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).

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 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 Bill to Create Military Land Use Control Commissions Sent to House Calendars

Today SB 2222 by Van de Putte (House Sponsor Corte) was sent to the House Calendars Committee. 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).

Now is the time to contact members of the House Calendars Committee, and ask them to keep SB 2222 from coming to the House Floor. Representatives on this committee are McCall (chair), Lucio (vice chair), Chavez, Coleman, Cook, Creighton, Geren, Keffer, Kolkhorst, Kuempel (in hospital recovering from heart attack), McReynolds, Ritter, and Solomons.

House Committee Passes Senate Bill to Create Military Land Use Control Commissions

Today the House Defense & Veterans' Affairs Committee reported SB 2222 by Van de Putte favorably after its passage in the Senate on May 8th. 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).

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.

Senate Passes Second Bill to Create Military Land Use Control Commissions

Tonight the House received SB 2223 by Van de Putte after its passage in the Senate today. 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).

On May 8th, the House received similar bill, SB 2222 by Van de Putte, after its passage in the Senate. 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.

Second Bill to Create Military Land Use Control Commissions Advances

Today SB 2223 by Van de Putte was placed on the Senate intent calendar for Monday, May 11th. This bill would allow a “defense community” that includes a city of at least 1.1 million to create a “regional military sustainability commission” to establish "compatible development standards" and review new projects within 2 miles of a military installation (3 miles if created during flight training).

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.