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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the registration of vacant buildings in certain |
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municipalities. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 214.232, Local Government Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 214.232. PRESUMPTION OF VACANCY. A building is |
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presumed to be vacant under this subchapter if: |
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(1) all lawful residential, commercial, recreational, |
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charitable, or construction activity at the building has ceased, or |
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reasonably appears to have ceased, for more than three months [150 |
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days]; or |
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(2) the building contains more than three units, 75 |
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percent or more of which have not been used lawfully, or reasonably |
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appear not to have been used lawfully, for more than three months |
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[150 days]. |
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SECTION 2. Section 214.233, Local Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Subsection (c) to read as follows: |
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(c) A municipality with a population of two million or more |
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that is located in a county described by Subsection (a) shall adopt |
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the ordinance described by that subsection. In addition to the |
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registration requirement, the ordinance must require: |
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(1) each owner of a vacant building to renew the |
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registration each year that the building remains vacant; and |
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(2) a designated municipal official to create, |
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maintain, and periodically update a vacancy registration database |
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on the municipality's Internet website that lists the address of |
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each vacant structure designed for use as a habitation that has been |
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registered with the official. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |