Issue 88.8 – Texas Legislative Priorities
Director of Regulatory Affairs
In our last addition we listed the seven emergency items identified by Governor Abbott in his State of the State address. That status as an emergency item allows for immediate legislative action. The Lt. Governor and Speaker of the House also have priorities which traditionally are reflected in each chambers bill numbered 1 through 20. Although, Lt. Governor Patrick expanded his reserved number to the first 30 senate bills in 2017.
The Lt. Governor’s priorities with bill number placeholders were announced on February 13th, overlapping the Governor’s emergency items with: property tax relief (SB3, SB4, SB5); educational freedom (SB 8) and teacher pay raises (SB9, SB10); school safety (SB11); banning local COVID-19 mandates. Other issues important to the Lt. Governor include: voter fraud (SB2); infrastructure improvements (SB6, SB7, SB28) and a slew of anti-progressive initiatives including banning books (SB13) and banning Critical Race Theory (CRT) (SB16) as well as banning Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) (SB17) policies in higher education.
Speaker Phelan unveiled four of his priorities last week with more insights to be announced soon. These four priorities include two distinct focuses. The first includes extension of Medicaid eligibility for new mothers to a full year (HB12), and a sales tax exemption for feminine hygiene products and diapers and other certain family care items (HB70, HB300). The second is protecting Texans privacy and personal data (HB4, highlighted below) and more parental control over kid’s online activities (HB18).
Weekly Highlight
• HB 4 Capriglione, Giovanni – We were already tracking this bill as HB1844 now refiled as HB4 greatly increasing its likelihood of passage. Relating to the regulation of the collection, use, processing, and treatment of consumers’ personal data. Businesses operating in Texas must conduct and document a data protection assessment meeting minimum requirements. establish two or more secure ways a consumer can submit requests regarding their personal data. Requests must receive a respond no later than 45 days following a consumer expressing their desire to exercise their rights. Rights include seeking deletion of any personal data acquired other than directly from the consumer. The Attorney General is authorized to investigate and impose civil penalty not to exceed $7,500 per violation. (Companion HB1844)
To read the full text of any of these bills you can go to Texas Legislature Online.
New Bills
• HB 92 Landgraf, Brooks – Relating to the authority of a municipality, county, or property owners’ association to prohibit or regulate certain activities on residence homestead property.
• HB 207 Murr, Andrew – Relating to the exclusion of certain conveyances from classification as sham or pretended sales.
• HB 217 Murr, Andrew – (HB 217 was previously filed in 87th Session as HB 2621 but left pending in Committee without a vote.) Relating to the limitation on the amount of a subcontractor’s lien for labor or materials.
• HB 219 Noble, Candy – (HB 219 was previously filed in 87th Session as HB 3278 but left pending in Committee without a vote.) Relating to the release of a deed of trust or other contract lien securing a home loan after payoff by mortgagor.
• HB 287 Johnson, Julie – Relating to payment of the replacement cost of damaged property under a homeowner’s, renter’s, or condominium owner’s insurance policy.
• HB 523 Vasut, Cody – Relating to the authority of an appraisal review board to direct changes in the appraisal roll and related appraisal records if a residence homestead is sold for less than the appraised value.
• HB 645 Toth, Steve – Relating to prohibiting financial institutions and other businesses from using value-based criteria.
• HB 697 Holland, Justin – Relating to seller’s disclosures regarding fuel gas piping in residential real property.
• HB 738 Gonzalez, Jessica – Relating to a right of first refusal applicable to the sale of housing developments that have received certain financial assistance administered by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs.
• HB 886 Shaheen, Matt – (HB 886 was previously filed in 87th Session as HB 3857 but left pending in Committee without a vote.) Relating to requirements to file a property owners’ association assessment lien.
• HB 1012 González, Jessica – Relating to the prohibition of certain discrimination; authorizing civil penalties.
• HB 1056 Hinojosa, Gina – Relating to the registration of financial institutions and investment firms that lease residential real property.
• HB 1057 Hinojosa, Gina – Relating to restrictions on the purchase of a single-family home by an investment firm.
• HB 1075 Harris | Button | Jetton – Relating to certain property interests of a foreign government in agricultural land.
• HB 1195 Holland, Justin – Relating to the authority of a county to require photo Identification to file certain documents with the county clerk. This bill strikes the existing population threshold of 800,000 citizens and extends the existing authority to all Texas counties. (Companion to SB 319)
• HB 1244 Shine, Hugh – (HB 1244 was previously filed in 87th Session as HB 991 but never received a committee hearing.) Relating to the authority of the owner of a residence homestead to receive a discount for making an early payment of the ad valorem taxes on the homestead.
• HB 1256 Holland, Justin – Relating to seller’s disclosure notice concerning special districts in which residential real property is located.
• HB 1319 Shine, Hugh – Relating to the electronic payments required or permitted under the Property Tax Code; authorizing a fee.
• HB 1660 Capriglione, Giovanni – Relating to the process for notifying the attorney general of a breach of security of computerized data by persons doing business in this state. (Companion SB768)
• HB 1674 Holland, Justin – Relating to certain sales or purported sales of homestead property that are classified as loans. (Companion to SB 613)
• HB 1704 Walle, Armando – Relating to the establishment of the workforce housing capital investment fund program to fund the development of workforce housing in this state; authorizing a fee.
• HB 1844 Capriglione, Giovanni – Relating to the regulation of the collection, use, processing, and treatment of consumers’ personal data by certain business entities; imposing a civil penalty. (Companion HB4)
• HB 2186 Davis, Yvonne – Relating to the authority of a county clerk to require a person to present photo identification to file a document in the real property records of a county.
• HJR 29 Schofield, Mike – (HJR 29 was previously filed in 87th Session as HJR 43 but left pending in Committee without a vote.) Proposing a constitutional amendment providing that a residence homestead is not subject to seizure or sale for delinquent ad valorem taxes.
• SB 62 Zaffirini, Judith – Relating to posting certain documents and information related to certain real property sales on a county’s Internet website.
• SB 147 Kolkhorst, Lois – Relating to the purchase of or acquisition of title to real property by certain aliens or foreign entities.
• SB 319 Hall, Bob – Relating to the authority of a county to require photo Identification to file certain documents with the county clerk. This bill strikes the existing population threshold of 800,000 citizens and extends the existing authority to all Texas counties. (Companion to HB 1195)
• SB 552 Campbell, Donna – Relating to prohibiting contracts or other agreements with certain foreign-owned companies in connection with agricultural land.
• SB 570 West, Royce – (SB 570 was previously filed in 87th Session as SB 265 and its companion HB 1470 Rodriguez, Eddie, but neither received committee hearings.) Relating to the prohibition of housing discrimination on the basis of a person’s source of income and to the enforcement of that prohibition.
• SB 613 Springer, Drew – Relating to certain sales or purported sales of homestead property that are classified as loans. (Companion to HB 1674)
• SB 711 Perry, Charles – Relating to the purchase of or other acquisition of title to real property by prohibited foreign actors.
• SB 768 Parker, Tan – Relating to the process for notifying the attorney general of a breach of security of computerized data by persons doing business in this state. (Companion HB1660)
• SB 801 Hughes, Brian – Relating to an instrument that names a trust as a party.
If you have questions about these specific bills or the Texas legislative process in general, please reach out to Doug Foster or one of our our firm’s attorneys or representatives at: https://www.mortgagelaw.com/our-team/