S.B. No. 2522 aims to clarify the powers, limitations, and duties of municipalities and counties regarding their extraterritorial jurisdictions and unincorporated areas. The bill introduces new sections to the Local Government Code, specifically Sections 42.1015 and 42.1515, which state that areas annexed for limited purposes will be considered part of the municipality's extraterritorial jurisdiction. It mandates that municipalities must disannex these areas and release them from their jurisdiction according to specified petition and election requirements. Additionally, the bill amends existing regulations in Sections 212.003 and 232.101, detailing the restrictions on municipal and county regulations concerning land use, building sizes, and lot dimensions, while also repealing Sections 232.103 and 232.104.

The amendments include the insertion of specific limitations on what municipalities and counties can regulate in their extraterritorial jurisdictions, such as the minimum size and dimensions of lots, the number of residential units per acre, and other components of lot density. The bill emphasizes that municipalities and counties cannot impose regulations that would otherwise restrict development in these areas, thereby promoting more flexible land use. The changes will only apply to plat applications filed after the effective date of the Act, ensuring that previously filed applications remain governed by the existing law. The Act is set to take effect immediately upon receiving a two-thirds vote from both houses or on September 1, 2025, if that threshold is not met.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Local Government Code 212.003, Local Government Code 232.101, Local Government Code 232.103 (Local Government Code 212, Local Government Code 232)
Senate Committee Report: Local Government Code 212.003, Local Government Code 232.101, Local Government Code 232.103 (Local Government Code 212, Local Government Code 232)