BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 1381
88R4146 KBB-F	By: Hernandez (Alvarado)
	Local Government
	5/7/2023
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Current law is ambiguous about whether a zoning commission must hold multiple hearings for municipal zoning and planning matters. As a result, cities have to hold multiple hearings on the same items, which creates a backlog of public hearings, is costly to taxpayers, and causes delays in the development and rehabilitation of properties.

H.B. 1381 clarifies that a zoning commission must hold at least one public hearing before a city's zoning commission. This allows cities to hold more than one public hearing if multiple hearings are necessary or within the public interest but does not require them to.

H.B. 1381 amends current law relating to the public hearing requirement for a preliminary zoning report made by a zoning commission.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 211.007(b), Local Government Code, to require a zoning commission to make a preliminary report and hold at least one public hearing, rather than hold public hearings, on that report before submitting a final report to the governing body.

SECTION 2. Makes application of this Act prospective.

SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2023.