By: King of Uvalde (Senate Sponsor - Zaffirini) H.B. No. 2732
         (In the Senate - Received from the House April 17, 2023;
  April 18, 2023, read first time and referred to Committee on Local
  Government; May 15, 2023, reported favorably by the following
  vote:  Yeas 7, Nays 0; May 15, 2023, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
 
 
 
  COMMITTEE VOTE
 
 
         YeaNayAbsentPNV
         BettencourtX
         SpringerX
         EckhardtX
         GutierrezX
         HallX
         NicholsX
         ParkerX
         PaxtonX
         WestX
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to cemeteries in certain municipalities.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 711.008, Health and Safety Code, is
  amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (m) to
  read as follows:
         (a)  Except as provided by Subsections (b), (f), (g), (g-1),
  (g-2), (h), [and] (k), and (m), an individual, corporation,
  partnership, firm, trust, or association may not establish or
  operate a cemetery, or use any land for the interment of remains,
  located:
               (1)  in or within one mile of the boundaries of a
  municipality with a population of 5,000 to 25,000;
               (2)  in or within two miles of the boundaries of a
  municipality with a population of 25,000 to 50,000;
               (3)  in or within three miles of the boundaries of a
  municipality with a population of 50,000 to 100,000;
               (4)  in or within four miles of the boundaries of a
  municipality with a population of 100,000 to 200,000; or
               (5)  in or within five miles of the boundaries of a
  municipality with a population of at least 200,000.
         (m)  Not later than September 1, 2024, an organized religious
  society or sect may file a written application with the governing
  body of a municipality to establish or use a cemetery within the
  boundaries of the municipality. The municipality by ordinance
  shall prescribe the information to be included on the application.
  The governing body by ordinance may authorize the establishment or
  use of the cemetery if the municipality determines and states in the
  ordinance that the establishment or use does not adversely affect
  public health, safety, and welfare. This subsection applies only
  to a municipality with a population of 200,000 or more located in a
  county with a population of less than 300,000 that is adjacent to
  this state's international border with Mexico.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.
 
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