S.B. No. 1450, introduced by Bettencourt, amends Section 247.002 of the Local Government Code to establish provisions 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 amendments aim to clarify existing law rather than change it, ensuring that the process for development approvals and inspections is more efficient while protecting political subdivisions from liability. The bill is set to take effect immediately upon receiving a two-thirds vote from both houses or on September 1, 2025, if that vote is not achieved.