The bill amends the Local Government Code to establish an option for third-party review of development documents and inspections, allowing applicants and landowners to seek independent evaluations when regulatory authorities fail to act within specified timeframes. Specifically, it introduces provisions that enable applicants to obtain reviews from qualified individuals, such as licensed engineers or inspectors, rather than relying solely on the regulatory authority. The bill also stipulates that any person conducting a review or inspection must adhere to applicable laws as if they were the regulatory authority and must notify the regulatory authority of the results within 15 days.

Additionally, the bill prohibits regulatory authorities from requiring applicants to waive their right to third-party reviews or to seek additional approvals for documents already approved by third-party reviewers. This aims to streamline the development process and ensure that applicants have the necessary recourse if regulatory authorities do not meet their obligations. The changes apply only to development documents or inspection requests that are not finalized by the effective date of the Act, ensuring that existing processes remain unaffected.