. May 28, 1999; Acts 2003, 78th
Leg., ch. 43, Sec. 1, 2, eff. May 15, 2003; Acts 2003, 78th Leg.,
ch. 345, Sec. 1, 3, eff. June 18, 2003.
Amended by:
Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch.
1233, Sec. 2, eff. June 15, 2007.
Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch.
931, Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2009.
Sec. 263.153. NOTICE. (a) The commissioners court shall
publish notice of a sale of surplus or salvage property in at
least one newspaper of general circulation in the county.
(b) The notice must be published on or after the 30th day but
before the 10th day before the date of the sale.
(c) A county that contracts with an auctioneer licensed under
Chapter 1802, Occupations Code, who uses an Internet auction site
offering online bidding through the Internet to sell surplus or
salvage property under this subchapter having an estimated value
of not more than $500 shall satisfy the notice requirement under
this section by posting the property on the site for at least 10
days unless the property is sold before the 10th day.
Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 149, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987.
Amended by:
Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch.
1150, Sec. 1, eff. June 19, 2009.
Sec. 263.154. REJECTION OF OFFER. The commissioners court or
its designated representative conducting the sale may reject any
offer to purchase surplus or salvage property if the court or
representative finds the rejection to be in the best interests of
the county.
Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 149, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987.
Sec. 263.155. RECORD. (a) The commissioners court shall keep a
record of each item of surplus or salvage property sold and the
sale price of each item.
(b) The commissioners court shall keep, for one year, a record
of each item of surplus or salvage property destroyed or
otherwise disposed of.
Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 149, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987.
Amended by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 1, Sec. 61(c), eff. Aug. 28,
1989.
Sec. 263.156. PROCEEDS. Unless otherwise provided by law, the
commissioners court shall deposit the proceeds from the sale of
surplus or salvage property:
(1) in the county treasury to the credit of the general fund or
the fund from which the property was purchased; or
(2) if the property was used for maintenance or construction of
county roads and bridges, in the county treasury to the credit of
the county road and bridge fund.
Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 149, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987.
Sec. 263.157. TITLE. If a purchaser of surplus or salvage
property at a sale held in accordance with this subchapter
complies in good faith with the conditions of the sale and the
applicable rules of the commissioners court, the purchaser
obtains good title to the property.
Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 149, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987.
Sec. 263.158. RULES. The commissioners court may adopt rules
necessary to administer this subchapter.
Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 149, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987.
SUBCHAPTER E. CONVEYANCE OF REAL PROPERTY FROM COUNTY TO UNITED
STATES
Sec. 263.201. ACQUISITION AND CONVEYANCE OF LAND FOR WATER
PROJECTS. (a) If a county that has a part of its boundary
coincident with a part of the international boundary between the
United States and Mexico, or that is contiguous to such a county,
has made an agreement with the United States to acquire and, on
request, convey to the United States, with or without monetary
consideration, land or an interest in land desired by the United
States to enable the United States or an establishment of the
United States to carry out an act of the United States Congress
in aid of navigation, irrigation, flood control, or improvement
of water courses and to accomplish a purpose specified by Section
2204.101, Government Code, the commissioners court of the county
may:
(1) on request by the United States through its proper officer
for the conveyance of land, or an interest in land, that is
necessary for the construction, operation, or maintenance of the
water project, acquire the land or interest in land by gift or
purchase or by condemnation in accordance with Chapter 21,
Property Code, for ultimate conveyance to the United States; and
(2) pay for the land or interest in land from special flood
control funds or other available county funds.
(b) In a condemnation by the county, the county, after the award
by the special commissioners appointed under Chapter 21, Property
Code, may file a declaration of taking adopted by resolution of
the commissioners court and signed by the county judge.
(c) The declaration of taking must contain:
(1) a declaration that the land or interest in land described in
the original petition is taken for a public purpose and for
ultimate conveyance to the United States;
(2) a description of the land sufficient for the identification
of the land;
(3) a statement of the estate or interest in the land being
taken;
(4) a statement of the public use to be made of the land;
(5) a plan showing the land being taken; and
(6) a statement of the amount of damages awarded by the special
commissioners, or by the jury on appeal, for the taking of the
land.
(d) When the commissioners court files the declaration of taking
with the county clerk, deposits money in an amount equal to the
amount of the award against the county with the county clerk
subject to the order of the defendant, and pays any costs awarded
against the county:
(1) the land is considered to be condemned and taken for the
uses specified in the declaration;
(2) the title to the estate or interest in the land specified in
the declaration vests in the county; and
(3) the right to just compensation vests in the person entitled
to the compensation.
