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            |  | AN ACT | 
         
            |  | relating to rates applied to certain water or sewer systems after a | 
         
            |  | sale or purchase of the system. | 
         
            |  | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | 
         
            |  | SECTION 1.  Subchapter H, Chapter 13, Water Code, is amended | 
         
            |  | by adding Section 13.3011 to read as follows: | 
         
            |  | Sec. 13.3011.  INITIAL RATES FOR CERTAIN WATER OR SEWER | 
         
            |  | SYSTEMS AFTER PURCHASE OR ACQUISITION.  (a)  A person who files an | 
         
            |  | application described by Section 13.301(a) for the purchase or | 
         
            |  | acquisition of a water or sewer system may request that the | 
         
            |  | regulatory authority with original jurisdiction over the rates for | 
         
            |  | water or sewer service provided by the person to the customers of | 
         
            |  | the system authorize the person to charge initial rates for the | 
         
            |  | service that are: | 
         
            |  | (1)  shown in a tariff filed with a regulatory | 
         
            |  | authority by the person for another water or sewer system; and | 
         
            |  | (2)  in force for the other water or sewer system on the | 
         
            |  | date the application described by Section 13.301(a) is filed. | 
         
            |  | (b)  The regulatory authority may not require a person who | 
         
            |  | makes a request under Subsection (a) to initiate a new rate | 
         
            |  | proceeding to establish the initial rates for service the person | 
         
            |  | will provide to the customers of the purchased or acquired system. | 
         
            |  | SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act applies only | 
         
            |  | to a purchase or acquisition of a water or sewer system the | 
         
            |  | application for which is filed under Section 13.301(a), Water Code, | 
         
            |  | on or after the effective date of this Act. A purchase or | 
         
            |  | acquisition of a water or sewer system the application for which is | 
         
            |  | filed under Section 13.301(a), Water Code, before the effective | 
         
            |  | date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the | 
         
            |  | application was filed, and the former law is continued in effect for | 
         
            |  | that purpose. | 
         
            |  | SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. | 
         
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            |  | ______________________________ | ______________________________ | 
         
            |  | President of the Senate | Speaker of the House | 
         
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            |  | I certify that H.B. No. 1484 was passed by the House on April | 
         
            |  | 16, 2021, by the following vote:  Yeas 139, Nays 6, 2 present, not | 
         
            |  | voting. | 
         
            |  |  | 
         
            |  | ______________________________ | 
         
            |  | Chief Clerk of the House | 
         
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            |  | 
         
            |  | I certify that H.B. No. 1484 was passed by the Senate on May | 
         
            |  | 19, 2021, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0. | 
         
            |  |  | 
         
            |  | ______________________________ | 
         
            |  | Secretary of the Senate | 
         
            |  | APPROVED:  _____________________ | 
         
            |  | Date | 
         
            |  |  | 
         
            |  | _____________________ | 
         
            |  | Governor |