More Dead Bills After Yesterday's Deadline

Yesterday was the last day for the House to consider senate bills or joint resolutions on third reading and the last day for the Senate to consider any bills or joint resolutions on third reading. Here is a list of bills and resolutions that have died:

TLC Supported

• Eminent Domain Reform: HJR 31 by Anderson, HJR 65 by Davis, SB 18 by Estes, SB 533 by Duncan, and SB 622 by Hegar
  
• Agricultural Valuation Property Tax Rollback: HB 2230 by Parker
• Voluntary NAIS: SB 682 by Eltife
  

TLC Opposed

• Land Use Mitigation Authority: SB 688 by Wentworth
  
• County Regulatory Land Use Authority: SB 578, SB 2202, SB 2451, and SB 2452 by Wentworth; SB 1226 and SB 1227 by Fraser; SB 1370 by Lucio; SB 2222 and SB 2223 by Van de Putte (amended into HB 2919 by S. King); SB 2439 by Uresti (amended into HB 2919 by S. King); and SB 2555 by Hegar
  
• Groundwater District Authority: SB 2530 by Wentworth
  
• Agricultural Valuation Property Tax Rollback: SB 678 by Shapleigh
  

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).

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.

Dyess Air Force Base Land Use Oversight Passes House

Today the House passed HB 2919 by S. King. This bill 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.

Fortunately this bill was not amended with language from HB 2056 by Gallego/SB 2439 by Uresti, HB 143 by McClendon, or SB 2222 and SB 2223 by Van de Putte. All of these bills would give counties direct land use control on private property surrounding bases.

Senate's Military Land Use Regulation Bills Referred to House Committee

SB 2222 by Van de Putte and SB 2439 by Uresti have been referred to the House Defense & Veterans' Affairs Committee after their passage in the Senate on May 8th.

SB 2222 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).

SB 2439 and its companion, HB 2056 by Gallego, would allow the regulation of private land surrounding Laughlin Air Force Base in Del Rio. HB 2056 has been on the General State Calendar since May 11th.

Military Land Use Regulation Bills Await Readings on House Floor

HB 2919 by S. King has been on the General State Calendar since May 8th, and HB 2056 by Gallego has been on the General State Calendar since May 11th.

HB 2919 may come to the House Floor for its second reading later today. This bill would require a "defense community" to consult with defense base authorities before adopting an ordinance or approving a permit for a proposed structure within 8 miles of the base.

HB 2056 and its companion, SB 2439 by Uresti, would allow regulation of private land surrounding Laughlin Air Force Base in Del Rio. The House received SB 2439 on May 11th after its passage in the Senate on May 8th.

Land Use Regulation Surrounding Laughlin Air Force Base Advances

Today HB 2056 by Gallego was placed on the General State Calendar, and the House received its companion, SB 2439 by Uresti, from the Senate. These bills would allow regulation of private land surrounding Laughlin Air Force Base in Del Rio.

Senate Passes Bill to Create Laughlin Air Force Base Zoning Board

Today the Senate had second and third readings and passed SB 2439 by Uresti as amended.  This bill would create a regional military sustainability commission for Laughlin Air Force Base in Del Rio.

On April 22nd, the House Defense and Veterans' Affairs Committee reported its companion, HB 2056 by Gallego, favorably as substituted. The bill is currently in the House Calendars Committee, where it could be scheduled to come to the House floor.

Senate Passes Bill to Create Military Land Use Control Commissions

Today the Senate had second and third readings and passed SB 2222 by Van de Putte.

The Senate Veteran Affairs & Military Installations Committee, which Senator Van de Putte chairs, voted on this bill on April 22nd. Senator Huffman was the only member of the committee to vote against SB 2222. He also voted against similar bill, SB 2223 by Van de Putte, and SB 2439 by Uresti.

SB 2222 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); SB 2223 would allow a “defense community” that includes a city of at least 1.1 million to create a RMSC.

Zoning Surrounding Laughlin Air Force Base Passes House & Senate Committees

Today the Senate Veteran Affairs & Military Installations Committee reported SB 2439 by Uresti favorably as substituted.

TLC registered against SB 2439 on Wednesday, April 8th and testified against HB 2056 by Gallego, SB 2439's companion in the Senate, on Wednesday, March 25th. On April 22nd, the House Defense and Veterans' Affairs Committee reported HB 2056 favorably as substituted.

These bills would create a Joint Airport Zoning Board to regulate the use of private land surrounding Laughlin Air Force Base in Del Rio. Noncompliance would be considered a misdemeanor punishable by fines of up to $1,000 per day.

Military Base Land Use Regulation Bills Pass Committee

Today the House Defense and Veterans' Affairs Committee reported HB 2056 by Gallego and HB 2919 by King favorably as substituted.

TLC testified against HB 2056 on Wednesday, March 25th and registered against HB 2056's companion in the Senate, SB 2439 by Uresti, on Wednesday, April 8th. These bills would create a Joint Airport Zoning Board to regulate the use of private land surrounding Laughlin Air Force Base in Del Rio. Noncompliance would be considered a misdemeanor punishable by fines of up to $1,000 per day.

HB 2919 is co-authored by Committee Vice Chairman Vaught. This bill would require a "defense community" to consult with defense base authorities before adopting an ordinance or approving a permit for a proposed structure within 8 miles of the base.

Senate Veteran Affairs & Military Installations Hearing Wednesday, April 22nd

The Senate Veteran Affairs & Military Installations Committee has scheduled SB 2439 by Uresti for public hearing on Wednesday, April 22nd at 8 am in the Betty King Committee Room at the Capitol.

TLC registered against SB 2439 on Wednesday, April 8th and testified against HB 2056 by Gallego, SB 2439's companion in the House, on Wednesday, March 25th. These bills would create a Joint Airport Zoning Board to regulate the use of private land surrounding Laughlin Air Force Base in Del Rio. Noncompliance would be considered a misdemeanor punishable by fines of up to $1,000 per day.

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.

Senate Veteran Affairs & Military Installations Hearing Wednesday, April 8th

The Senate Veteran Affairs & Military Installations Committee has scheduled SB 2439 by Uresti for public hearing on Wednesday, April 8th at 1:30 pm in the Betty King Committee Room (2E.20) at the Capitol.

TLC testified against HB 2056 by Gallego, SB 2439's companion in the House, on Wednesday, March 25th. These bills would create a Joint Airport Zoning Board to regulate the use of private land surrounding Laughlin Air Force Base in Del Rio. Noncompliance would be considered a misdemeanor punishable by fines of up to $1,000 per day.

TLC Opposes County Zoning

TLC was hard at work today, explaining the threat to private property rights that proposed legislation giving counties broad regulatory authority over land use poses. Jimmy and Lauren distributed TLC's position statements opposing SB 578 by Wentworth and HB 2167 by Rose to legislators' staff.

SB 578 has been referred to the Senate Intergovernmental Relations Committee, of which Wentworth is a member; HB 2167 has been referred to the House Land & Resource Management Committee.

Other county land use regulation bills TLC opposes include: SB 1226 and SB 1227 by Fraser (referred to Senate Business & Commerce, of which Fraser is Chair), HB 2056 by Gallego (referred to House Defense and Veterans' Affairs) and companion SB 2439 by Uresti, HB 1119 by Bolton (referred to House Land & Resource Management), and HB 143 by McClendon (referred to House Defense and Veterans' Affairs).