A new bill authored by State Rep. E. Sam Harless in the Texas House seeks to permit applicants to select qualified third-party reviewers for development document reviews and land inspections, according to the Texas Legislature website.
The bill on Business & Commerce, Education, and Taxation category, introduced as HB 23 during the 89(2) legislative session on Friday, Aug. 15, was formally listed with the short title: ’Relating to the exemption from ad valorem taxation of property owned by certain nonprofit corporations, located in a populous county, and used to promote agriculture, support youth, and provide educational support in the community’.
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill permits applicants for development document reviews or land inspections in Texas to select a third-party reviewer or inspector, as long as they meet specified qualifications, including employment by a regulatory authority or being a licensed engineer. It prohibits regulatory authorities from requiring applicants to waive rights to third-party reviews or seek additional approval if these have already been conducted independently. The bill mandates that the results of any third-party review or inspection be reported to the regulatory authority within 15 days. It applies to documents or inspection requests not finalized by its effective date, and, if passed without a two-thirds majority, will take effect Sept. 1, 2025.
E. Sam Harless, the chair of the House Committee on Corrections, proposed no other bills during the 89(2) legislative session. He is also a member of the House Committee on House Administration and a member of the House Committee on Licensing & Administrative Procedures.
Bills in Texas go through a multi-step legislative process, including committee review, debates, and votes in both chambers before reaching a final decision. Each session, there are typically thousands of bills introduced, but only a portion successfully navigate the process to become law.
You can read more about the bills and other measures here.
| Legislative Session | Bill Number | Date Introduced | Short Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 89(1) | HB 122 | 07/18/2025 | Relating to the exemption from ad valorem taxation of property owned by certain nonprofit corporations, located in a populous county, and used to promote agriculture, support youth, and provide educational support in the community |
| 89(R) | HB 4937 | 03/13/2025 | Relating to the frequency with which the Board of Pardons and Paroles reconsiders inmates for release on parole |
| 89(R) | HB 4614 | 03/12/2025 | Relating to the licensing and regulation of state correctional officers and the employment of those officers; requiring an occupational license |
| 89(R) | HB 4580 | 03/12/2025 | Relating to the exemption from ad valorem taxation of property owned by certain nonprofit corporations and used to promote agriculture, support youth, and provide educational support in the community |
| 89(R) | HB 4462 | 03/11/2025 | Relating to authorizing certain counties to contract for outside legal counsel in certain situations |
| 89(R) | HB 4205 | 03/10/2025 | Relating to compensation and employment benefits for law enforcement personnel in certain counties |
| 89(R) | HB 4204 | 03/10/2025 | Relating to prohibiting the use of unfair service agreements; creating an offense |
| 89(R) | HB 4125 | 03/10/2025 | Relating to the requirement that law enforcement agencies notify school districts when a school district employee is under investigation for certain criminal offenses |
| 89(R) | HB 4105 | 03/07/2025 | Relating to the authority of certain counties to consider a prospective contractor’s principal place of business when awarding certain contracts |
| 89(R) | HB 3913 | 03/06/2025 | Relating to the licensing and regulation of certain real estate professionals by the Texas Real Estate Commission |
| 89(R) | HB 3869 | 03/05/2025 | Relating to increasing the criminal penalties for the offenses of assault and harassment committed against certain employees or agents of a utility and committed in a disaster area or evacuated area |
| 89(R) | HB 3825 | 03/05/2025 | Relating to the limitation on annual gross income of cottage food production operations |
| 89(R) | HB 3687 | 03/04/2025 | Relating to certification requirements for a fire marshal and any related employee, officer, inspector, and investigator appointed by certain counties and emergency services districts |
| 89(R) | HB 3686 | 03/04/2025 | Relating to the information included on an identification card issued to certain retired peace and law enforcement officers |
| 89(R) | HB 3540 | 02/28/2025 | Relating to the regulation of pharmacists and the practice of pharmacy, including the administration of a medication and the ordering and administration of an immunization or vaccination by a pharmacist |
| 89(R) | HB 3521 | 02/28/2025 | Relating to the police officers’ public retirement system of certain municipalities |
| 89(R) | HB 3008 | 02/19/2025 | Relating to tuition and fee exemptions at public institutions of higher education for certain peace officers |
| 89(R) | HB 2688 | 02/11/2025 | Relating to the public retirement systems of certain municipalities |
| 89(R) | HB 2226 | 01/29/2025 | Relating to the beneficiaries of trust funds paid or received in connection with an improvement on specific real property |
| 89(R) | HB 2178 | 01/28/2025 | Relating to the emergency installation and use of a mobile tracking device on a vehicle by an authorized peace officer |
| 89(R) | HB 2177 | 01/28/2025 | Relating to authorizing the disclosure of certain electronic customer data by a provider of an electronic communications service or a remote computing service in certain immediate life-threatening situations |
| 89(R) | HB 2176 | 01/28/2025 | Relating to the composition and duties of a court security committee |
| 89(R) | HB 1803 | 01/09/2025 | Relating to the Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact; authorizing fees |
| 89(R) | HB 1799 | 01/09/2025 | Relating to the Interstate Dental and Dental Hygiene Licensure Compact; authorizing fees |
| 89(R) | HB 1798 | 01/09/2025 | Relating to the confidentiality of certain home address information in property tax appraisal records |
| 89(R) | HB 1327 | 11/14/2024 | Relating to the continuation of a health care provider participation program by the Harris County Hospital District |
