BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 3114
	By: Geren (Creighton)
	Education K-16
	5/7/2025
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Under current law, view corridors are in place in Austin to preserve views of the Texas State Capitol.  Several of these corridors reference landmarks that no longer exist or will be significantly impacted by the TxDOT expansion of I-35.  The site of the former Frank Erwin Center is the future home of The University of Texas at Austin Academic Medical Center, including a new, state-of-the-art UT-Austin hospital and a new world-renowned MD Anderson Cancer Center.  Several of these view corridors would impact the space utilization of the site for construction purposes.  The corridor views also establish height restrictions. One of these restrictions caps the height of the Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. This bill would eliminate certain view corridors and exempt the north end from height restrictions to allow UT-Austin to build two world-class hospitals and modernize the north end of the stadium.  

H.B. 3114 eliminates certain view corridors and seeks to exempt the north end of the Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium from a height restriction.

H.B. 3114 amends current law relating to the view of the State Capitol.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 3151.002, Government Code, to redefine "capitol view corridor."

SECTION 2. Amends Section 3151.003, Government Code, as follows:

Sec. 3151.003. APPLICABILITY. Provides that Chapter 3151 (Preservation of View of State Capitol) does not apply to certain construction projects, including the construction, renovation, or equipment of the Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium or to improvements related to the stadium, except that the height of the stadium or a related improvement, other than the north end of the stadium or a related improvement to the north end of the stadium, is prohibited from exceeding 670, rather than 666, feet above sea level.

SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2025.