BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 4025

By: Howard

Land & Resource Management

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

There are approximately 68 state-owned buildings in the City of Austin. State agencies have requested authorization to sell two such state-owned properties that are no longer needed. The State Records Center, owned by the Texas State Library and Archives Commission, is beyond reasonable costs of repairs; similarly, the Health and Human Services Commission owns property with two buildings, one of which has not been occupied since 2017 due to deteriorating conditions, and the other, which houses 225 staff members, is also approaching the end of its lifecycle. C.S.H.B. 4025 seeks to address this issue by authorizing the General Land Office to sell these state-owned properties.

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

C.S.H.B. 4025 requires the General Land Office, as soon as practicable after the bill's effective date, to offer to sell specified real property that is held by the state and to close a transaction for the sale in accordance with statutory processes for real estate transactions authorized by the legislature. Proceeds from the transaction must be deposited in the general revenue fund. The bill makes the sale of that real property contingent upon the construction and occupation of an alternative state records facility that replaces the facility being operated on the real property by the Texas State Library and Archives Commission on the bill's effective date.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2023.

COMPARISON OF INTRODUCED AND SUBSTITUTE

C.S.H.B. 4025 differs from the introduced in minor or nonsubstantive ways by conforming to certain bill drafting conventions and by incorporating a Texas Legislative Council draft number in the footer.