H.B. 1968 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS H.B. 1968 By: Uresti County Affairs Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Currently, some counties within Texas do not charge a fee to the owner of a tract of land to be reviewed for subdivision, and the cost of reviewing the plat is absorbed by the county. House Bill 1968 authorizes the commissioners court of a county to charge a application fee for the review of a plat of land for subdivision. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS House Bill 1968 amends the Local Government Code by authorizing the commissioners court of the county to impose an application fee to cover the cost of the county's review of a subdivision plat and inspection of street, road, and drainage improvements described by the plat. The bill sets forth provisions for when the fee is authorized to vary. The bill requires the owner of the tract to pay the fee at the time directed by the county before the county conducts a review of the plat. The bill sets forth provisions for when the fee is subject to refund. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2003.