H.B. No. 3699
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to municipal regulation of subdivisions and approval of
  subdivision plans or plats.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Sections 212.001(2) and (3), Local Government
  Code, are amended to read as follows:
               (2)  ["Plan" means a subdivision development plan,
  including a subdivision plan, subdivision construction plan, site
  plan, land development application, and site development plan.
               [(3)]  "Plat" includes a preliminary plat, [general
  plan,] final plat, and replat.
         SECTION 2.  Subchapter A, Chapter 212, Local Government
  Code, is amended by adding Section 212.0015 to read as follows:
         Sec. 212.0015.  CONSTRUCTION OF SUBCHAPTER. This subchapter
  may not be construed to restrict a municipality from establishing a
  submittal calendar to be used by an applicant to facilitate
  compliance with the approval process described by Sections 212.009,
  212.0091, 212.0093, and 212.0095.
         SECTION 3.  Subchapter A, Chapter 212, Local Government
  Code, is amended by adding Section 212.0021 to read as follows:
         Sec. 212.0021.  SUBDIVISION REQUIREMENTS. The governing
  body of a municipality, by ordinance and after notice is published
  in a newspaper of general circulation in the municipality, may:
               (1)  adopt, based on the amount and kind of travel over
  each street or road in a subdivision, reasonable specifications
  relating to the construction of each street or road; and
               (2)  adopt reasonable specifications to provide
  adequate drainage for each street or road in a subdivision in
  accordance with standard engineering practices.
         SECTION 4.  Section 212.004, Local Government Code, is
  amended by amending Subsections (a) and (b) and adding Subsections
  (f) and (g) to read as follows:
         (a)  The owner of a tract of land located within the limits or
  in the extraterritorial jurisdiction of a municipality who divides
  the tract in two or more parts to lay out a subdivision of the tract,
  including an addition to a municipality, to lay out suburban,
  building, or other lots, or to lay out streets, alleys, squares,
  parks, or other parts of the tract intended by the owner of the
  tract to be dedicated to public use [or for the use of purchasers or
  owners of lots fronting on or adjacent to the streets, alleys,
  squares, parks, or other parts] must have a plat of the subdivision
  prepared. A division of a tract under this subsection includes a
  division regardless of whether it is made by using a metes and
  bounds description in a deed of conveyance or in a contract for a
  deed, by using a contract of sale or other executory contract to
  convey, or by using any other method. A division of land under this
  subsection does not include a division of land into parts greater
  than five acres, where each part has access and no public
  improvement is being dedicated.
         (b)  To be recorded, the plat must:
               (1)  describe the subdivision by metes and bounds;
               (2)  locate the subdivision with respect to a corner of
  the survey or tract or an original corner of the original survey of
  which it is a part; and
               (3)  state the dimensions of the subdivision and of
  each street, alley, square, park, or other part of the tract
  intended by the owner of the tract to be dedicated to public use [or
  for the use of purchasers or owners of lots fronting on or adjacent
  to the street, alley, square, park, or other part].
         (f)  A plat is considered filed on the date the applicant
  submits the plat, along with a completed plat application and the
  application fees and other requirements prescribed by or under this
  subchapter, to:
               (1)  the governing body of the municipality; or
               (2)  the municipal authority responsible for approving
  plats.
         (g)  The governing body of a municipality or the municipal
  authority responsible for approving plats may not require an
  analysis, study, document, agreement, or similar requirement to be
  included in or as part of an application for a plat, development
  permit, or subdivision of land that is not explicitly allowed by
  state law.
         SECTION 5.  Section 212.005, Local Government Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 212.005.  APPROVAL BY MUNICIPALITY REQUIRED. (a) The
  municipal authority responsible for approving plats must approve a
  plat or replat that is required to be prepared under this subchapter
  and that satisfies the requirements of this subchapter [all
  applicable regulations].
         (b)  This subchapter may not be construed to convey any
  authority to a municipality regarding the completeness of an
  application or the approval of a plat or replat that is not
  explicitly granted by this subchapter.
         SECTION 6.  Sections 212.0065(a) and (c), Local Government
  Code, are amended to read as follows:
         (a)  The governing body of a municipality or the municipal
  planning commission may delegate to one or more officers or
  employees of the municipality or of a utility owned or operated by
  the municipality the ability to approve, approve with conditions,
  or disapprove a plat [:
               [(1)  amending plats described by Section 212.016;
               [(2)  minor plats or replats involving four or fewer
  lots fronting on an existing street and not requiring the creation
  of any new street or the extension of municipal facilities; or
               [(3)  a replat under Section 212.0145 that does not
  require the creation of any new street or the extension of municipal
  facilities].
         (c)  An applicant has the right to appeal to the governing
  body of the municipality or the municipal planning commission if
  the designated [The] person disapproves a [or persons shall not
  disapprove the] plat [and shall be required to refer any plat which
  the person or persons refuse to approve to the municipal authority
  responsible for approving plats within the time period specified in
  Section 212.009].
