The Texas House recently approved a bill aimed at addressing the high home prices in the state’s largest cities by allowing smaller homes to be built on smaller lots. This move is part of a broader effort by state lawmakers to tackle the housing crisis affecting many Texans.
The bill, known as Senate Bill 15, seeks to reduce the minimum land requirements for single-family homes in new subdivisions. Originally, the bill proposed a limit of 1,400 square feet for these homes. However, after discussions, the House amended this to 3,000 square feet. In Texas, major cities typically require homes to sit on lots of around 5,000 to 7,500 square feet.
State Representative Gary Gates, who championed the bill, emphasized that this change would allow builders to create homes at various price points, helping to meet the growing demand for affordable housing. He noted that smaller homes on smaller lots could lead to lower overall housing costs.
The bill would only apply to new subdivisions covering at least five acres and would not affect existing neighborhoods. It targets cities with populations of at least 150,000 in counties of over 300,000 residents, impacting 19 of Texas’ largest cities. Additionally, the bill will not apply in cases where homeowners associations impose restrictions on lot sizes.
The House passed the bill with a vote of 86-43, despite some opposition from Democrats who questioned whether the legislation would effectively lower housing costs. Some expressed concerns about the state interfering with local development decisions. Representative Ramon Romero, a Democrat from Fort Worth, argued that residents should have the power to decide how their communities develop.
Romero added an amendment requiring cities to create a new zoning category to comply with the bill, which critics say could undermine its effectiveness.
The Senate will now need to review the changes made by the House. Lt. Governor Dan Patrick, who supports the bill, stated that he had not yet seen the amendments but expressed optimism about collaboration between the two chambers.
This legislation is part of a larger set of proposals in the Texas Legislature aimed at alleviating the housing shortage, which experts estimate to be around 320,000 homes. Other measures include easing restrictions on building apartments and mixed-use developments, addressing the conversion of vacant office spaces into residences, and preventing cities from blocking the construction of manufactured homes.
As the Texas housing market continues to grapple with rising prices, lawmakers are racing to implement solutions before the situation worsens.