By: Bettencourt S.R. No. 717
SENATE RESOLUTION
BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the State of Texas, 88th
Legislature, Regular Session, 2023, That Senate Rule 12.03 be
suspended in part as provided by Senate Rule 12.08 to enable the
conference committee appointed to resolve the differences on
House Bill 3699 (municipal regulation of subdivisions and
approval of subdivision plans or plats) to consider and take
action on the following matters:
(1) Senate Rule 12.03(4) is suspended to permit the
committee to add text on a matter which is not included in either
the house or senate version of the bill by adding the following
SECTIONS to the bill:
SECTION 1. Sections 212.001(2) and (3), Local Government
Code, are amended to read as follows:
(2) ["Plan" means a subdivision development plan,
including a subdivision plan, subdivision construction plan,
site plan, land development application, and site development
plan.
[(3)] "Plat" includes a preliminary plat, [general
plan,] final plat, and replat.
SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 212, Local Government
Code, is amended by adding Section 212.0015 to read as follows:
Sec. 212.0015. CONSTRUCTION OF SUBCHAPTER. This
subchapter may not be construed to restrict a municipality from
establishing a submittal calendar to be used by an applicant to
facilitate compliance with the approval process described by
Sections 212.009, 212.0091, 212.0093, and 212.0095.
SECTION 6. Sections 212.0065(a) and (c), Local
Government Code, are amended to read as follows:
(a) The governing body of a municipality or the municipal
planning commission may delegate to one or more officers or
employees of the municipality or of a utility owned or operated
by the municipality the ability to approve, approve with
conditions, or disapprove a plat [:
[(1) amending plats described by Section 212.016;
[(2) minor plats or replats involving four or fewer
lots fronting on an existing street and not requiring the
creation of any new street or the extension of municipal
facilities; or
[(3) a replat under Section 212.0145 that does not
require the creation of any new street or the extension of
municipal facilities].
(c) An applicant has the right to appeal to the governing
body of the municipality or the municipal planning commission if
the designated [The] person disapproves a [or persons shall not
disapprove the] plat [and shall be required to refer any plat
which the person or persons refuse to approve to the municipal
authority responsible for approving plats within the time period
specified in Section 212.009].
SECTION 9. Section 212.0091(a), Local Government Code,
is amended to read as follows:
(a) A municipal authority or governing body that
conditionally approves or disapproves a [plan or] plat under this
subchapter shall provide the applicant a written statement of the
conditions for the conditional approval or reasons for
disapproval that clearly articulates each specific condition for
the conditional approval or reason for disapproval.
SECTION 10. Sections 212.0093, 212.0095, and 212.0096,
Local Government Code, are amended to read as follows:
Sec. 212.0093. APPROVAL PROCEDURE: APPLICANT RESPONSE TO
CONDITIONAL APPROVAL OR DISAPPROVAL. After the conditional
approval or disapproval of a [plan or] plat under Section
212.0091, the applicant may submit to the municipal authority or
governing body that conditionally approved or disapproved the
[plan or] plat a written response that satisfies each condition
for the conditional approval or remedies each reason for
disapproval provided. The municipal authority or governing body
may not establish a deadline for an applicant to submit the
response.
Sec. 212.0095. APPROVAL PROCEDURE: APPROVAL OR
DISAPPROVAL OF RESPONSE. (a) A municipal authority or governing
body that receives a response under Section 212.0093 shall
determine whether to approve or disapprove the applicant's
previously conditionally approved or disapproved [plan or] plat
not later than the 15th day after the date the response was
submitted.
(b) A municipal authority or governing body that
conditionally approves or disapproves a [plan or] plat following
the submission of a response under Section 212.0093:
(1) must comply with Section 212.0091; and
(2) may disapprove the [plan or] plat only for a
specific condition or reason provided to the applicant under
Section 212.0091.
(c) A municipal authority or governing body that receives
a response under Section 212.0093 shall approve a previously
conditionally approved or disapproved [plan or] plat if the
response adequately addresses each condition of the conditional
approval or each reason for the disapproval.
(d) A previously conditionally approved or disapproved
[plan or] plat is approved if:
(1) the applicant filed a response that meets the
requirements of Subsection (c); and
(2) the municipal authority or governing body that
received the response does not disapprove the [plan or] plat on
or before the date required by Subsection (a) and in accordance
with Section 212.0091.
Sec. 212.0096. APPROVAL PROCEDURE: ALTERNATIVE APPROVAL
PROCESS. (a) Notwithstanding Sections 212.009, 212.0091,
212.0093, and 212.0095, an applicant may elect at any time to
seek approval for a [plan or] plat under an alternative approval
process adopted by a municipality if the process allows for a
shorter approval period than the approval process described by
Sections 212.009, 212.0091, 212.0093, and 212.0095.
(b) An applicant that elects to seek approval under the
alternative approval process described by Subsection (a) is not:
(1) required to satisfy the requirements of
Sections 212.009, 212.0091, 212.0093, and 212.0095 before
bringing an action challenging a disapproval of a [plan or] plat
under this subchapter; and
(2) prejudiced in any manner in bringing the action
described by Subdivision (1), including satisfying a requirement
to exhaust any and all remedies.
SECTION 11. Section 212.0099, Local Government Code, is
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 212.0099. JUDICIAL REVIEW OF DISAPPROVAL. In a
legal action challenging a disapproval of a [plan or] plat under
this subchapter, the municipality has the burden of proving by
clear and convincing evidence that the disapproval meets the
requirements of this subchapter or any applicable case law. The
court may not use a deferential standard.
