Committee approves transparency measures for municipal improvement districts

Chair Caesar Quam recognized Senator Gary Stubblefield to present Senate Bill 424. Stubblefield said the bill amends law governing the accountability and transparency of municipal improvement districts and summarized its primary provisions: property owners who fund an improvement district must have the right to comment on agenda items prior to board action; meetings must be held quarterly; and meeting agendas must be provided to property owners in advance.

"SB424 stipulates that property owners who fund the improvement district have a right to comment on any agenda item prior to the action by the board of all, of all board meetings to provide meaningful input from neighbors," Stubblefield said. He said the requirement to hold quarterly meetings and to provide agendas in advance was intended to make improvement district commissioners more accountable and responsive to property owners.

A motion to pass the bill was made by Senator Stubblefield and seconded by Cesar English. The committee approved the bill by voice vote; no public testimony was recorded on the bill during the hearing. The chair announced the bill passed and the committee moved on to other items on the agenda.