2025S0121-1 02/20/25
By: Eckhardt S.B. No. 1510
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to General Land Office and Texas Department of Housing and
Community Affairs reviews of real property owned by the state.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 31.156, Natural Resources Code, is
amended by amending Subsection (c) and adding Subsections (f), (g),
and (h) to read as follows:
(c) The division's recommendations must include an analysis
of the highest and best use to which the real property may legally
be placed and shall also include alternative uses of the real
property addressing potential for commercial, residential, or
agricultural lease of the real property or any other real estate
transaction or use that the division may deem to be in the best
interest of the state.
(f) In considering alternative uses of the real property for
residential lease in Subsection (c), the division shall solicit a
basic assessment from the Texas Department of Housing and Community
Affairs concerning whether all or portions of the real property are
suitable to lease or otherwise develop for affordable housing.
(g) The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs
shall submit the basic assessment under Subsection (f) not later
than 60 days after receiving a solicitation from the division.
(h) The division shall include the basic assessment
submitted under Subsection (g) in the report required by Section
31.157.
SECTION 2. Section 31.1571, Natural Resources Code, is
amended by amending Subsections (b) and (c) and adding Subsections
(b-1) and (b-2) to read as follows:
(b) Before the commissioner recommends a real estate
transaction to the governor under this section, the commissioner
shall solicit a basic assessment from the Texas Department of
Housing and Community Affairs concerning whether all or portions of
the real property are suitable to lease or otherwise develop for
affordable housing.
(b-1) The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs
shall submit the basic assessment under Subsection (b) not later
than 60 days after receiving a solicitation from the commissioner.
(b-2) If the commissioner makes a report under Subsection
(a), the commissioner shall include the basic assessment submitted
under Subsection (b-1) in the report.
(c) After the commissioner recommends a real estate
transaction to the governor under this section, the commissioner
shall notify the state agency that owns or controls the real
property [and the Texas Department of Housing and Community
Affairs]. Not later than the 60th day after the date the written
recommendation is received, the state agency [and the Texas
Department of Housing and Community Affairs] may file with the
governor their comments on or objections to the recommendation.
[(c) If the commissioner recommends a real estate
transaction to the governor involving real property identified as
not used or substantially underused and the division's analysis of
the highest and best use for the real property is determined to be
residential, the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs
shall evaluate the property and identify any property suitable for
affordable housing. The Texas Department of Housing and Community
Affairs shall submit comments concerning any property suitable for
affordable housing and any documents supporting the comments to the
governor not later than the 60th day after the date it receives the
report prepared under this section.]
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2025.