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Relating to the creation of an urban land bank by certain municipalities; granting authority to issue bonds.
No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
SB 1918 would reauthorize certain municipalities with a population of two million or more to adopt a land bank program (specifically, the Houston Land Bank) for the purpose of acquiring, managing, and disposing of vacant, abandoned, and deteriorated properties and returning those properties to productive uses.
Texas Action remains neutral on SB 1918 because it embodies conflicting liberty principles. In the past, we have been neutral on these bills because, while on one hand they interfere in the free market, these programs also address costly impacts of abandoned homes and property. In addition, vacant properties tend to attract crime and remain substantial fire hazards which have a generally negative impact on the surrounding community.