Bill

HB 424

85(R) - 2017
House Land & Resource Management
House Land & Resource Management
Annexation
Municipalities
Property Rights

Vote Recommendation

Yes
  • Neutral
  • Positive
  • Neutral
  • Positive
  • Neutral

Author(s)

Dan Huberty

Co-Author(s)

Philip Cortez
Drew Springer

Bill Caption

Relating to municipal annexation.

Fiscal Notes

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

Bill Analysis

Under current law, a municipality can annex land without the consent of the residents and landowners, including for limited purposes. HB 424 makes many major changes to Texas code regarding municipal annexation, as well as providing minor updates to statutory language.


The major changes include restricting the ability of municipalities to annex various areas involuntarily; instead requiring the poplar consent of residents and landowners, and mitigating municipal authority to enact limited-purpose annexations as well as annexations of non-contiguous areas. This legislation would also put in place new procedures with regard to public hearings, owner-requested annexation, and services provided by municipalities in annexed areas.

Vote Recommendation Notes

This bill upholds the principles of limited government and private property rights by restricting municipal authority to annex various areas and by introducing new requirements for popular consent. For these reasons, we support HB 424.

Organizations Supporting

Americans for Prosperity
Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association
Texas Farm Bureau
Texas Public Policy Foundation

Organizations Opposed

City of Austin
City of Corpus Christi
City of Denton
City of El Paso
City of Fort Worth
City of Lubbock
City of San Antonio
Texas Municipal League