A new bill authored by State Rep. Harris seeks to establish clear procedures for modifying zoning regulations and district boundaries, aiming to balance property owner input with municipal authority, according to the Texas Legislature website.
The bill on Special Districts & Authorities and Water category, introduced as HB 24 during the 89(2) legislative session on Friday, Aug. 15, was formally listed with the short title: ’Relating to the consideration by a groundwater conservation district of modeled available groundwater when issuing permits’.
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill outlines procedures for changes to zoning regulations or district boundaries, effective Sept. 1, 2025. It establishes that protests can be made by property owners or municipalities if residential development becomes more restrictive, requiring support from 60% of affected or adjoining property owners. For a protest to stop a proposed change, a supermajority of three-fourths, or a simple majority of the governing body, must approve the change depending on protest types. The bill sets notice requirements for proposed changes and provides a legal path for individuals or nonprofits to compel municipal adoption of certain zoning changes. Additionally, proposed changes making residential development less restrictive are presumed valid unless legally contested within 60 days. The attorney general can enforce compliance, restricting a municipality’s ability to raise ad valorem taxes if found in violation. Historic preservation and other pre-existing land rules remain unaffected by the new provisions.
Cody Harris, the chair of the House Committee on Natural Resources, proposed no other bills during the 89(2) legislative session. He is also a member of the House Committee on Calendars and a member of the House Committee on Licensing & Administrative Procedures.
Bills in Texas go through a multi-step legislative process, including committee review, debates, and votes in both chambers before reaching a final decision. Each session, there are typically thousands of bills introduced, but only a portion successfully navigate the process to become law.
You can read more about the bills and other measures here.
| Legislative Session | Bill Number | Date Introduced | Short Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 89(1) | HB 304 | 08/13/2025 | Relating to the regulation of groundwater produced in the boundaries of a groundwater conservation district |
| 89(1) | HB 218 | 07/28/2025 | Relating to the transfer of groundwater outside a groundwater conservation district’s boundaries |
| 89(1) | HB 217 | 07/28/2025 | Relating to the liability of a groundwater conservation district for actions of the district restricting groundwater production from a well |
| 89(1) | HB 216 | 07/28/2025 | Relating to the consideration by a groundwater conservation district of modeled available groundwater when issuing permits |
| 89(1) | HB 215 | 07/28/2025 | Relating to the liability of a landowner for the withdrawal and beneficial use of groundwater |
| 89(R) | HB 5590 | 03/14/2025 | Relating to a cost overage exemption for interconnection of advanced nuclear reactors to the ERCOT transmission system |
| 89(R) | HB 5588 | 03/14/2025 | Relating to an exemption from ad valorem taxation of the total appraised value of real property used as a data center and the tangible personal property used by the data center to meet the data center’s demand for energy |
| 89(R) | HB 5560 | 03/14/2025 | Relating to penalties in certain suits involving a groundwater conservation district; increasing a penalty |
| 89(R) | HB 5559 | 03/14/2025 | Relating to the enforcement of drought contingency plans by water and sewer utilities and the Public Utility Commission of Texas |
| 89(R) | HB 5120 | 03/13/2025 | Relating to a franchise tax credit for taxable entities that construct a nuclear project |
| 89(R) | HB 5119 | 03/13/2025 | Relating to an exemption from sales and use taxes for items used to construct a nuclear project |
| 89(R) | HB 4677 | 03/12/2025 | Relating to third-party review of development documents and inspection of improvements required to be approved by a political subdivision |
| 89(R) | HB 4097 | 03/07/2025 | Relating to the penalty for noncompliance with certain audit requirements by a municipality |
| 89(R) | HB 16 | 03/07/2025 | Relating to the oversight and financing of certain water infrastructure matters under the jurisdiction of the Texas Water Development Board |
| 89(R) | HB 14 | 03/06/2025 | Relating to support for the development of the nuclear energy industry |
| 89(R) | HB 3717 | 03/04/2025 | Relating to the establishment of a grant program to fund the United States Food and Drug Administration’s drug development trials with ibogaine for the purpose of securing the administration’s approval as a medication for treatment of opioid use disorder, co-occurring substance use disorder, and any other neurological or mental health conditions for which ibogaine demonstrates efficacy |
| 89(R) | HB 3665 | 03/04/2025 | Relating to increasing the criminal penalty for the offense of assault committed against certain public servants and to the prosecution of the criminal offense of interference with public duties of those public servants |
