Honorable Rafael Anchia, Chair, House Committee on International Trade & Intergovernmental Affairs
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB2214 by Guillen (Relating to the use of earnest money contracts to purchase land in certain border and economically distressed counties; amending provisions subject to a criminal penalty.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend the Local Government Code to amend regulations of advertisements and earnest money contracts in the purchase of certain land. The bill would require an advertisement for a plat for land that has not been approved to contain certain information regarding the plat approval status. A person who publishes or distributes a statement that is false concerning the land offered for sale or lease is punishable by a Class A misdemeanor. Before entering into an earnest money contract, a person must provide written notice, containing certain information, to the attorney general and to the local government responsible for approving the plat.
The bill repeals Section 232.021(9), Local Government Code.
The Office of the Attorney General anticipates any additional work resulting from the passage of the bill could be reasonably absorbed within current resources.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
A Class A misdemeanor is punishable by a fine of not more than $4,000, confinement in jail for a term not to exceed one year, or both. Costs associated with enforcement, prosecution and confinement could likely be absorbed within existing resources. Revenue gain from fines imposed and collected is not anticipated to have a significant fiscal implication