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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a study on the use of surplus government property to |
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provide housing to veterans and low-income families. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS. In this Act: |
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(1) "Department" means the Texas Department of Housing |
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and Community Affairs. |
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(2) "Low-income family" means a family earning not |
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more than 80 percent of the area median income or applicable federal |
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poverty line, as determined by the department under Section |
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2306.123 or 2306.1231, Government Code. |
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(3) "Surplus government property" means unused or |
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underused federal, state, or local property, including real |
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property, historic buildings, residential buildings, and |
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commercial buildings. |
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SECTION 2. STUDY. (a) The department shall conduct a study |
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on the feasibility of using surplus government property to provide |
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housing to veterans and low-income families. |
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(b) In conducting the study under this section, the |
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department: |
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(1) shall: |
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(A) evaluate the availability of surplus |
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government property in this state and the feasibility of developing |
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housing units on that property to provide housing to veterans and |
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low-income families; and |
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(B) identify potential funding sources to |
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develop housing units on surplus government property, including: |
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(i) federal historic tax credits; |
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(ii) federal housing tax credits; |
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(iii) corporate and private donations; |
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(iv) other existing state and federal |
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funding sources; and |
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(v) proposed tenant rent payments; and |
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(2) may consult with: |
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(A) local housing authorities; |
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(B) affordable housing developers; and |
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(C) organizations and persons with appropriate |
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and relevant expertise on the housing needs of veterans or |
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low-income families. |
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SECTION 3. REPORT. Not later than November 1, 2026, the |
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department shall prepare and submit to the legislature a written |
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report summarizing the results of the study conducted under this |
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Act. |
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SECTION 4. EXPIRATION. This Act expires September 1, 2027. |
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SECTION 5. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect September |
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1, 2025. |