         SECTION 7.  Subchapter A, Chapter 212, Local Government
  Code, is amended by adding Section 212.0081 to read as follows:
         Sec. 212.0081.  REQUIRED APPLICATION MATERIALS. (a) Each
  municipality to which this subchapter applies shall adopt and make
  available to the public a complete, written list of all
  documentation and other information that the municipality requires
  to be submitted with a plat application. The required documentation
  and other information must be related to a requirement authorized
  under this subchapter.
         (b)  An application submitted to the municipal authority
  responsible for approving plats that contains all documents and
  other information on the list provided under Subsection (a) is
  considered complete.
         (c)  A municipality that operates an Internet website shall
  publish and continuously maintain the list described by Subsection
  (a) on the Internet website not later than the 30th day after the
  date the municipality adopts or amends the list.
         (d)  A municipality that does not operate an Internet website
  shall publish the list described by Subsection (a) on adoption of
  the list or an amendment to the list in:
               (1)  a newspaper of general circulation in the
  municipality; and
               (2)  a public place in the location in which the
  governing body of the municipality meets.
         SECTION 8.  Sections 212.009(a), (b), (b-2), (c), and (d),
  Local Government Code, are amended to read as follows:
         (a)  The municipal authority responsible for approving plats
  shall approve, approve with conditions, or disapprove a [plan or]
  plat within 30 days after the date the [plan or] plat is filed.  A
  [plan or] plat is approved by the municipal authority unless it is
  disapproved within that period and in accordance with Section
  212.0091.
         (b)  If an ordinance requires that a [plan or] plat be
  approved by the governing body of the municipality in addition to
  the planning commission, the governing body shall approve, approve
  with conditions, or disapprove the [plan or] plat within 30 days
  after the date the [plan or] plat is approved by the planning
  commission or is approved by the inaction of the commission.  A
  [plan or] plat is approved by the governing body unless it is
  disapproved within that period and in accordance with Section
  212.0091.
         (b-2)  Notwithstanding Subsection (a) or (b), the parties
  shall [may] extend the 30-day period described by those subsections
  for one or more periods, each [a period] not to exceed 30 days if:
               (1)  both:
                     (A)  the applicant requests the extension in
  writing to the municipal authority responsible for approving plats
  or the governing body of the municipality, as applicable; and
                     (B) [(2)]  the municipal authority or governing
  body, as applicable, approves the extension request; or
               (2)  Chapter 2007, Government Code, requires the
  municipality to perform a takings impact assessment in connection
  with the plan or plat.
         (c)  If a [plan or] plat is approved, the municipal authority
  giving the approval shall endorse the [plan or] plat with a
  certificate indicating the approval. The certificate must be signed
  by:
               (1)  the authority's presiding officer and attested by
  the authority's secretary; or
               (2)  a majority of the members of the authority.
         (d)  If the municipal authority responsible for approving
  plats fails to approve, approve with conditions, or disapprove a
  [plan or] plat within the prescribed period, the authority on the
  applicant's request shall issue a certificate stating the date the
  [plan or] plat was filed and that the authority failed to act on the
  [plan or] plat within the period.  The certificate is effective in
  place of the endorsement required by Subsection (c).
         SECTION 9.  Section 212.0091(a), Local Government Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (a)  A municipal authority or governing body that
  conditionally approves or disapproves a [plan or] plat under this
  subchapter shall provide the applicant a written statement of the
  conditions for the conditional approval or reasons for disapproval
  that clearly articulates each specific condition for the
  conditional approval or reason for disapproval.
         SECTION 10.  Sections 212.0093, 212.0095, and 212.0096,
  Local Government Code, are amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 212.0093.  APPROVAL PROCEDURE: APPLICANT RESPONSE TO
  CONDITIONAL APPROVAL OR DISAPPROVAL.  After the conditional
  approval or disapproval of a [plan or] plat under Section 212.0091,
  the applicant may submit to the municipal authority or governing
  body that conditionally approved or disapproved the [plan or] plat
  a written response that satisfies each condition for the
  conditional approval or remedies each reason for disapproval
  provided.  The municipal authority or governing body may not
  establish a deadline for an applicant to submit the response.
         Sec. 212.0095.  APPROVAL PROCEDURE: APPROVAL OR DISAPPROVAL
  OF RESPONSE.  (a)  A municipal authority or governing body that
  receives a response under Section 212.0093 shall determine whether
  to approve or disapprove the applicant's previously conditionally
  approved or disapproved [plan or] plat not later than the 15th day
  after the date the response was submitted.
         (b)  A municipal authority or governing body that
  conditionally approves or disapproves a [plan or] plat following
  the submission of a response under Section 212.0093:
               (1)  must comply with Section 212.0091; and
               (2)  may disapprove the [plan or] plat only for a
  specific condition or reason provided to the applicant under
  Section 212.0091.
