House Bill No. 2559 amends the Local Government Code to establish new procedures for municipalities imposing moratoriums on property development. Key changes include the requirement for municipalities to hold two public hearings on proposed moratoriums, with the second hearing occurring at least 30 days after the first. Additionally, the bill mandates that the governing body must make a final determination on the moratorium within 12 days after the second hearing, ensuring that the ordinance receives at least two readings spaced 28 days apart and requires a three-fourths majority vote to take effect. The previous provisions regarding temporary moratoriums and the timeline for adopting ordinances have been removed.

The bill also clarifies the expiration and extension of moratoriums, stating that a moratorium will expire 90 days after adoption unless extended through a public hearing and written findings that justify the extension. Municipalities are prohibited from adopting a new moratorium on the same type of property or geographical area until two years after the expiration of a previous moratorium. The bill repeals certain sections of the Local Government Code that previously governed these processes, streamlining the regulations surrounding property development moratoriums. The act is set to take effect on September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Local Government Code 212.134, Local Government Code 212.1362 (Local Government Code 212)
House Committee Report: Local Government Code 212.134, Local Government Code 212.1362 (Local Government Code 212)