BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center |
H.B. 4506 |
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By: Bonnen (Hagenbuch) |
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Local Government |
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5/14/2025 |
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Engrossed |
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Physical mail can often be delayed or misplaced as it is sent out to be delivered, and as we transition to a digital age, it has become more common to receive documents via text or email to ensure important information is received in a timely manner. H.B. 4506 seeks to authorize notice of public hearings regarding municipal zoning changes to be delivered electronically.
H.B. 4506 amends current law relating to electronic delivery of notice for certain municipal zoning changes.
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 211.006(a-1), Local Government Code, to require that the written notice of each public hearing meet certain criteria, including being mailed by United States mail or delivered electronically to each owner of real or business personal property where the proposed nonconforming use is located as indicated by the most recently approved municipal tax roll and each occupant of the property not later than the 10th day before the hearing date.
SECTION 2. Amends Sections 211.007(c) and (c-1), Local Government Code, as follows:
(c) Authorizes the notice sent to each property owner to be served by its deposit in the municipality, properly addressed with postage paid, in the United States mail or by electronic delivery.
(c-1) Authorizes the notice sent to the school district to be served by its deposit in the municipality, properly addressed with postage paid, in the United States mail or by electronic delivery.
SECTION 3. Amends Subchapter A, Chapter 211, Local Government Code, by adding Section 211.020, as follows:
Sec. 211.020.� ELECTRONIC DELIVERY OF NOTICE. (a) Provides that a municipality is authorized to deliver notice electronically under Chapter 211 (Municipal Zoning Authority) only if the recipient elects to receive notice electronically under Subsection (b).
(b) Requires a municipality that intends to deliver a notice electronically under this chapter to establish an online portal on the municipality's Internet website through which a notice recipient is authorized to elect to receive notice electronically under this chapter and manage preferences for receiving notice electronically under this chapter.
(c) Authorizes a municipality to deliver notice electronically by e-mail or text message.
(d) Requires a municipality to request that the recipient of a notice delivered electronically under this chapter acknowledge receipt of the notice. Requires the municipality to deliver the notice as otherwise provided by this chapter if the recipient does not acknowledge receipt of the notice delivered electronically.
SECTION 4. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2025.