         (c)  A municipal authority or governing body that receives a
  response under Section 212.0093 shall approve a previously
  conditionally approved or disapproved [plan or] plat if the
  response adequately addresses each condition of the conditional
  approval or each reason for the disapproval.
         (d)  A previously conditionally approved or disapproved
  [plan or] plat is approved if:
               (1)  the applicant filed a response that meets the
  requirements of Subsection (c); and
               (2)  the municipal authority or governing body that
  received the response does not disapprove the [plan or] plat on or
  before the date required by Subsection (a) and in accordance with
  Section 212.0091.
         Sec. 212.0096.  APPROVAL PROCEDURE: ALTERNATIVE APPROVAL
  PROCESS.  (a)  Notwithstanding Sections 212.009, 212.0091,
  212.0093, and 212.0095, an applicant may elect at any time to seek
  approval for a [plan or] plat under an alternative approval process
  adopted by a municipality if the process allows for a shorter
  approval period than the approval process described by Sections
  212.009, 212.0091, 212.0093, and 212.0095.
         (b)  An applicant that elects to seek approval under the
  alternative approval process described by Subsection (a) is not:
               (1)  required to satisfy the requirements of Sections
  212.009, 212.0091, 212.0093, and 212.0095 before bringing an action
  challenging a disapproval of a [plan or] plat under this
  subchapter; and
               (2)  prejudiced in any manner in bringing the action
  described by Subdivision (1), including satisfying a requirement to
  exhaust any and all remedies.
         SECTION 11.  Section 212.0099, Local Government Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 212.0099.  JUDICIAL REVIEW OF DISAPPROVAL.  In a legal
  action challenging a disapproval of a [plan or] plat under this
  subchapter, the municipality has the burden of proving by clear and
  convincing evidence that the disapproval meets the requirements of
  this subchapter or any applicable case law.  The court may not use a
  deferential standard.
         SECTION 12.  Section 212.010, Local Government Code, is
  amended by adding Subsections (c), (d), and (e) to read as follows:
         (c)  The municipal authority responsible for approving plats
  may not require the dedication of land within a subdivision for a
  future street or alley that is:
               (1)  not intended by the owner of the tract; and
               (2)  not included, funded, and approved in:
                     (A)  a capital improvement plan adopted by the
  municipality; or
                     (B)  a similar plan adopted by a county in which
  the municipality is located or the state.
         (d)  A municipal authority responsible for approving plats
  may not refuse to review a plat or to approve a plat for recordation
  for failure to identify a corridor, as defined by Section 201.619,
  Transportation Code, unless the corridor is part of an agreement
  between the Texas Department of Transportation and a county in
  which the municipality is located under that section.
         (e)  If a municipal authority responsible for approving
  plats fails or refuses to approve a plat that meets the requirements
  of this subchapter, the owner of the tract that is the subject of
  the plat may bring an action in a district court in a county in which
  the tract is located for a writ of mandamus to compel the municipal
  authority to approve the plat by issuing to the owner applicable
  approval documentation. The applicant shall recover reasonable
  attorney's fees and court costs in the action if the applicant
  prevails.  The municipality may recover reasonable attorney's fees
  and court costs in the action if the municipality prevails and the
  court finds the action is frivolous.
         SECTION 13.  As soon as practicable after the effective date
  of this Act but not later than January 1, 2024, each municipality
  shall adopt and publish the list described by Section 212.0081,
  Local Government Code, as added by this Act.
         SECTION 14.  The changes in law made by this Act apply only
  to an application submitted on or after the effective date of this
  Act. An application submitted before the effective date of this Act
  is governed by the law applicable to the application immediately
  before the effective date of this Act, and that law is continued in
  effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 15.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 3699 was passed by the House on May 9,
  2023, by the following vote:  Yeas 130, Nays 12, 2 present, not
  voting; that the House refused to concur in Senate amendments to
  H.B. No. 3699 on May 25, 2023, and requested the appointment of a
  conference committee to consider the differences between the two
  houses; that the House adopted the conference committee report on
  H.B. No. 3699 on May 28, 2023, by the following vote:  Yeas 139,
  Nays 3, 1 present, not voting; and that the House adopted H.C.R. No.
  126 authorizing certain corrections in H.B. No. 3699 on May 28,
  2023, by the following vote: Yeas 142, Nays 0, 1 present, not
  voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 3699 was passed by the Senate, with
  amendments, on May 21, 2023, by the following vote:  Yeas 22, Nays
  9; at the request of the House, the Senate appointed a conference
  committee to consider the differences between the two houses; that
  the Senate adopted the conference committee report on H.B. No. 3699
  on May 28, 2023, by the following vote:  Yeas 20, Nays 11; and that
  the Senate adopted H.C.R. No. 126 authorizing certain corrections
  in H.B. No. 3699 on May 28, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 31,
  Nays 0.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate   
  APPROVED: __________________
                  Date       
   
           __________________
                Governor