| Vote Recommendation | Economic Freedom | Property Rights | Personal Responsibility | Limited Government | Individual Liberty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral |
Relating to the creation of an urban land bank by certain municipalities.
No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
SB 1679 would create a new chapter of Local Government Code to regulate the Houston land bank which may acquire, manage, and dispose of vacant, abandoned, deteriorated, non-revenue generating, and non-tax producing property by converting those properties to productive uses.
The bill would establish a board to oversee the operations of the land bank.
Texas Action remains neutral on SB 1679 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.