The bill, H.B. No. 211, amends the Government Code to enhance the evaluation process for applications seeking financial assistance from the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, particularly regarding the issuance of private activity bonds and low-income housing tax credits. Key changes include the introduction of a point system that incorporates new criteria for scoring applications, specifically focusing on whether all units owned by the applicant and those operated by housing authorities are equipped with air conditioning. This new requirement is intended to ensure a minimum standard of living conditions for tenants. Additionally, the bill mandates that applicants provide information about the percentage of units equipped with air conditioning when requesting support from state representatives.

Furthermore, the bill establishes penalties for applicants who have previously requested extensions on deadlines related to housing tax credit allocations and encourages the provision of free notary services to residents. It also promotes preferences for low-income veterans in certain developments located near veterans' facilities. The changes will apply to applications submitted during the 2026 qualified allocation plan cycle or later, with the law in effect from September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Government Code 2306.359, Government Code 2306.6710 (Government Code 2306)