Explanation: This change is necessary to provide
limitations on municipal regulation of subdivisions and approval
of subdivision plans or plats.
(2) Senate Rules 12.03(1), (3), and (4) are suspended to
permit the committee to change, alter, or amend text which is not
in disagreement, to add text on a matter which is not in
disagreement, and to add text on a matter which is not included in
either the house or senate version of the bill in proposed
SECTION 4 of the bill, in Section 212.004, Local Government Code,
by amending Subsections (a) and (b) and adding Subsections (f)
and (g) to read as follows:
(a) The owner of a tract of land located within the limits
or in the extraterritorial jurisdiction of a municipality who
divides the tract in two or more parts to lay out a subdivision of
the tract, including an addition to a municipality, to lay out
suburban, building, or other lots, or to lay out streets, alleys,
squares, parks, or other parts of the tract intended by the owner
of the tract to be dedicated to public use [or for the use of
purchasers or owners of lots fronting on or adjacent to the
streets, alleys, squares, parks, or other parts] must have a plat
of the subdivision prepared. A division of a tract under this
subsection includes a division regardless of whether it is made
by using a metes and bounds description in a deed of conveyance or
in a contract for a deed, by using a contract of sale or other
executory contract to convey, or by using any other method. A
division of land under this subsection does not include a
division of land into parts greater than five acres, where each
part has access and no public improvement is being dedicated.
(b) To be recorded, the plat must:
(1) describe the subdivision by metes and bounds;
(2) locate the subdivision with respect to a corner
of the survey or tract or an original corner of the original
survey of which it is a part; and
(3) state the dimensions of the subdivision and of
each street, alley, square, park, or other part of the tract
intended by the owner of the tract to be dedicated to public use
[or for the use of purchasers or owners of lots fronting on or
adjacent to the street, alley, square, park, or other part].
(f) A plat is considered filed on the date the applicant
submits the plat, along with a completed plat application and the
application fees and other requirements prescribed by or under
this subchapter, to:
(1) the governing body of the municipality; or
(2) the municipal authority responsible for
approving plats.
(g) The governing body of a municipality or the municipal
authority responsible for approving plats may not require an
analysis, study, document, agreement, or similar requirement to
be included in or as part of an application for a plat,
development permit, or subdivision of land that is not explicitly
required by state law.
Explanation: This change is necessary to repeal the plat
preparation requirement in relation to purchasers or owners of
certain lots, to specify the date on which a plat is considered
filed, and to prohibit a municipality or municipal authority from
requiring certain additional materials for a plat, development
permit, or subdivision of land.
(3) Senate Rules 12.03(3) and (4) are suspended to permit
the committee to add text on a matter which is not in disagreement
and to add text on a matter which is not included in either the
house or senate version of the bill in proposed SECTION 8 of the
bill, by amending Sections 212.009(a), (b), (c), and (d), Local
Government Code, to read as follows:
(a) The municipal authority responsible for approving
plats shall approve, approve with conditions, or disapprove a
[plan or] plat within 30 days after the date the [plan or] plat is
filed. A [plan or] plat is approved by the municipal authority
unless it is disapproved within that period and in accordance
with Section 212.0091.
(b) If an ordinance requires that a [plan or] plat be
approved by the governing body of the municipality in addition to
the planning commission, the governing body shall approve,
approve with conditions, or disapprove the [plan or] plat within
30 days after the date the [plan or] plat is approved by the
planning commission or is approved by the inaction of the
commission. A [plan or] plat is approved by the governing body
unless it is disapproved within that period and in accordance
with Section 212.0091.
(c) If a [plan or] plat is approved, the municipal
authority giving the approval shall endorse the [plan or] plat
with a certificate indicating the approval. The certificate must
be signed by:
(1) the authority's presiding officer and attested
by the authority's secretary; or
(2) a majority of the members of the authority.
(d) If the municipal authority responsible for approving
plats fails to approve, approve with conditions, or disapprove a
[plan or] plat within the prescribed period, the authority on the
applicant's request shall issue a certificate stating the date
the [plan or] plat was filed and that the authority failed to act
on the [plan or] plat within the period. The certificate is
effective in place of the endorsement required by Subsection (c).
Explanation: This change is necessary to conform to other
changes made in the bill.
(4) Senate Rule 12.03(1) is suspended to permit the
committee to change, alter, or amend text which is not in
disagreement in proposed SECTION 8 of the bill, in amended
Section 212.009(b-2), Local Government Code, by striking "a
period" and substituting "one or more periods, each [a period]".
Explanation: This change is necessary to provide for
multiple extensions for the deadlines provided by Section
212.009, Local Government Code.
(5) Senate Rule 12.03(1) is suspended to permit the
committee to change, alter, or amend text which is not in
disagreement in proposed SECTION 12 of the bill, in added Section
212.010(e), Local Government Code, by striking "The prevailing
party may recover reasonable and necessary attorney's fees and
court costs in the action." and substituting the following:
The applicant shall recover reasonable attorney's fees and court
costs in the action if the applicant prevails. The municipality
may recover reasonable attorney's fees and court costs in the
action if the municipality prevails and the court finds the
action is frivolous.
Explanation: This change is necessary to provide
different standards for recovery of attorney's fees and court
costs for an applicant and a municipality.
_______________________________
President of the Senate
I hereby certify that the
above Resolution was adopted by
the Senate on May 28, 2023, by the
following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
_______________________________
Secretary of the Senate