Texas House Bill HB2584

Texas 2011 - 82nd Regular

• Introduced: 3/8/11
• Out of House Committee: 4/27/11
• Voted on by House: 5/6/11
• Refer: 3/15/11
• Out of Senate Committee: 5/19/11
• Report Pass: 4/20/11
• Voted on by Senate: 5/25/11
• Engrossed: 5/6/11
• Governor Action: 6/17/11
• Refer: 5/9/11
• Report Pass: 5/19/11
• Enrolled: 5/27/11
• Passed: 6/17/11

Caption

Relating to authorizing certain municipalities to donate surplus real property of negligible or negative value to certain private persons.

Note

By changing how municipalities can handle surplus property, HB2584 might also influence local property markets, especially in areas where these properties are located. While proponents suggest it could enhance property values for neighboring landowners, opponents may voice concerns over the fairness and implications of donating municipal assets to private entities.

Impact

The bill stipulates that a municipality must confirm that the property does not provide any identifiable benefit to its current or future needs and that maintaining the property incurs a substantial cost. By allowing these municipalities the authority to make donations, HB2584 aims to streamline the management of such surplus properties, potentially leading to improved local governance and reduced expenditures on property maintenance.

Summary

House Bill 2584 aims to authorize certain municipalities in Texas to donate surplus real property identified as having negligible or negative value to private individuals. Specifically, this bill applies to municipalities with populations between 150,000 and 200,000 that are situated in three counties. The intent of the legislation is to allow these municipalities to alleviate the burden of maintaining properties that no longer serve a municipal purpose and to potentially provide benefits to adjacent property owners.

Contention

Some points of contention may arise around issues of property value assessment and the determination of 'negligible or negative value.' Critics could argue that such determinations may vary significantly between municipalities and could lead to subjective decisions that may not align with broader public interest. Additionally, there may be concerns about the accountability and transparency of the processes involved in these donations.