Providing owners of real estate taken through eminent domain by school districts, or sold under threat of eminent domain, the opportunity to purchase the real estate back when it is not put to intended public use.
SB 5142, known as the Houston eminent domain fairness act, provides former owners of real estate acquired by school districts through eminent domain or under threat of condemnation the opportunity to buy it back. If a school district does not use the property for its intended public purpose, such as school facilities, and decides to sell or transfer it, they must offer to sell it to the previous owner or their heirs. The repurchase price would be the original amount the school district paid for the property. This right is triggered under specific conditions, like the cancellation of the public use or lack of progress within 10 years, and it generally expires 15 years after the district acquired the property.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2025
Senate Passage
Apr 2025
House Passage
Apr 2025
Signed into Law
May 2025
Introduced Jan 7, 2025
Signed May 12, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons
What changed between versions
Engrossed Substitute Bill
→
Substitute Passed Legislature
·
2 edits
MINOR
The bill added a new certification section to formalize the legislative history and significantly expanded the conditions under which former property owners can repurchase land acquired by a school district. Previously, owners could only repurchase land if the public use was canceled, progress stalled for 10 years, or the land became unnecessary. The update now allows repurchase if the project is stalled due to funding issues, permitting delays, or if the land was acquired more than a year ago without being included in the district's six-year capital plan.
Scope change
The bill's scope expanded to include new scenarios for property repurchase, specifically addressing situations where projects are delayed by funding or permitting rather than just being abandoned.
ENFORCEMENT
Added a new certification section to document the bill's passage by the Senate and House.
ELIGIBILITY
Added new criteria allowing property owners to repurchase land if no funding or applications have been submitted, no additional land is needed, the property is not in the six-year capital plan, or the property was acquired over one year ago.
Floor votes · Senate Feb 25, 2025 · House Apr 9, 2025
How they voted
51–0
Passed
Total votes 51
Feb 25, 2025
D
Democratic31
100% Yea
R
Republican20
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
29
Key actions
13
Committee
7
May 12, 2025
Signed into law
Governor signed.
executive
Apr 22, 2025
Lower · Passed
Speaker signed.
lower
Apr 19, 2025
Upper · Passed
President signed.
upper
Apr 17, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed final passage; yeas, 49; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 0.
upper
Apr 17, 2025
Upper · Passed
Senate concurred in House amendments.
upper
Apr 9, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee amendment(s) adopted with no other amendments.
lower
Apr 9, 2025
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (99-0-1)
house
Mar 28, 2025
Committee
Referred to Rules 2 Review.
lower
Mar 26, 2025
Lower · Passed
CRJ - Majority; do pass with amendment(s).
lower
Mar 26, 2025
Lower · Passed
Executive action taken in the House Committee on Civil Rights & Judiciary at 8:00 AM.
lower
Mar 18, 2025
Lower · Passed
Public hearing in the House Committee on Civil Rights & Judiciary at 10:30 AM.
lower
Feb 25, 2025
Upper · Passed
Floor amendment(s) adopted.
upper
Jan 30, 2025
Upper · Passed
Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Law & Justice at 10:30 AM.
upper
Jan 23, 2025
Upper · Passed
Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Law & Justice at 10:30 AM.
upper
1 primary · 4 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Bob Hasegawa
DDemocratic
Co
Lisa Wellman
DDemocratic
Co
Mark Schoesler
RRepublican
Co
Mike Chapman
DDemocratic
Co
T'wina Nobles
DDemocratic
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