(e) When title passes, the commissioners court may immediately
convey the land or interest in land to the United States.
(f) An appeal from an award of the special commissioners or the
service of process by publication does not suspend the vesting of
title in the county. On appeal the only issue is the amount of
damages due from the county to the owner of the land or interest
in land for its taking.
Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 149, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987.
Amended by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 76, Sec. 5.95(24), eff.
Sept. 1, 1995.
Sec. 263.202. CONVEYANCE FOR PUBLIC BUILDING. (a) A county
that owns land used for public purposes that exceeds the amount
of land needed by the county for its public purposes may sell all
or part of the excess to the United States at a private sale for
any fair consideration approved by the commissioners court of the
county. The sale must be made under the statutes of the United
States authorizing the acquisition of sites for public buildings.
(b) The commissioners court of the county is responsible for
determining whether an excess of land exists and the extent to
which the excess may be sold and conveyed under this section.
(c) For a conveyance under this section to be effective, the
commissioners court must authorize the conveyance by an order
entered in its minutes. The order must:
(1) describe the land to be conveyed;
(2) state the consideration to be paid; and
(3) direct the county judge of the county to execute in the name
of the county a conveyance to the United States and to promptly
make delivery of the conveyance on payment of the consideration
to the appropriate officer of the county.
(d) An instrument of conveyance executed by the county judge
must be in the form, and contain the covenants and warranties,
prescribed by the commissioners court. The instrument must
reserve concurrent jurisdiction over the conveyed land for the
service of all state criminal and civil process.
Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 149, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987.
Sec. 263.203. CONVEYANCE FOR CIVIL WORKS PROJECT. If a county
owns and controls land, or an interest in land, that is used or
proposed to be used as a part of the site of a flood control,
river and harbor improvement, water conservation, or other civil
works project constructed or to be constructed by the United
States, the county judge of the county, on order of the
commissioners court or on a request of the United States that is
supported by an order of the commissioners court, may convey an
easement, or other interest in land, necessary for the
construction, operation, and maintenance of the project to the
United States or to a political subdivision, agency, or
instrumentality of this state that is cooperating with the United
States in the project.
Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 149, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987.
Sec. 263.204. CONVEYANCE FOR MILITARY INSTALLATION OR FACILITY.
If a county owns and controls land, or an interest in land, near
a federally owned or operated military installation or facility,
the county judge of the county, on order of the commissioners
court or on a request of the United States that is supported by
an order of the commissioners court, may convey to the United
States an easement, or other interest in the land, that is
necessary for the construction, operation, and maintenance of the
installation or facility.
Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 149, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987.
Sec. 263.205. CONSIDERATION. The commissioners court shall
determine the consideration for a conveyance under Section
263.203 or 263.204 and may determine that monetary consideration
is not required.
Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 149, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987.
Sec. 263.206. ASSENT TO GRANT OF EASEMENT. If the county does
not own the fee simple title to land described by Section 263.203
or 263.204 and if the owner of the fee simple has executed an
easement to the land for the purposes for which a conveyance is
authorized under Section 263.203 or 263.204, the county judge, on
order of the commissioners court, may join in and assent to the
easement in the instrument granting the easement or in a separate
instrument.
Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 149, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987.
SUBCHAPTER F. ADVERTISING SPACE
Sec. 263.251. SALE OR LEASE OF ADVERTISING SPACE. (a) The
commissioners court of a county may adopt a procedure by which
the county may:
(1) lease to another entity advertising space located:
(A) in or on a building or part of a building owned by the
county;
(B) on a vehicle owned by the county; or
(C) on an official county website; or
(2) sell advertising space located on correspondence distributed
by the county through the United States Postal Service.
(b) The procedure must include a requirement that the county
publish, before a sale or lease is made, a notice of its intent
to sell or lease the advertising space. The notice must:
(1) be published:
(A) at least one time in a newspaper of general circulation in
the county not earlier than the 30th day or later than the 14th
day before the date the award of the sale or lease is made; and
(B) on the county's official website continuously for the 14
days immediately before the date the award of the sale or lease
is made;
(2) include a description of the advertising space, including
its location and a description of the part of any real or
personal property that the advertising space occupies; and
(3) include a description of the procedure by which bids or
proposals for the sale or lease may be submitted.
(c) Under the procedure, the commissioners court may reject any
and all bids or proposals submitted.
Added by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch.
1094, Sec. 29, eff. September 1, 2005.