HB 21 Texas House · 89th Legislature (2025)

Relating to housing finance corporations; authorizing a fee.

HB 21 amends Texas Local Government Code provisions affecting housing finance corporations that develop or manage low- and moderate-income housing. It defines qualifying residential developments as those where at least 90% of units are intended for households with adjusted gross income below state-defined moderate income levels. The bill also requires these corporations to follow open meetings and public records laws (Chapter 551 and 552, Government Code) and restricts their development to areas within the boundaries of their sponsoring local governments - unless approved by those governing bodies. These changes clarify operational rules and transparency requirements for housing finance corporations serving low- and moderate-income residents.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
May 2025
House Passage
May 2025
Senate Passage
May 2025
Signed into Law
May 2025
Introduced Feb 25, 2025 Signed May 28, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Engrossed Enrolled · 5 edits · May 28, 2025
MODERATE
This bill was finalized in its enrolled version with minor formatting cleanup and one substantive addition: a new requirement for housing finance corporations to submit annual compliance audits for multifamily affordable housing developments that receive tax exemptions. The bill also clarifies definitions for income-restricted housing units and strengthens tenant protections.
Scope change
The bill's scope remains focused on housing finance corporations and affordable housing developments, but enforcement requirements were expanded to include mandatory annual audits for developments receiving tax exemptions.
ENFORCEMENT

Added new Section 394.9027 requiring annual compliance audits for multifamily residential developments that claim ad valorem tax exemptions, with reports submitted to the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs.

REQUIREMENT

Added new Section 394.9026 establishing detailed requirements for tax-exempt multifamily developments, including specific income thresholds for different housing unit categories and tenant protections.

Modified Section 394.039 to add a new subsection allowing housing finance corporations to sell, convey, mortgage, pledge, lease, exchange, transfer, and otherwise dispose of all or part of their property and assets.

DEFINITION

Modified Section 394.004 to clarify that income calculations should include all persons intending to reside with the household, and removed bracketed text indicating deleted language.

TECHNICAL

Removed formatting artifacts and bracketed text from the bill text, including deleted language marked with brackets and page numbers from the original draft version.

Floor votes · House May 10, 2025

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
53
Key actions
16
Committee
10
Amendments
2
May 28, 2025
Signed into law
Signed by the Governor
executive
May 16, 2025
Upper · Passed
Signed in the Senate
upper
May 15, 2025
Lower · Passed
Signed in the House
lower
May 14, 2025
Lower · Passed
Senate passage reported
lower
May 14, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed
upper
May 12, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee report printed and distributed
upper
May 12, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported favorably w/o amendments
upper
May 12, 2025
Upper · Passed
Vote taken in committee
upper
May 12, 2025
Committee
Referred to Local Government
upper
May 12, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
upper
May 12, 2025
Introduced
Received from the House
upper
May 10, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed
lower
May 9, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed to engrossment as amended
lower
May 9, 2025
Lower · Passed
Amended
lower
May 6, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report sent to Calendars
lower
May 6, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report distributed
lower
Apr 28, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported favorably as substituted
lower
Mar 18, 2025
Lower · Passed
Left pending in committee
lower
Mar 18, 2025
Lower · Passed
Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
lower
Feb 25, 2025
Committee
Referred to Intergovernmental Affairs
lower
Feb 25, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
lower
6 primary · 97 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Carl Tepper
Carl Tepper
RRepublican
TX
84
P
Photo of Cecil Bell
Cecil Bell
RRepublican
TX
3
P
Photo of Gary Gates
Gary Gates
RRepublican
TX
28
P
Photo of Giovanni Capriglione
Giovanni Capriglione
RRepublican
TX
98
P
Photo of Paul Bettencourt
Paul Bettencourt
RRepublican
TX
7
P
Photo of Trey Martinez Fischer
Trey Martinez Fischer
DDemocratic
TX
116
Co
Photo of A.J. Louderback
A.J. Louderback
RRepublican
TX
30
Co
Photo of Adam Hinojosa
Adam Hinojosa
RRepublican
TX
27
Co
Photo of Alan Schoolcraft
Alan Schoolcraft
RRepublican
TX
44
Co
Photo of Alma Allen
Alma Allen
DDemocratic
TX
131
Co
Photo of Andy Hopper
Andy Hopper
RRepublican
TX
64
Co
Photo of Angelia Orr
Angelia Orr
RRepublican
TX
13
Co
Photo of Angie Button
Angie Button
RRepublican
TX
112
Co
Photo of Ben Bumgarner
Ben Bumgarner
RRepublican
TX
63
Co
Photo of Brad Buckley
Brad Buckley
RRepublican
TX
54
Co
Photo of Brent Money
Brent Money
RRepublican
TX
2