2025S0174-1 03/05/25     By: Alvarado S.B. No. 2080     A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the records, management, and taxation of navigation   districts and certain port and harbor facilities.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subchapter J, Chapter 441, Government Code, is   amended by adding Section 441.1681 to read as follows:          Sec. 441.1681.  ELECTRONIC STORAGE OF CERTAIN LOCAL   GOVERNMENT RECORDS.  (a) The governing body of a navigation   district or port authority, or a board of trustees described by   Chapter 54, Transportation Code, may establish alternative storage   and retention standards and procedures for records of a navigation   district, port authority, or board of trustees. The rules must   establish:                (1)  a process for the port commission of a navigation   district or port authority, or a board of trustees described by   Chapter 54, Transportation Code, to use the alternative storage   standards and procedures;                (2)  procedures for the conversion of hard copy   documents retained by the custodian of the navigation district,   port authority, or board of trustees described by Chapter 54,   Transportation Code, to an electronic form and the destruction of   the hard copy documents; and                (3)  standards for electronic record management and   preservation of documents retained by the custodian of the   navigation district, port authority, or board of trustees described   by Chapter 54, Transportation Code.          (b)  The standards and procedures under this section may not   establish a retention period that is shorter than a retention   period prescribed by a state or federal law, regulation, or rule of   court.          SECTION 2.  Subchapter Q, Chapter 60, Water Code, is amended   by adding Section 60.503 to read as follows:          Sec. 60.503.  CLOSED MEETINGS. Notwithstanding Section   551.103, Government Code, a port commission is not required to make   a recording of the proceedings of a closed meeting to deliberate   security measures, including cybersecurity measures, related to   the navigation district or port authority.          SECTION 3.  Section 60.403(a), Water Code, is amended to   read as follows:          (a)  A port commission, an authorized designated officer of   the port commission, the executive director of the district or the   port authority, or an authorized representative of the executive   director may make routine purchases or contracts in an amount not to   exceed $50,000. A port commission may delegate authority to an   authorized designated officer of the port commission, the executive   director of the district or the port authority, or an authorized   representative of the executive director to make routine purchases   or contracts in an amount not to exceed $500,000, which shall be   deemed the amount provided for under this chapter for routine   purchases or contracts authorized for the district or port   authority [$100,000].          SECTION 4.  Section 2252.909(a), Government Code, as added   by Chapter 1008 (H.B. 2518), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular   Session, 2023, is amended to read as follows:          (a)  In this section, "governmental entity" has the meaning   assigned by Section 2253.001, except that the term does not include   a:                (1)  navigation district;                (2)  port authority; or                (3)  board of trustees described by Chapter 54,   Transportation Code.          SECTION 5.  Section 54.054, Transportation Code, is amended   by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (c) to read as   follows:          (a)  Except for routine purchases and contracts and except as   otherwise provided by this chapter, the board may award a contract   involving the expenditure of funds in excess of the amount   applicable to an expenditure of funds by a municipality under   Section 252.021(a), Local Government Code, only by competitive   bidding.          (c)  The board, authorized designated officers of the board,   the general manager or port director, or authorized representatives   of the general manager or port director may make routine purchases   or contracts in an amount not to exceed $50,000. A board may   delegate authority to authorized designated officers of the board,   the general manager or port director, and authorized   representatives of the general manager or port director to make   routine purchases or contracts in an amount not to exceed $500,000,   which shall be deemed the amount provided for under this section for   routine purchases or contracts.          SECTION 6.  Section 25.07(e), Tax Code, is amended to read as   follows:          (e)  In this section, "navigation-related commerce" includes   the following if engaged in by a person:                (1)  an activity that requires the person to hold a   maritime-related license or permit issued by a navigation district,   including providing stevedoring, steamship agency, towing,   tugboat, or line handling services;                (2)  an activity that requires the person to hold a   franchise issued by a navigation district;                (3)  possessing a leasehold interest in property [owned   by a navigation district] that:                      (A)  connects infrastructure to a public dock; and                      (B)  is:                            (i)  owned by a navigation district; or                            (ii)  managed and controlled by a board of   trustees described by Chapter 54, Transportation Code;                (4)  hauling cargo into or across a public dock;                (5)  commercial fishing;                (6)  constructing, fabricating, cleaning, repairing,   dismantling, or recycling vessels;                (7)  pilotage; [or]                (8)  an activity described by Section 60.101, 61.162,   or 63.153, Water Code;                (9)  operating a cruise ship terminal facility; or                (10)  an activity described by Section 54.003 or   54.053, Transportation Code.          SECTION 7.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.