SB 2215 Texas Senate · 89th Legislature (2025)

Relating to the enforcement against violations by a municipality of certain zoning laws.

SB 2215 allows property owners to challenge municipal zoning violations through specific court actions only, such as mandamus or injunctions, rather than other legal claims. It waives municipalities' immunity from lawsuits in these cases and permits courts to award attorney fees and costs to the winning party. The bill directly affects property owners facing disputed zoning rules and municipalities enforcing those rules. It becomes effective September 1, 2025, streamlining enforcement of zoning compliance under Texas law.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Mar 2025
Committee Review
May 2025
Senate Passage
May 2025
House Passage
Governor
Introduced Mar 11, 2025 Last action May 26, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced Engrossed · 4 edits · May 15, 2025
MODERATE
The bill was reformatted from a draft introduction to an official engrossed version, with the core legislative text remaining substantively unchanged. The primary difference is the addition of a new Subchapter D to the Local Government Code, which allows individuals to sue municipalities for zoning violations and waives governmental immunity for such cases.
Scope change
The bill's scope remains focused on property owners' ability to challenge municipal zoning regulations and boundaries, with no change in applicability.
ENFORCEMENT

Added Subchapter D to the Local Government Code, creating new Section 211.101 that allows affected persons to bring mandamus or injunctive actions against municipalities for zoning violations.

Waived governmental immunity for municipalities in actions brought under the new enforcement section.

Authorized courts to award court costs and attorney's fees to prevailing parties in enforcement actions.

TECHNICAL

Changed document format from draft introduction to official engrossed version with updated bill numbering and formatting.

Floor votes · Senate May 15, 2025

How they voted

246
Passed
Total votes 30
May 15, 2025
D Democratic10
4 Yea 6 Nay
60% Nay
R Republican20
20 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
33
Key actions
10
Committee
11
May 23, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report sent to Calendars
lower
May 23, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report distributed
lower
May 22, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported favorably as substituted
lower
May 22, 2025
Lower · Passed
Left pending in committee
lower
May 22, 2025
Lower · Passed
Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
lower
May 19, 2025
Committee
Referred to Land & Resource Management
lower
May 19, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
lower
May 16, 2025
Introduced
Received from the Senate
lower
May 15, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed
upper
May 12, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee report printed and distributed
upper
May 12, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported favorably as substituted
upper
May 8, 2025
Upper · Passed
Vote taken in committee
upper
May 8, 2025
Upper · Passed
Testimony taken in committee
upper
Mar 25, 2025
Committee
Referred to Local Government
upper
Mar 25, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
upper
2 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors