Monitoring the Session

HB 2011

bill letting landowners buy back condemned land

Became law, effective Sep 1, 2025

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review
Rep. Cecil Bell Jr.RHouse 3

Initial review · graded Oct 20, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade

Caption

relating to the right to repurchase from a condemning entity certain real property for which ad valorem taxes are delinquent.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

Taking entity leaves the property taxes unpaid two years? Owner can buy back.

The bill lets a landowner whose property was taken through eminent domain buy it back if the taking entity owes property taxes on the land and leaves any of them unpaid for two years after they come due. It touches former owners and their heirs, and any condemning entity that has to pay property taxes on the land it takes, which must now send notice and, on request once a year after 18 months, report whether the taxes are paid. A qualifying former owner can buy the land back at the original price the entity paid, but only for land taken in condemnation cases filed on or after September 1, 2025.

Labels

Labels: BUZZER BEATER. Final vote May 31, 2025: the House adopted the conference committee report. 2 days before the session ended Jun 2, 2025.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB2011 · 2025-01-22

SOLD BY

ITEM

relating to the right to repurchase from a condemning entity certain real property for which ad valorem taxes are delinquent.

WHAT IT DOES

Taking entity leaves the property taxes unpaid two years? Owner can buy back.

The bill lets a landowner whose property was taken through eminent domain buy it back if the taking entity owes property taxes on the land and leaves any of them unpaid for two years after they come due. It touches former owners and their heirs, and any condemning entity that has to pay property taxes on the land it takes, which must now send notice and, on request once a year after 18 months, report whether the taxes are paid. A qualifying former owner can buy the land back at the original price the entity paid, but only for land taken in condemnation cases filed on or after September 1, 2025.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version F · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version F · May 30, 2025

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

HISTORY

  1. Filed
  2. Read first time
  3. Referred to Land & Resource Management
  4. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  5. Considered in public hearing
  6. Left pending in committee
  7. Considered in formal meeting
  8. Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
  9. Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
  10. Committee report distributed
  11. Committee report sent to Calendars
  12. Considered in Calendars
  13. Placed on General State Calendar
  14. Read 2nd time
  15. Passed to engrossment
  16. Record vote RV#2411
  17. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  18. Read 3rd time
  19. Passed
  20. Record vote RV#2482
  21. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  22. Reported engrossed
  23. Received from the House
  24. Read first time
  25. Referred to Local Government
  26. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  27. Considered in public hearing
  28. Vote taken in committee
  29. Reported favorably w/o amendments
  30. Recommended for local & uncontested calendar
  31. Committee report printed and distributed
  32. Co-sponsor authorized
  33. Placed on intent calendar
  34. Co-sponsor authorized
  35. Rules suspended-Regular order of business
  36. Read 2nd time
  37. Amendment(s) offered FA1 Paxton
  38. Amended
  39. Vote recorded in Journal
  40. Passed to 3rd reading as amended
  41. Vote recorded in Journal
  42. Three day rule suspended
  43. Record vote
  44. Read 3rd time
  45. Passed
  46. Record vote
  47. Senate passage as amended reported
  48. Senate Amendments distributed
  49. Senate Amendments Analysis distributed
  50. House refuses to concur in Senate amendments
  51. House requests conference committee
  52. House appoints conferees
  53. House refuses to concur-reported
  54. House requests conference committee-reported
  55. House appoints conferees-reported
  56. Senate grants request for conference comm.
  57. Senate appoints conferees
  58. Senate grants request for conf comm-reported
  59. Senate appoints conferees-reported
  60. Conference committee report filed
  61. Conf. Comm. Report distributed
  62. Senate adopts conference committee report
  63. Record vote
  64. Senate adopts conf. comm. report-reported
  65. House adopts conference committee report
  66. Record vote RV#4105
  67. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  68. House adopts conf. comm. report-reported
  69. Reported enrolled
  70. Signed in the House
  71. Signed in the Senate
  72. Sent to the Governor
  73. Signed by the Governor
  74. Effective on 9/1/25
FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

SIGNED FOR BY

House · 136 yea · 0 nay

Senate · 31 yea · 0 nay

Sources

House: Final passage · May 14, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate: Final passage · May 23, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

All floor motions and other positions below.

No flags

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Donors

Not tied to this bill.

Sources

The author's campaign account only. Own money and internal transfers are separate on the member page.

Derived itemized flow · Aug 30, 2024 to Apr 2, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$303,416.00

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$303,416.00

Cash
$77,500.00
Paid by others
$225,916.00
Total
$303,416.00
mail $151,916.00advertising $57,250.00polling $16,750.00

Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Nov 14, 2024 to Mar 3, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101012348, 101016762, 101032999, 101036177, 101041213, 101061435.

DUSTIN BURROWS CAMPAIGN$84,000.00

DUSTIN BURROWS CAMPAIGN

$84,000.00

Cash
$75,000.00
Paid by others
$9,000.00
Total
$84,000.00
polling $9,000.00

Also funds 39 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Sep 13, 2025 to Sep 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 29, 2025 to Jan 27, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101032999, 101036177, 101041213.

Texas Conservative Majority PAC$83,505.68

Texas Conservative Majority PAC

$83,505.68

Cash
$0.00
Paid by others
$83,505.68
Total
$83,505.68
canvassing $50,000.00Other filed descriptions $24,666.67polling $7,750.00texting $1,089.01

Also funds 42 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jan 23, 2026 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Feb 9, 2026 to Mar 3, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101041213, 101061435.

Money

Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.

