Relating to the imposition of a county housing first initiatives fee in certain counties.

89(R) HB 3205 - Introduced version - Bill Text

89R12768 MZM-F

By: Campos

H.B. No. 3205

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the imposition of a county housing first initiatives

fee in certain counties.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 118, Local Government

Code, is amended by adding Section 118.027 to read as follows:

Sec.

118.027.

FEE FOR HOUSING FIRST INITIATIVES IN CERTAIN

COUNTIES. (a) This section applies only to a county with a

population of 500,000 or more.

(b)

The commissioners court of a county may adopt a housing

first initiatives fee. The fee must be:

(1)

adopted by the commissioners court at an open

meeting; and

(2)

itemized in the county's annual budget as part of

the budget preparation process.

(c)

The fee shall be paid by a person at the time the person

pays a fee under Section 118.011(a)(1) or (2).

(d)

The fee shall be deposited in a separate housing first

initiatives account in the general fund of the county. Any interest

that accrues on the account remains with the account.

(e)

Revenue collected from the fee may be used only to fund

housing initiatives, including:

(1) emergency shelter expansion;

(2) homelessness prevention services;

(3) street outreach programs;

(4) rapid rehousing programs; and

(5) transitional housing programs.

(f)

The county may contract with a private entity, a

nonprofit corporation, or a political subdivision to undertake an

initiative authorized by this section.

SECTION 2. 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.