| 89(R) | HB 3505 | 02/28/2025 | Relating to the continuation and operation of a health care provider participation district created by certain local governments to administer a health care provider participation program |
| 89(R) | HB 23 | 02/27/2025 | Relating to the authority of certain persons to obtain third-party review of plats and property development plans, permits, and similar documents, and the inspection of an improvement related to such a document |
| 89(R) | HB 3403 | 02/26/2025 | Relating to the right of the chief appraiser of an appraisal district, the appraisal district, or the appraisal review board of the appraisal district to bring certain claims in an appeal of an order of the appraisal review board |
| 89(R) | HB 3322 | 02/25/2025 | Relating to the procedure for amending or revoking certificates of public convenience and necessity issued to certain water utilities |
| 89(R) | HB 3316 | 02/25/2025 | Relating to the redesignation of the State Water Implementation Fund for Texas Advisory Committee as the Texas Water Fund Advisory Committee, the abolition of the Texas Infrastructure Resiliency Fund Advisory Committee, and the composition and functions of the Texas Water Fund Advisory Committee |
| 89(R) | HB 3315 | 02/25/2025 | Relating to the permissible uses of the Texas water fund |
| 89(R) | HB 3314 | 02/25/2025 | Relating to certain energy efficiency performance standards for residential construction |
| 89(R) | HB 3233 | 02/24/2025 | Relating to patient data maintained by pharmacy benefit managers |
| 89(R) | HB 3232 | 02/24/2025 | Relating to the strong families credit against certain taxes for entities that contribute to certain organizations |
| 89(R) | HB 2979 | 02/18/2025 | Relating to a prohibition on the exercise of eminent domain and the disposition of certain property acquired for certain rail projects |
| 89(R) | HB 2978 | 02/18/2025 | Relating to the minimum reimbursement amount for prescription drugs and devices to health benefit plan network pharmacists and pharmacies |
| 89(R) | HB 2977 | 02/18/2025 | Relating to the authority of certain persons to obtain third-party review of plats and property development plans, permits, and similar documents, and the inspection of an improvement related to such a document |
| 89(R) | HB 2750 | 02/12/2025 | Relating to use of a pharmacy benefit manager in which a health benefit plan issuer has a financial interest |
| 89(R) | HB 2615 | 02/10/2025 | Relating to publication of public improvement district service plans and assessments on certain public Internet websites |
| 89(R) | HB 2548 | 02/06/2025 | Relating to a prohibition on public institutions of higher education requiring students to enroll in certain courses to complete a certificate or degree program, using such courses to satisfy general education requirements, funding such courses using state appropriations, or requiring related faculty practices, and to freshman student orientation at those institutions |
| 89(R) | HB 2468 | 02/05/2025 | Relating to the right of a purchaser to terminate a contract of purchase and sale of real property for failure to provide notice that the property is located in a public improvement district |
| 89(R) | HB 2418 | 02/04/2025 | Relating to the waiver of certain examination requirements for certain applicants for an engineering license |
| 89(R) | HB 2172 | 01/28/2025 | Relating to a limitation on the use of certain unsubstantiated information relating to peace officer misconduct |
| 89(R) | HB 2171 | 01/28/2025 | Relating to a public school policy regarding the playing of the state song before certain school-sponsored athletic events |
| 89(R) | HB 2156 | 01/28/2025 | Relating to state and local authority to regulate the food service industry |
| 89(R) | HB 2003 | 01/22/2025 | Relating to provision to the Texas Department of Transportation of information regarding certain high-speed rail projects |
| 89(R) | HB 1404 | 11/19/2024 | Relating to the designation of County Road 1250 in Navarro County as part of the state highway system |
| 89(R) | HB 1403 | 11/19/2024 | Relating to the collection and confidentiality of information regarding firearms in agency foster homes; creating a civil penalty |
| 89(R) | HB 1402 | 11/19/2024 | Relating to a prohibition on the use of public money to pay for the alteration of a roadway related to high-speed rail construction |
| 89(R) | HB 1401 | 11/19/2024 | Relating to the applicability of sex offender registration requirements to the offense of improper relationship between educator and student |
| 89(R) | HB 1400 | 11/19/2024 | Relating to creation of the groundwater science, research, and innovation fund to be administered by the Texas Water Development Board |
| 89(R) | HB 1399 | 11/19/2024 | Relating to an exemption from ad valorem taxation of tangible personal property consisting of animal feed held by the owner of the property for sale at retail |
| 89(R) | HB 1398 | 11/19/2024 | Relating to certain memorial markers and designations on certain highways in this state |
| 89(R) | HB 1397 | 11/19/2024 | Relating to the care, custody, and display of the letter known as the victory or death letter, the Texas Constitution, and the Texas Declaration of Independence |
