SB 2639 Texas Senate · 89th Legislature (2025)

Relating to the designation of a property as a historic landmark and the inclusion of a property in a historic district or similar preservation district by certain municipalities.

This bill (SB 2639) modifies Texas law to change how cities with populations over 950,000 can designate properties as historic landmarks or include them in historic districts. It requires property owner consent for designation, unless the city follows a specific process: providing a detailed impact statement (listing costs, tax benefits, and repair requirements) and making a written compensation offer to the owner if they object. If the owner rejects the offer, the city can seek court approval to proceed, with a judge appointing commissioners to assess damages. The law directly affects property owners in large Texas cities and aims to balance historic preservation with property rights.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2025

Committee Review

May 2025

Senate Passage

May 2025

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Mar 13, 2025 Last action May 22, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced → Engrossed · 5 edits · May 15, 2025

MODERATE

This bill updates the Texas Local Government Code to clarify procedures for designating historic landmarks and historic districts, particularly for municipalities with populations of 950,000 or more. The changes add new requirements for compensation offers, expand the types of evidence special commissioners can consider when assessing damages, and establish specific rules for handling disputes between municipalities and property owners. The bill also includes a sunset provision that applies new rules only to designations approved after the law takes effect.

Scope change

The bill applies to municipalities with populations of 950,000 or more and affects both the designation of individual historic landmarks and inclusion in historic districts. The changes primarily affect the compensation and dispute resolution process when a municipality designates property against an owner's wishes.

REQUIREMENT

New subsection (c-1) requires municipalities to make bona fide compensation offers that are at least equal to the greater of the estimated repair costs or the difference between before and after property values.

New subsection (g)(2) requires special commissioners to provide written notice of hearings to both the municipality and property owner as specified in Property Code Section 21.016.

ENFORCEMENT

Added new subsections (h) through (o) that expand special commissioners' powers, including new evidence categories they can consider, cost allocation rules, and court procedures for enforcing judgments.

TIMELINE

Added effective date provisions in Sections 3 and 4, with immediate effect if two-thirds vote is obtained, otherwise September 1, 2025.

TECHNICAL

Removed formatting inconsistencies and updated bill header information from draft version to final engrossed version.

Floor votes · Senate May 15, 2025

How they voted

25–5

Passed

Total votes 30

May 15, 2025

D Democratic10

5 Yea 5 Nay

50% Nay

R Republican20

20 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

May 22, 2025

Lower · Passed

Left pending in committee

lower

May 22, 2025

Lower · Passed

Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee

lower

May 19, 2025

Committee

Referred to Land & Resource Management

lower

May 19, 2025

Introduced

Read first time

lower

May 16, 2025

Introduced

Received from the Senate

lower

May 15, 2025

Upper · Passed

Passed

upper

May 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

Committee report printed and distributed

upper

May 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

Reported favorably as substituted

upper

May 6, 2025

Upper · Passed

Vote taken in committee

upper

Apr 28, 2025

Upper · Passed

Left pending in committee

upper

Apr 28, 2025

Upper · Passed

Testimony taken in committee

upper

Apr 3, 2025

Committee

Referred to Local Government

upper

Apr 3, 2025

Introduced

Read first time

upper

1 primary · 1 co-sponsor