| TO: | Honorable Garnet Coleman, Chair, House Committee on County Affairs |
| FROM: | John S O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board |
| IN RE: | HB1649 by Marquez (Relating to the enforcement of building code standards for new residential construction in the unincorporated area of a county; providing a fee.), As Introduced |
The bill would amend the Local Government Code to authorize a county to charge a fee not to exceed $125 for each new residential construction project to defray costs of administering building code requirements. The bill also would require a commissioners court to certify that a new single-family or duplex residential construction project meets all applicable building code requirements prior to electric, gas, water, or sewer service utility connection in the project.
The bill would repeal Section 233.153(f) of the Local Government Code.
According to the Texas Association of Counties (TAC), the fiscal impact of the bill would vary by county depending on the number of new construction projects. It is assumed a county would only implement the program if the projected revenue from the fee would cover the costs of the program. Three counties that provided information to TAC included Dallas, Brewster and Hudspeth.
Dallas County reported the bill would have no fiscal impact. According to their estimates, the fee charged would generate a sufficient amount to cover the costs, and added the county has issued zero permits in the previous year.
Brewster County and Hudspeth County report the fee charged would not cover costs to implement the program due to large travel distances within the county.
El Paso County reported the bill would have no fiscal impact as the fee would cover program costs.
| Source Agencies: |
| LBB Staff: | JOB, KKR, TP
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