Land and Resource Management

This bill changes Texas municipal rules for new federally regulated manufactured homes (HUD-code). It requires cities and towns to allow installation in residential areas unless they deny applications in writing within 45 days. Municipalities cannot charge extra fees for transportation/installation beyond actual costs or create zoning barriers that block these homes in residential zones. The law ensures these homes can be placed in at least one residential zoning category without being prohibited across all residential areas. (Effective September 1, 2025)

SB 15 limits zoning restrictions for small residential lots (4,000 sq ft or less) in certain large Texas municipalities (population over 90,000 in counties over 300,000). It prohibits municipalities from requiring lots larger than 1,400 sq ft, wider than 20 feet, or deeper than 60 feet, and mandates a minimum density of 31.1 units per acre. The bill also bans restrictions on covered parking, parking space limits, building height (requiring at least 3 stories), and excessive open space requirements for small lots. Municipalities may still charge permitting fees equivalent to single-family lot fees but cannot impose other zoning rules inconsistent with these provisions.

SB 2835 permits Texas municipalities to allow apartment buildings with a single stairway, provided they meet strict safety requirements. Buildings must not exceed six stories, have no more than four units per floor, include sprinklers in stairways, feature fireproof walls (two-hour rating for stairway enclosures, one-hour for corridors), and limit exit travel distance to 20 feet from units and 125 feet total. This directly affects new apartment developers and local building codes by setting specific design standards for fire safety. The law gives cities flexibility to adopt these rules while maintaining critical fire egress requirements.

SB 1883 updates rules for Texas local governments regarding land use planning and development impact fees. It requires cities and counties to make land use assumptions and capital improvement plans publicly available at least 60 days before hearings on these plans. The bill mandates a two-thirds vote for approving impact fees and prohibits increasing those fees for three years after adoption or the last increase. These changes aim to improve transparency and limit frequent fee hikes for new construction projects.

SB 1948 prohibits governmental entities from requiring fire sprinkler systems in specific agricultural facilities, including pole barns, livestock markets, cotton gins, grain storage, and commercial feed mills. It directly affects farmers, ranchers, and agricultural businesses operating these facilities by preventing new fire safety regulations that would mandate sprinkler installations. The law creates Chapter 3001 in the Government Code, explicitly restricting ordinances, rules, or measures that would impose such requirements. The bill takes effect September 1, 2025, and applies statewide to all covered facilities.