House Passes Bill to Create Endangered Species Task Force

Last night, the House passed SB 2534 by Wentworth (House Sponsor Corte). This bill would create an interagency task force on economic growth and endangered species to "assist" landowners in mitigation for endangered species and "facilitate" the state and local governments' implementation of endangered species regulations. The task force's first assignment would be to create an advisory committee for the Camp Bullis area in Bexar County.

The only Representatives voting against SB 2534 were D. Miller and S. Miller.  Absent were Kuempel, Pitts, Callegari, and Creighton.

Busy Weekend at Texas Legislature

Last Thursday, the House Defense and Veterans' Affairs Committee reported SB 2439 by Uresti favorably.  This bill would create a regional military sustainability commission for Laughlin Air Force Base in Del Rio.  Fortunately SB 2439 has no House Sponsor, has not yet been sent to the House Calendars Committee, and is running out of time to pass in the House.

On Sunday, the House passed SB 2534 by Wentworth (House Sponsor Corte) on second reading. This bill would create an interagency task force on economic growth and endangered species to "assist" landowners in mitigation for endangered species and "facilitate" the state and local governments' implementation of endangered species regulations. The task force's first assignment would be to create an advisory committee for the Camp Bullis area in Bexar County. Tomorrow is the last day for the House to consider Senate bills on third reading.

Yesterday the Senate passed HJR 14 by Corte (Senate Sponsor Duncan). This resolution proposes a constitutional amendment stating: "public use" does not include the taking of property by the State or a political subdivision of the State for transfer to a private entity for the primary purpose of economic development or enhancement of tax revenues.

HB 2919 by S. King (Senate Sponsor Fraser) has been on the Senate Intent Calendar since yesterday. Tomorrow is the last day for the Senate to consider any bills on the third reading. HB 2919 would require the "defense community" around Dyess Air Force Base in Abilene to consult with base authorities before adopting an ordinance or approving a permit for a proposed structure within 8 miles of the base.

SB 2222 by Van de Putte (House Sponsor Corte) is on the House Supplemental Calendar for today, which is the deadline for the House to consider Senate bills on the second reading. This bill would allow a county with unincorporated area and a city with extraterritorial jurisdiction located within 5 miles of a military installation to create a “regional military sustainability commission.” The commission would establish "compatible development standards" and review new projects within 2 miles of a military installation (3 miles if created during flight training).

Van de Putte's Military Land Use Regulation Bills Still Alive

On Wednesday, May 20th, the House Defense & Veterans' Affairs Committee reported SB 2223 by Van de Putte favorably. This bill would allow a “defense community” that includes a city of at least 1.1 million to create a “regional military sustainability commission” (RMSC). This commission would establish "compatible development standards" and review new projects within 2 miles of a military installation (3 miles if created during flight training).

A very similar bill, SB 2222 by Van de Putte (House Sponsor Corte), has been on the House Major State Calendar since Thursday, May 21st and should soon come to the House floor. This bill would allow a county with unincorporated area and a city with extraterritorial jurisdiction located within 5 miles of a military installation to create a RMSC.

Senate Committee Passes Alternative to Military Land Use Regulation

Yesterday the Senate Veteran Affairs & Military Installations Committee voted to report HJR 132 by Corte (Senate Sponsor Wentworth) favorably.

This resolution proposes a constitutional amendment to allow a city or county to issue bonds or notes to finance the acquisition of buffer areas or open spaces or the construction of roadways or infrastructure around military installations.

HJR 132 would allow cities and counties to purchase land surrounding a military installation as opposed to allowing counties to use private land as a buffer area or open space around a base through regulation without compensation as would be allowed by SB 2222 by Van de Putte (House Sponsor Corte) and SB 2223 by Van de Putte, SB 2439 by Uresti for Laughlin Air Force Base in Del Rio, and HB 2919 by S. King (Senate Sponsor Fraser) for Dyess Air Force Base in San Antonio.

Alternative to Military Land Use Regulation Advances

Yesterday the Senate Subcommittee on Base Realignment and Closure reported HJR 132 by Corte (Senate Sponsor Wentworth) favorably.

This resolution proposes a constitutional amendment to allow a city or county to issue bonds or notes to finance the acquisition of buffer areas or open spaces or the construction of roadways or infrastructure around military installations.

HJR 132 would allow cities and counties to purchase land surrounding a military installation as opposed to allowing counties to use private land as a buffer area or open space around a base through regulation without compensation as would be allowed by SB 2222 by Van de Putte (House Sponsor Corte) and SB 2223 by Van de Putte, SB 2439 by Uresti for Laughlin Air Force Base in Del Rio and HB 2919 by S. King (Senate Sponsor Fraser) for Dyess Air Force Base in San Antonio.

Senate State Affairs Hearing Thursday, May 21st

The Senate State Affairs Committee, chaired by Senator Duncan, has scheduled HJR 14 by Corte (Senate Sponsor Duncan) for public hearing today at 1 pm or upon adjournment in the Senate Chamber at the Capitol.

This resolution proposes a constitutional amendment to tighten the definition of public use for a taking to "only if the taking, damage, or destruction is necessary for the elimination of urban blight on a particular parcel of property or the possession, occupation, and enjoyment of the property" by a condemning entity and require compensation for condemnation to include relocation costs for a homestead or farm.

Senate Bill to Create Land Use Control Commissions Placed on House Calendar

Tonight SB 2222 by Van de Putte (House Sponsor Corte) was placed on the House Major State Calendar for Thursday, May 21st. This bill would allow a county with unincorporated area and a city with extraterritorial jurisdiction located within 5 miles of a military installation to create a “regional military sustainability commission” (RMSC). This commission would establish "compatible development standards" and review new projects within 2 miles of a military installation (3 miles if created during flight training).

Contact your Representative, and ask them to vote "No" on SB 2222!

Senate Endangered Species Task Force Bill Placed on House LCR Calendar

Today SB 2534 by Wentworth (House Sponsor Corte) was placed on the House Local, Consent, & Resolutions Calendar for Friday, May 22nd.

SB 2534 would create an interagency task force on economic growth and endangered species to "assist" landowners in mitigation for endangered species and "facilitate" the state and local governments' implementation of endangered species regulations. The task force's first assignment would be to create an advisory committee for the Camp Bullis area in Bexar County.

House Eminent Domain Reform Referred to Senate Committee

HJR 14 by Corte has been referred to the Senate State Affairs Committee after its passage in the House with a 144-0 vote. This resolution proposes a constitutional amendment to tighten the definition of public use for a taking to "only if the taking, damage, or destruction is necessary for the elimination of urban blight on a particular parcel of property or the possession, occupation, and enjoyment of the property" by a condemning entity.

The engrossed version of this bill includes language from HJR 65 by Davis, which would require compensation to include relocation costs for a homestead or farm.

Houses Passes Meaningful Eminent Domain Reform

Today the Senate received HJR 14 by Corte after its passage in the House last night with a vote of 144-0. This resolution proposes a constitutional amendment to tighten the definition of public use for a taking to "only if the taking, damage, or destruction is necessary for the possession, occupation, and enjoyment of the property by the public at large or by the State or a political subdivision of the State."

Eminent Domain Reform Advances

Today the House passed HB 2685 by Callegari. HB 2685 would require condemning entities to provide a landowner with a copy of the Landowner's Bill of Rights at least 7 days before making a final offer and before or at the same time the "entity first represents in any manner to the landowner that the entity possesses eminent domain authority."

Today the House received SB 18 by Estes, which was passed unanimously by the Senate yesterday. SB 18 and its companion HB 1483 by Pitts are similar to last session's comprehensive eminent domain reform bill, HB 2006, which was vetoed by Governor Perry.

On April 16th, the House Land & Resource Management Committee sent the committee report for HB 417 by Callegari to the House Calendars Committee after reporting the bill favorably on April 9th. HB 417 would tighten the definition of "blighted area" for condemnation by a city and require compensation to include relocation costs for a comparable standard of living.

On April 29th, the House Land & Resource Management Committee reported HJR 14 by Corte favorably as substituted. HJR 14 proposes a constitutional amendment to tighten the definition of public use for a taking to "only if the taking, damage, or destruction is necessary for the possession, occupation, and enjoyment of the property by the public at large or by the State or a political subdivision of the State."

On April 30th, the House Urban Affairs Committee sent the committee report for HB 1389 by committee chair Davis to Calendars after reporting the bill favorably on April 29th. HB 1389 would tighten the definition of "blighted area" for condemnation by a city and require compensation to include relocation costs for a homestead or farm.

Committees Pass Eminent Domain Reform

Today the Senate State Affairs Committee reported SB 18 by Estes favorably as substituted. HB 1483 by Pitts (duplicate of HB 402 by Woolley) is still pending in the House Land & Resource Management Committee. These bills are very similar to the comprehensive eminent domain reform bill, HB 2006, vetoed by Governor Perry last session.

SB 18's committee substitute includes language from HB 4 by Orr and its companion SB 533 by Duncan, which would penalize a condemning entity for not making a bona fide offer by requiring the entity to pay the landowner's related attorney's fees. HB 4 has Governor Perry's support but does not include compensation for diminished access.

Today the House Land & Resource Management Committee reported HJR 14 by Corte favorably as substituted. This resolution proposes a constitutional amendment to tighten the definition of public use for a taking to "only if the taking, damage, or destruction is necessary for the possession, occupation, and enjoyment of the property by the public at large or by the State or a political subdivision of the State."

House Urban Affairs Hearing Thursday, April 16th

The House Urban Affairs Committee has scheduled HB 37 by Corte and HB 1389 by Chairwoman Davis for public hearing on Thursday, April 16th at 10:30 am in E2.028 at the Capitol. TLC will support these bills.

HB 37 would allow a city to condemn property that has characteristics of "blight" or a "slum" only if the condition of the property is an immediate threat to public health and safety.

HB 1389 would tighten the definition of "blighted area" for condemnation by a city and require compensation to include relocation costs for a homestead or farm.

House Defense & Veterans' Affairs Hearing Wednesday, April 15th

The House Defense & Veterans' Affairs Committee has scheduled HB 4130 and HJR 132 (both authored by Chairman Corte) for public hearing on Wednesday, April 15th at 8 am in E2.026 at the Capitol.

HB 4130, enabling legislation for HJR 132, would allow a city or county to issue bonds or notes to finance the acquisition of buffer areas or open spaces or the construction of roadways or infrastructure around military installations.

Corte's proposed legislation would allow cities and counties to purchase land surrounding a military installation as opposed to allowing counties to use private land as a buffer area or open space around a base through regulation without compensation (as would be allowed by HB 2056 by Gallego/SB 2439 by Uresti for Laughlin Air Force Base in Del Rio and HB 143 by McClendon for Camp Bullis in San Antonio).

The House Defense & Veterans' Affairs Committee left both HB 2056 and HB 143 pending after hearing testimony on March 25th.

The Senate Veteran Affairs and Military Installations Committee left SB 2439, HB 2056's companion in the Senate, pending after hearing testimony yesterday, April 8th.