H.B. No. 5187 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 proposed for conversion to mixed-use or multifamily residential occupancy, with specific requirements for the percentage of residential use.

The bill also prohibits municipalities from imposing certain regulations related to traffic impact analyses, parking requirements, and density limits that are more restrictive than existing standards. Additionally, it prevents municipalities from imposing impact fees on land where buildings have been converted to mixed-use or multifamily residential use unless those lands were already subject to such fees. The legislation mandates that if a municipal authority determines a proposed conversion meets the regulations, it must approve the permit administratively without further action from the governing body. The act is set to take effect on September 1, 2025.

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