89R7469 JG-F
By: Garcia of Bexar H.B. No. 2426
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to an assessment on the use of surplus government property
to provide housing to homeless veterans.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS. In this Act:
(1) "Council" means the Texas Coordinating Council for
Veterans Services established by Section 434.152, Government Code.
(2) "Surplus government property" means unused or
underused federal, state, or local property, including real
property, historic buildings, residential buildings, and
commercial buildings.
(3) "Workgroup" means the workgroup established under
Section 2 of this Act.
SECTION 2. ASSESSMENT; WORKGROUP. (a) The council shall
establish and oversee a workgroup to assess the feasibility of
using surplus government property to provide housing to homeless
veterans.
(b) The workgroup is composed of the executive head of each
of the following state agencies or that person's designee:
(1) the Texas Veterans Commission;
(2) the General Land Office;
(3) the Veterans' Land Board; and
(4) the Texas Department of Housing and Community
Affairs.
(c) The council may by a majority vote include in the
workgroup the executive head of any other state agency not listed in
Subsection (b) of this section or that person's designee.
(d) In conducting the assessment under this section, the
workgroup:
(1) shall:
(A) evaluate the availability of surplus
government property in this state and the feasibility of developing
housing units on that property to provide housing to homeless
veterans;
(B) identify potential funding sources to
develop housing units on surplus government property, including:
(i) federal historic tax credits;
(ii) federal housing tax credits;
(iii) corporate and private donations;
(iv) other existing state and federal
funding sources; and
(v) proposed tenant rent payments; and
(C) identify veteran subpopulations that will
most benefit from a program that facilitates the use or development
of surplus government property to provide housing to homeless
veterans; and
(2) may consult with:
(A) local housing authorities;
(B) affordable housing developers; and
(C) organizations and persons with appropriate
and relevant expertise on the housing needs of veterans.
SECTION 3. REPORT. Not later than November 1, 2026, the
workgroup shall prepare and submit to the legislature a written
report summarizing the results of the assessment conducted under
this Act.
SECTION 4. EXPIRATION. This Act expires September 1, 2027.
SECTION 5. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect September
1, 2025.