H.B. No. 1289
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to the acquisition and sale of unimproved real property by
  an urban land bank.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 379C.004(a), Local Government Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (a)  The governing body of a municipality may adopt an urban
  land bank demonstration program in which the officer charged with
  selling real property ordered sold pursuant to foreclosure of a tax
  lien may sell certain eligible real property by private sale for
  [purposes of] affordable housing development or other purposes as
  provided by this chapter.
         SECTION 2.  Sections 379C.014(a) and (c), Local Government
  Code, as added by Chapter 1037 (H.B. 2840), Acts of the 83rd
  Legislature, Regular Session, 2013, are amended to read as follows:
         (a)  Notwithstanding the other provisions of this chapter,
  the land bank may acquire and sell to a developer property intended
  for commercial use [to a developer to allow the construction of a
  grocery store that has at least 6,000 square feet of enclosed space
  and that offers for sale fresh produce and other food items for home
  consumption].
         (c)  A sale under this section within the four-year period
  following the date of acquisition of the property by the land bank
  is for a public purpose and satisfies the requirement under Section
  379C.009(b) that the property be sold within the four-year [that]
  period to a qualified participating developer.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2015.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 1289 was passed by the House on April
  30, 2015, by the following vote:  Yeas 131, Nays 8, 1 present, not
  voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 1289 was passed by the Senate on May
  25, 2015, by the following vote:  Yeas 27, Nays 4.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
  APPROVED:  _____________________
                     Date          
   
            _____________________
                   Governor