BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 715

By: Ortega

Urban Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

It has been noted that substandard and vacant buildings are not only a hazard for those who enter the building but also may pose risks to the public health and welfare. It has also been noted that, when a municipality demolishes a building to eliminate a public risk, it may be difficult for the municipality to recover the cost of the demolition from the property owner, thus placing a burden on the taxpayers. H.B. 715 seeks to address this issue by removing a certain condition for the foreclosure of a lien on certain property.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

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. 715 amends the Local Government Code to remove as a required condition under which a Type A general-law municipality or home-rule municipality, under provisions relating to dangerous structures, may foreclose in a judicial proceeding a lien on property on which a structure has been demolished and for which there is a certain unpaid lien for the demolition cost the condition that property taxes are delinquent on all or part of the property.        

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2019.