SB 2623 Texas Senate · 89th Legislature (2025)

Relating to establishment and enforcement of school safety zones; providing a civil penalty.

This bill establishes a 1.5-mile buffer zone around schools, playgrounds, and colleges (called "school safety zones") where homeless services are prohibited. It directly affects homeless service providers (like shelters and support centers) and local governments operating such services within the buffer. The key provision bans these services in the zone unless operating as an emergency shelter during a declared disaster. Violating providers face civil penalties up to $50,000 per day, while non-compliant local governments lose flexibility to raise property tax rates above their "no-new-revenue" level. The bill excludes emergency shelters during official disaster declarations.

Issues: ✗ Housing

Bill status died 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2025

Committee Review

May 2025

Senate Passage

Apr 2025

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Mar 13, 2025 Last action May 21, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced → Engrossed · 7 edits · Apr 29, 2025

MODERATE

This bill was substantially rewritten to shift its focus from prohibiting homeless services near schools to specifically prohibiting 'navigation services' (like shelter, meals, and medical care) near schools. The new version creates a more detailed task force with 11 members instead of 4, establishes a 1,500-foot buffer zone instead of 1.5 miles, and adds numerous exemptions for emergency shelters, hospitals, and other critical facilities.

Scope change

The bill's scope changed from a broad prohibition on all homeless services to a targeted prohibition on navigation services, with many new exemptions for healthcare facilities, emergency shelters during disasters, and specific campus locations.

DEFINITION

Replaced 'homeless services' definition with 'navigation services' and added specific definitions for emergency care and service providers.

REQUIREMENT

Changed the prohibited distance from 1.5 miles to 1,500 feet for navigation services near school safety zones.

Added new requirements for independent school districts not to locate new campuses within 1,500 feet of facilities providing navigation services.

ELIGIBILITY

Added 16 specific exemptions where navigation services are allowed near schools, including hospitals, mental health facilities, and emergency shelters during disasters.

ENFORCEMENT

Increased task force membership from 4 to 11 members and changed the compliance deadline from 7 days to 30 days for service providers.

Reduced civil penalty for violations from $50,000 to $5,000 per day for service providers.

TIMELINE

Changed report deadlines from odd-numbered years to even-numbered years and set specific expiration dates for certain provisions.

Floor votes

How they voted

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

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

May 21, 2025

Lower · Passed

Committee report sent to Calendars

lower

May 20, 2025

Lower · Passed

Committee report distributed

lower

May 16, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported favorably as substituted

lower

May 14, 2025

Committee

Failed to receive affirmative vote in comm.

lower

May 13, 2025

Lower · Passed

No action taken in committee

lower

May 2, 2025

Committee

Referred to Intergovernmental Affairs

lower

May 2, 2025

Introduced

Read first time

lower

Apr 30, 2025

Introduced

Received from the Senate

lower

Apr 29, 2025

Upper · Passed

Passed

upper

Apr 29, 2025

Upper · Passed

Passed to engrossment as amended

upper

Apr 29, 2025

Upper · Passed

Amended

upper

Apr 29, 2025

Introduced

Amendment(s) offered

upper

Apr 22, 2025

Upper · Passed

Committee report printed and distributed

upper

Apr 22, 2025

Upper · Passed

Reported favorably as substituted

upper

Apr 15, 2025

Upper · Passed

Vote taken in committee

upper

Apr 8, 2025

Upper · Passed

Left pending in committee

upper

Apr 8, 2025

Upper · Passed

Testimony taken in committee

upper

Mar 31, 2025

Committee

Referred to Education K-16

upper

Mar 31, 2025

Introduced

Read first time

upper

2 primary · 0 co-sponsors