BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 2675

By: Hinojosa, Juan "Chuy"

Intergovernmental Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The bill sponsor has informed the committee that the City of McAllen has experienced significant urban and economic growth in recent years, especially around its convention center, and that the convention center district has evolved into a regional hub for tourism and commerce, with the convention center at its core, surrounded by hotels, restaurants, retail establishments, and a state-of-the-art performing arts center. The bill sponsor has also informed the committee that, with increasing visitor traffic and expanding development opportunities, the city is working to enhance infrastructure, increase parking capacity, and attract further economic activity to the immediate vicinity of the convention center district. However, the bill sponsor has informed the committee that one challenge McAllen faces in accommodating this growth is the limited availability of land adjacent to the convention center. The bill sponsor has further informed the committee that there is a nearby city-owned park that the city intends to relocate to make the land available for further development but that state law currently prohibits the sale or repurposing of municipal park land unless voter approval on the issue is obtained through an election. Additionally, the bill sponsor has informed the committee that holding an election would impose significant logistical and financial burdens on the city because a standalone election could cost taxpayers over $180,000, as demonstrated by McAllen's recent charter amendment election, and that having to wait for the next general election would limit the city's ability to respond quickly to development opportunities, slow down planning, and hold up important projects. S.B. 2675 seeks to address these issues by exempting a conveyance of park land located near McAllen's convention center from this election requirement.

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

S.B. 2675 amends the Local Government Code to establish that the provision conditioning the authorization for the governing body of a municipality to sell land owned, held, or claimed as a public square or park on the issue of the sale being submitted to the qualified voters of the municipality at an election and approved by a majority of the votes received at the election does not apply to a conveyance of park land:

· owned by a municipality with a population of at least 140,000 that is located in a county that:

o has a population of at least 800,000;

o is located on an international border; and

o does not have a municipality with a population of more than 500,000 located in the county;

· located within one mile of a convention facility owned by the municipality; and

· authorized to be conveyed by a resolution or ordinance adopted by the governing body of the municipality.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2025.