HB4999 - Relating to the registration of vacant buildings in certain municipalities.

  89R17036 MZM-D     By: Dutton H.B. No. 4999       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the registration of vacant buildings in certain   municipalities.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 214.232, Local Government Code, is   amended to read as follows:          Sec. 214.232.  PRESUMPTION OF VACANCY.  A building is   presumed to be vacant under this subchapter if:                (1)  all lawful residential, commercial, recreational,   charitable, or construction activity at the building has ceased, or   reasonably appears to have ceased, for more than three months [ 150   days ]; or                (2)  the building contains more than three units, 75   percent or more of which have not been used lawfully, or reasonably   appear not to have been used lawfully, for more than three months   [ 150 days ].          SECTION 2.  Section 214.233, Local Government Code, is   amended by adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:           (c)     A municipality with a population of two million or more   that is located in a county described by Subsection (a) shall adopt   the ordinance described by that subsection.   In addition to the   registration requirement, the ordinance must require:                 (1)     each owner of a vacant building to renew the   registration each year that the building remains vacant; and                 (2)     a designated municipal official to create,   maintain, and periodically update a vacancy registration database   on the municipality's Internet website that lists the address of   each vacant structure designed for use as a habitation that has been   registered with the official.          SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.