Bill Text: TX HB1877 | 2021-2022 | 87th Legislature | Introduced

Texas House Bill 1877 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Relating to county and municipal regulation of repairs to vacant residential buildings.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-04-27 - Left pending in committee [HB1877 Detail]

Download: Texas-2021-HB1877-Introduced.html

	87R6089 SCL-D

	By: Gates	H.B. No. 1877



	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
	AN ACT
	relating to county and municipal regulation of repairs to vacant
	residential buildings.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1. Chapter 250, Local Government Code, is amended
	by adding Section 250.011 to read as follows:
	Sec. 250.011. AUTHORITY TO REGULATE REPAIRS TO VACANT
	RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS. (a) A county or municipality may not adopt
	or enforce an order, ordinance, or other regulation that requires
	an owner of a vacant residential building, when repairing damage to
	the building, to improve the building to a condition that is better
	than would have been legally acceptable before the damage occurred,
	including by requiring conformance to updated building code
	standards.
	(b) The governor may not exempt a county or municipality
	from the prohibition described by Subsection (a) by an executive
	order issued under Chapter 418, Government Code.
	(c) An owner of a vacant residential building who is
	required to improve the building in violation of Subsection (a) may
	bring an action against the county or municipality that violated
	that subsection for damages incurred due to the violation. The
	owner may recover reasonable attorney's fees and litigation costs
	if the owner prevails in the action. Governmental immunity of the
	county or municipality to suit and from liability is waived to the
	extent of liability created by this subsection.
	SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
	a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
	provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
	Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
	Act takes effect September 1, 2021.