S.B. No. 2477 introduces new regulations for the conversion of certain office buildings to mixed-use and multifamily residential occupancy in municipalities with populations over 150,000 that are located in counties with populations exceeding 300,000. The bill establishes Chapter 218 in the Local Government Code, which includes definitions for terms such as "heavy industrial use," "mixed-use residential," and "multifamily residential." It outlines the applicability of the chapter, stating that it applies to buildings primarily used for office purposes that are at least five years old and are proposed for conversion to mixed-use or multifamily residential occupancy, with specific requirements regarding the percentage of residential use.

The bill also prohibits municipalities from imposing certain regulations related to the conversion process, such as requiring traffic impact analyses, additional parking spaces, or more restrictive design requirements than those set by the International Building Code. Additionally, it prohibits the imposition of impact fees on land where a building has been converted to mixed-use or multifamily residential use unless the land was already subject to such fees prior to the conversion permit application. The act is set to take effect on September 1, 2025, and applies only to building permits submitted after this date.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Local Government Code 395.011 (Local Government Code 395)
Senate Committee Report: Local Government Code 395.011 (Local Government Code 395)
Engrossed: Local Government Code 395.011 (Local Government Code 395)
House Committee Report: Local Government Code 395.011 (Local Government Code 395)