By: LaMantia S.B. No. 2239
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the establishment of an advisory committee to study
housing supply and affordability.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter HH, Chapter 2306, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 2306.806 to read as follows:
Sec. 2306.806. ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO STUDY HOUSING SUPPLY
AND AFFORDABILITY. (a) In this section, "political subdivision"
means a county or municipality.
(b) An advisory committee is established to conduct a
decennial study on housing supply and affordability in this state.
(c) For each study conducted under this section, the
advisory committee is composed of the following 15 members:
(1) two state senators appointed by the lieutenant
governor;
(2) two state representatives appointed by the speaker
of the house of representatives;
(3) the director or the director's designee;
(4) two individuals appointed by the speaker of the
house of representatives who represent the home building industry,
one of whom must represent builders of rental housing and one of
whom must represent housing built for sale;
(5) two individuals appointed by the lieutenant
governor who represent a political subdivision or a statewide
organization that represents political subdivisions;
(6) two academic professionals who study housing
supply constraints, one of whom is appointed by the lieutenant
governor and one of whom is appointed by the speaker of the house of
representatives;
(7) one individual appointed by the speaker of the
house of representatives who represents a trade association
consisting of members who are licensed real estate sales agents;
(8) one individual appointed by the lieutenant
governor who represents a statewide nonprofit housing advocacy
group;
(9) one individual appointed by the speaker of the
house of representatives who represents a trade association
consisting of members who own, build, or operate extensively in the
home building industry; and
(10) one individual appointed by the lieutenant
governor who represents a trade association consisting of members
who own, build, or operate extensively, as determined by the
lieutenant governor, in the apartment industry.
(d) Not later than one year preceding the date on which a
decennial report is required to be submitted under Subsection (j),
the appropriate appointing authorities under Subsection (c) shall
appoint the members to the advisory committee in the manner
required by that subsection.
(e) An advisory committee member serves in that position
only for the study for which the member was appointed, and the
member's term expires after the applicable report is submitted
under Subsection (j).
(f) An advisory committee member is not entitled to
compensation or reimbursement for expenses incurred in carrying out
advisory committee duties.
(g) For each study conducted under this section, the
lieutenant governor and the speaker of the house of representatives
shall each designate one member appointed under Subsection (c)(1)
or (c)(2), as applicable, to serve as co-chairs of the advisory
committee.
(h) Each advisory committee shall meet at the call of the
co-chairs appointed under Subsection (g).
(i) In conducting the study under this section, the advisory
committee shall:
(1) evaluate existing data sources and develop new
data on improving housing supply and affordability;
(2) evaluate the review processes of political
subdivisions that permit new housing developments;
(3) evaluate the rate at which political subdivisions
approve new housing developments by right;
(4) evaluate the timelines by which political
subdivisions approve new housing developments, factoring in any
pre-submission requirements;
(5) evaluate impact and permitting fees for new
housing developments;
(6) identify the number of each particular type of new
housing development, aggregated and disaggregated by the
permitting political subdivision and development type, including
accessory dwelling units, small-lot homes, townhomes, mobile
homes, and below market rate housing;
(7) identify state grants from any source that may be
used to reward political subdivisions with rules that support
abundant, relatively low-cost housing construction;
(8) develop methods to identify and award grants to
political subdivisions based on housing market outcomes or housing
policies, which may require the political subdivision to:
(A) demonstrate that the political subdivision
permits new housing developments at a rate that is in the top half
of political subdivisions in this state;
(B) demonstrate that the political subdivision
permits new housing developments at a rate that is in the top half
of political subdivisions in this state for relatively low-cost
housing, including multifamily housing, manufactured homes,
townhomes on less than 4,000 square feet of land per unit, and
accessory dwelling units; or
(C) zone in a manner that ensures a sufficient
housing supply is created based on market demand;
(9) evaluate a political subdivision's use of general
obligation bond proceeds to engage in affordable housing-related
projects; and
(10) evaluate the efficacy of the owning and operating
of employee housing by political subdivisions.
(j) For each study conducted under this section, the
advisory committee shall prepare and submit to the legislature a
written report that summarizes the results of the study conducted
under this section. The report must:
(1) include specific legislative and funding
recommendations to improve housing supply and affordability issues
in this state; and
(2) recommend policy changes at the state and local
level to facilitate data collection on and improve housing supply
and affordability issues in this state.
(k) The advisory committee may accept gifts, grants, and
donations from any source to carry out the committee's duties under
this section.
(l) Not later than September 1, 2024, and every 10 years
thereafter, the advisory committee shall submit the report required
under Subsection (j).
SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date
of this Act, the appropriate appointing authorities shall make the
first appointments to the advisory committee as required by Section
2306.806(c), Government Code, as added by this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.