BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 674

By: Ratliff

Land & Resource Management

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

There is concern that the absence of direct notification to school districts of public hearings before the zoning commission on a proposed zoning classification can be detrimental when the proposal affects area schools. Although all such hearings are required to be advertised in an official newspaper or newspaper of general circulation in the applicable municipality, interested parties contend that school districts should also receive written notification about hearings so that affected districts can adequately plan for facilities and staffing to effectively serve incoming residents and new students from planned residential or multifamily developments. H.B. 674 seeks to provide school districts with direct notice of a proposed municipal zoning change affecting residential land uses that could impact the district's future operations.

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

H.B. 674 amends the Local Government Code to require written notice of each public hearing before a municipal zoning commission on a proposed change in a zoning classification affecting residential or multifamily zoning to be sent, before the 10th day before the hearing date, to each school district in which the property for which the change in classification is proposed is located. The bill authorizes such notice to be served by its deposit in the municipality, properly addressed with postage paid, in the United States mail.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2013.