Senate Bill No. 1579 introduces a new subchapter to the Local Government Code that focuses on the management of abandoned, unoccupied, and undeveloped parcels of land in municipalities with populations over 500,000 and located adjacent to an international border. The bill establishes an expedited administrative process for municipalities to determine if a parcel is abandoned based on specific criteria, including development status and assessed value. It requires public hearings to notify owners and lienholders, allowing them to contest the findings before a parcel can be declared abandoned. Once a parcel is deemed abandoned, municipalities can initiate civil actions to place the property in receivership, which extinguishes the rights of the owners or lienholders and allows the appointed receiver to manage and sell the property.

The bill also amends existing laws regarding the appointment and responsibilities of receivers, designating them as officers of the court and outlining procedures for appointing successors. It specifies that donations of land to the receiver become final if not challenged within a year and mandates that all funds received by the receiver be deposited as directed by the court, with provisions for unclaimed funds to escheat to the state after three years. Additionally, the bill details the sale process for properties under receivership, requiring public notice in both English and Spanish, and ensuring transparency in the sale methods, minimum bid requirements, and conditions imposed by the receiver. The provisions of this bill are set to take effect on September 1, 2025.

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