S.B. No. 1509 seeks to limit the regulatory authority of municipalities over their extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) by introducing a new section, 51.004, to the Local Government Code. This section explicitly prohibits municipalities from adopting or enforcing ordinances, rules, or measures regulating their ETJ, except for providing municipal services to residents through agreements. The bill also amends various sections of the Local Government Code to remove references to ETJ, thereby reinforcing the prohibition on municipal regulation in these areas. Notably, it deletes language that previously allowed municipalities to treat their ETJ in a manner deemed beneficial, further restricting their regulatory powers.

Additionally, the bill modifies regulations surrounding water conservation and service areas, allowing home-rule municipalities to enforce water conservation ordinances only within their municipal boundaries and clarifying that service areas cannot extend beyond these boundaries. It also establishes a fixed fee of $30 for certificates related to subdivisions, rather than allowing variable fees based on municipal charges. The bill permits counties to undertake improvement projects in definable parts of a municipality's ETJ while ensuring compliance with local construction standards. Overall, the amendments aim to streamline governance and clarify the responsibilities of local governments in managing land use and development, with an effective date set for September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Local Government Code 42.044, Local Government Code 43.063, Local Government Code 212.004, Local Government Code 212.010, Local Government Code 212.0115, Local Government Code 212.0146, Local Government Code 212.015, Local Government Code 212.0155, Local Government Code 212.044, Local Government Code 212.045, Local Government Code 212.047, Local Government Code 212.102, Local Government Code 214.904, Local Government Code 216.003, Local Government Code 216.004, Local Government Code 229.002, Local Government Code 229.003, Local Government Code 229.004, Local Government Code 232.006, Local Government Code 232.004, Local Government Code 232.0085, Local Government Code 232.009, Local Government Code 232.0095, Local Government Code 232.022, Local Government Code 232.028, Local Government Code 232.029, Local Government Code 351.143, Local Government Code 372.003, Local Government Code 375.0922, Local Government Code 375.304, Local Government Code 377.002, Local Government Code 377.021, Local Government Code 41.001, Local Government Code 377.072, Local Government Code 380.001, Local Government Code 382.109, Local Government Code 382.113, Local Government Code 395.001, Local Government Code 395.011, Local Government Code 395.058, Local Government Code 507.103, Local Government Code 551.006, Local Government Code 551.007, Local Government Code 552.044, Local Government Code 552.045, Local Government Code 552.0451, Local Government Code 552.907, Local Government Code 43.0561, Local Government Code 212.0085, Local Government Code 212.904, Local Government Code 216.015, Local Government Code 232.0015, Local Government Code 232.0023, Local Government Code 232.110, Special District Local Laws Code 8230.005, Water Code 16.343 (Local Government Code 507, Local Government Code 382, Local Government Code 551, Local Government Code 229, Local Government Code 42, Local Government Code 212, Local Government Code 214, Local Government Code 216, Local Government Code 377, Local Government Code 351, Local Government Code 395, Water Code 16, Local Government Code 380, Local Government Code 41, Local Government Code 232, Local Government Code 552, Local Government Code 43, Local Government Code 372, Local Government Code 375, Special District Local Laws Code 8230)