Members of The Woodlands Township Board of Directors will meet this month in two separate special planning session to discuss incorporation-related matters. Under an agreement with the cities of Houston and Conroe, The Woodlands is safe from being annexed by either city until 2057, but if not incorporated by then the prosperous community would become fair game for annexation.

Gov. Greg Abbott signed two bills relating to The Woodlands' incorporation process during the last legislative session. Senate Bills 1014 and 1015 were authored by state Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, and state Rep. Mark Keough, R-The Woodlands, to grant procedures and guidelines for The Woodlands to use if the decision is made to incorporate into a city.

SB 1015 amends the local government code governing the regional participation agreements between the cities of Conroe and Houston with The Woodlands, laying out the type of city it can become and how an election would be called. SB 1014 requires the township board provide the maximum possible tax rate the new city would require if approved in an incorporation election, along with the legal framework for the assets and liabilities of the township to be transferred to the new city.

With the new bills, The Woodlands Township is moving forward with long-term planning. Both special sessions will be open to the public.

The first meeting is set for Jan. 4 at 4 p.m., and the second meeting is scheduled for Jan. 18 at 4 p.m. Both gatherings will be held at The Woodlands Township offices on 2801 Technology Forest Blvd.