The bill, S.B. No. 1450, amends Section 247.002 of the Local Government Code to establish guidelines for third-party reviews of development documents and inspections when a regulatory authority fails to act within a specified timeframe. If a regulatory authority does not approve or disapprove a development document, including a development permit, within 15 days, a third-party review can be conducted by an approved individual, such as an engineer or a person employed by another political subdivision. Similarly, if a required inspection is not conducted within the same timeframe, a third-party inspection can be performed by a certified inspector or an engineer.

Additionally, the bill introduces a new provision stating that a political subdivision is not liable for any review or inspection performed by a third party under this chapter. The intent of the amendments is to clarify existing law rather than change it. The bill is set to take effect immediately upon receiving a two-thirds vote from both houses or on September 1, 2025, if such a vote is not achieved.