Texas House Bill HB1427

Texas 2013 - 83rd Regular

Caption

Relating to the donation of surplus real property by certain municipalities.

Impact

The proposed legislation is expected to impact state laws related to municipal property management and donation protocols. By putting in place specific criteria regarding the populations and locations of cities that can participate in the donation of surplus properties, the bill influences how municipalities can leverage unused assets. It may encourage local governments to contribute to community needs through surplus property donations, especially in areas with military significance.

Summary

House Bill 1427 addresses the topic of surplus real property donation by specific municipalities in Texas. The bill proposes amendments to Section 253.013(a) of the Local Government Code, limiting its applicability to municipalities with populations above 150,000 and under 200,000, as well as municipalities with populations between 65,000 and 90,000 located near military installations. This is intended to provide clearer guidelines on how such charitable or altruistic donations are managed and authorized within these municipalities.

Contention

While the bill aims to streamline the process for municipalities to donate surplus properties, there could be concerns regarding the restrictions it places on smaller municipalities or those not meeting the specific criteria outlined in the bill. Critics may argue that these limitations could prevent numerous cities from accessing critical resources or from engaging their communities effectively. Furthermore, there may be discussions on the balance of state and local authority in managing public resources, particularly when military installations are involved.