By Eckels H.B. No. 2217 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to elections concerning zoning issues in home-rule 1-3 municipalities. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 211, Local Government Code 1-6 is amended by adding Section 211.014 to read as follows: 1-7 Sec. 211.014. Zoning initiatives and referenda in home-rule 1-8 municipalities. 1-9 (a) Notwithstanding any procedural or other requirements of 1-10 this chapter to the contrary, the electors of a home-rule 1-11 municipality may repeal the municipality's zoning regulations, as 1-12 adopted under this chapter, in their entirety by either: 1-13 (1) a charter election conducted pursuant to applicable 1-14 laws; or 1-15 (2) upon the initial adoption of zoning regulations by the 1-16 municipality, by use of any referendum process that is authorized 1-17 under the chapter of the municipality for public protest of the 1-18 adoption of ordinances in general. 1-19 (b) Notwithstanding any procedural or other requirements of 1-20 this chapter to the contrary, the governing body of a home-rule 1-21 municipality may upon its own motion submit the repeal of the 1-22 municipality's zoning regulations, as adopted under this chapter, 1-23 in their entirety to the electors by use of any process that is 2-1 authorized under the charter of the municipality for a popular vote 2-2 on the rejection or repeal of ordinances in general. 2-3 (c) The provisions of this chapter shall not be construed to 2-4 prohibit the adoption or application of any charter provision of a 2-5 home-rule municipality that requires a waiting period prior to the 2-6 adoption of zoning regulations or the submission of the initial 2-7 adoption of zoning regulations to a binding referendum election, or 2-8 both, provided that all procedural requirements of this chapter for 2-9 the adoption of the zoning regulations are otherwise complied with. 2-10 (d) The provisions of this section may only be utilized for 2-11 the repeal of a municipality's zoning regulations in their entirety 2-12 or for determinations of whether a municipality should initially 2-13 adopt zoning regulations. 2-14 SECTION 2. The importance of this legislation and the 2-15 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 2-16 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 2-17 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three seperate 2-18 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended, 2-19 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its 2-20 passage, and it is so enacted.