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
  

Senate Land Use Mitigation Bill Referred to House Committee

SB 688 by Wentworth has been referred to the House Land & Resource Management Committee. 

This bill allows the commissioner of education, if he determines that a residential development of at least 1,000 single-family units "is likely to significantly increase elementary school student enrollment in a school district and that the increase in enrollment warrants the construction of a new elementary school facility to accommodate the increased elementary school population," to require a developer to sell a school district at least 15 acres within the development in order to receive plat or permit approval. This legislation seems especially unnecessary since school districts currently have eminent domain authority.

More Land Use Mitigation Advances

SB 688 by Wentworth has been placed on the Senate's intent calendar for May 14th.

This bill allows the commissioner of education, if he determines that a residential development of at least 1,000 single-family units "is likely to significantly increase elementary school student enrollment in a school district and that the increase in enrollment warrants the construction of a new elementary school facility to accommodate the increased elementary school population," to require a developer to sell a school district at least 15 acres within the development in order to receive plat or permit approval. This legislation seems especially unnecessary since school districts currently have eminent domain authority.

Let the Hearings Begin

Today, Jimmy provided TLC's position on SB 688 by Wentworth at a Senate Education Committee hearing. TLC opposes this bill as it allows the commissioner of education, if he determines that a residential development of at least 1,000 single-family units "is likely to significantly increase elementary school student enrollment in a school district and that the increase in enrollment warrants the construction of a new elementary school facility to accommodate the increased elementary school population," to require a developer to sell a school district at least 15 acres within the development in order to receive plat or permit approval. This legislation seems especially unnecessary since school districts currently have eminent domain authority.

Thus far, SB 688 is the only bill TLC is tracking that has been scheduled for a hearing.