By Chisum                                             H.B. No. 3548
         Line and page numbers may not match official copy.
         Bill not drafted by TLC or Senate E&E.
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the regulation of property owned by religious
 1-3     organizations.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1. Title 7, Subtitle A, Section 211.003, Local
 1-6     Government Code, is amended by adding Subsection (d) to read as
 1-7     follows:
 1-8           (d)  A municipality that permits the exercise of religion or
 1-9     religious assembly in both residential and commercial zoning
1-10     districts shall enforce only the least restrictive site development
1-11     regulations of the least restrictive zoning district that allows
1-12     religious assembly, on all religious organizations within the
1-13     municipal boundaries.  For purposes of this section:
1-14                 (1)  religious assembly means organized religious
1-15     worship; and
1-16                 (2)  the least restrictive site development regulations
1-17     applies to education facilities or parking facilities.
1-18           SECTION 2.  Title 5, Chapter 110, Section 110.003, is amended
1-19     by adding Subsection (d) to read as follows:
1-20           (d)  A municipality that permits the exercise of religion or
1-21     religious assembly in both residential and commercial zoning
1-22     districts shall enforce only the least restrictive site development
1-23     regulations of the least restrictive zoning district that allows
 2-1     religious assembly, on all religious organizations within the
 2-2     municipal boundaries.  For purposes of this section:
 2-3                 (1)  religious assembly means organized religious
 2-4     worship; and
 2-5                 (2)  the least restrictive site development regulations
 2-6     applies to education facilities or parking facilities.
 2-7           SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.