BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 3234

By: Cortez

Intergovernmental Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The bill author has informed the committee that Bexar County stakeholders have highlighted inefficiencies in construction and renovation projects due to the requirement to coordinate with local governments for inspections, slowing down necessary improvements and expansion to county facilities that serve the public interest. H.B. 3234 seeks to eliminate redundant layers of permitting, streamline project timelines, and control costs by lowering the population threshold for an exemption from certain municipal permit and inspection requirements from 3.3 million to 1 million, allowing a broader group of counties to oversee construction or renovation of their own buildings without obtaining separate municipal permits or notification.

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. 3234 amends the Local Government Code to revise the applicability of the prohibition against a political subdivision requiring a county to notify the political subdivision or obtain a building permit for any new construction or any renovation of a building or facility owned by the county if the construction or renovation work is supervised and inspected by an engineer or architect licensed in Texas by changing the building or facility to which the prohibition applies from a building or facility that is owned by a county with a population of 3.3 million or more and is located within the boundaries of another political subdivision to a building or facility that is owned by a county with a population of one million or more and is located within the boundaries of another political subdivision.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2025.