BILL ANALYSIS H.B. 4506 By: Bonnen Land & Resource Management Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The bill author has informed the committee that physical mail can often be delayed or misplaced as it is sent out to be delivered, and that as we transition to a digital age, it has become more common to receive documents via text or email to ensure important information is received in a timely manner. H.B. 4506 seeks to authorize notice of public hearings regarding municipal zoning changes to be delivered electronically. CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS H.B. 4506 amends the Local Government Code to authorize a municipality to deliver notice of public hearings regarding municipal zoning changes electronically by email or text message, but only if the recipient elects to receive such notice electronically. The bill requires a municipality that intends to deliver notice electronically to establish an online portal on the municipality's website through which a notice recipient may elect to receive notice electronically and manage preferences for the electronic receipt. EFFECTIVE DATE On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2025.
BILL ANALYSIS
# BILL ANALYSIS
H.B. 4506
By: Bonnen
Land & Resource Management
Committee Report (Unamended)
H.B. 4506
By: Bonnen
Land & Resource Management
Committee Report (Unamended)
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The bill author has informed the committee that physical mail can often be delayed or misplaced as it is sent out to be delivered, and that as we transition to a digital age, it has become more common to receive documents via text or email to ensure important information is received in a timely manner. H.B. 4506 seeks to authorize notice of public hearings regarding municipal zoning changes to be delivered electronically.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS H.B. 4506 amends the Local Government Code to authorize a municipality to deliver notice of public hearings regarding municipal zoning changes electronically by email or text message, but only if the recipient elects to receive such notice electronically. The bill requires a municipality that intends to deliver notice electronically to establish an online portal on the municipality's website through which a notice recipient may elect to receive notice electronically and manage preferences for the electronic receipt.
EFFECTIVE DATE On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2025.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
The bill author has informed the committee that physical mail can often be delayed or misplaced as it is sent out to be delivered, and that as we transition to a digital age, it has become more common to receive documents via text or email to ensure important information is received in a timely manner. H.B. 4506 seeks to authorize notice of public hearings regarding municipal zoning changes to be delivered electronically.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS
H.B. 4506 amends the Local Government Code to authorize a municipality to deliver notice of public hearings regarding municipal zoning changes electronically by email or text message, but only if the recipient elects to receive such notice electronically. The bill requires a municipality that intends to deliver notice electronically to establish an online portal on the municipality's website through which a notice recipient may elect to receive notice electronically and manage preferences for the electronic receipt.
EFFECTIVE DATE
On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2025.