×

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$303,416.00

Cash
$77,500.00
Paid by others
$225,916.00
Total
$303,416.00
mail $151,916.00advertising $57,250.00polling $16,750.00

Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Nov 14, 2024 to Mar 3, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101012348, 101016762, 101032999, 101036177, 101041213, 101061435.

×

DUSTIN BURROWS CAMPAIGN

$84,000.00

Cash
$75,000.00
Paid by others
$9,000.00
Total
$84,000.00
polling $9,000.00

Also funds 39 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Sep 13, 2025 to Sep 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 29, 2025 to Jan 27, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101032999, 101036177, 101041213.

×

Texas Conservative Majority PAC

$83,505.68

Cash
$0.00
Paid by others
$83,505.68
Total
$83,505.68
canvassing $50,000.00Other filed descriptions $24,666.67polling $7,750.00texting $1,089.01

Also funds 42 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jan 23, 2026 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Feb 9, 2026 to Mar 3, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101041213, 101061435.

Votes7

House May 31, 2025

Yea
133
Nay
0
Present, not voting
2
Absent
2
Excused
13
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 4105

Representative C. Bell moved to adopt the conference committee report on HB 2011. The motion to adopt the conference committee report on HB 2011 prevailed by (Record 4105): 133 Yeas, 0 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 133 (published)
  • Nay: 0 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 2 (published)
  • Absent: 2 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 13 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate May 30, 2025

Yea
31
Nay
0
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

Senate journal

Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.

Sources

On motion of Senator Paxton, the Conference Committee Report was adopted by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 31 (published)
  • Nay: 0 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate May 23, 2025

Yea
31
Nay
0
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

Senate journal

Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.

Sources

Senator Paxton moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that HB 2011 be placed on its third reading and final passage. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 31 (published)
  • Nay: 0 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate May 23, 2025

Yea
31
Nay
0
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

Senate journal

Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.

Sources

Senator Paxton moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that HB 2011 be placed on its third reading and final passage. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 31 (published)
  • Nay: 0 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate May 23, 2025

Yea
Not printed
Nay
Not printed
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

Senate journal

Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.

Voice vote. No numeric tally or individual yeas are inferred.

Sources

HB 2011 as amended was passed to third reading by a viva voce vote.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: Not printed
  • Nay: Not printed
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

House May 14, 2025

Yea
136
Nay
0
Present, not voting
2
Absent
9
Excused
3
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 2482

HB 2011 was passed by (Record 2482): 136 Yeas, 0 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 136 (published)
  • Nay: 0 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 2 (published)
  • Absent: 9 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 3 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

House May 13, 2025

Yea
137
Nay
0
Present, not voting
2
Absent
1
Excused
10
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 2411

HB 2011 was passed to engrossment by (Record 2411): 137 Yeas, 0 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 137 (published)
  • Nay: 0 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 2 (published)
  • Absent: 1 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 10 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Witnesses2
For
0
Against
2
On
0
Names

Against

  • CenterPoint Energy1 registration
  • City of Houston1 registration
Sources

2 parsed registrations across the loaded witness lists.

Derived stock of witness registrations. Repeated appearances count separately. Organizations and self-representation appear as printed.

Senate witness list. Source snapshot 2026-10-20, Central time.

Fiscal

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version F · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version F · May 30, 2025

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

How this was graded

Analysis of text version I by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 20, 2026, against the published rubric.

Sources

Texas House · Filed Jan 22, 2025

06/20/2025 E Effective on 9/1/25

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced · House Committee Report · Engrossed · Senate Committee Report · Enrolled

Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:20 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

Sponsors
Cosponsors

House committee · Land & Resource Management · Committee vote 7 aye, 0 nay, 2 absent · Out of committee

Senate committee · Local Government · Committee vote 6 aye, 0 nay, 1 absent · Out of committee

Subjects

Property Interests--Eminent Domain

Property Interests--Real Property

Taxation--Property-Assessment & Collection

CONDEMNATION

Text

The text as introduced · 920 words

89R5298 JBD-D

By: Bell of Montgomery
H.B. No. 2011

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the right to repurchase from a condemning entity

certain real property for which ad valorem taxes are delinquent.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 21.101(a), Property Code, is amended to

read as follows:

(a) A person from whom a real property interest is acquired

by an entity through eminent domain for a public use, or that

person's heirs, successors, or assigns, is entitled to repurchase

the property as provided by this subchapter if:

(1) the public use for which the property was acquired

through eminent domain is canceled before the property is used for

that public use;

(2) no actual progress is made toward the public use

for which the property was acquired between the date of acquisition

and the 10th anniversary of that date; [ or ]

(3) the property becomes unnecessary for the public

use for which the property was acquired, or a substantially similar

public use, before the 10th anniversary of the date of acquisition ;

or

(4) the entity that acquired the property through

eminent domain:

(A) has an obligation to pay ad valorem taxes on

the acquired property; and

(B) has failed to pay any ad valorem taxes on the

acquired property before the second anniversary of the date on

which the unpaid taxes became due .

SECTION 2. Section 21.102, Property Code, is amended to

read as follows:

Sec. 21.102. NOTICE TO PREVIOUS PROPERTY OWNER REQUIRED.

Not later than the 180th day after the date an entity that acquired

a real property interest through eminent domain determines that the

former property owner is entitled to repurchase the property under

Section 21.101, the entity shall send by certified mail, return

receipt requested, to the property owner or the owner's heirs,

successors, or assigns a notice containing:

(1) an identification, which is not required to be a

legal description, of the property that was acquired;

(2) an identification of the public use for which the

property had been acquired and a statement that:

(A) the public use was canceled before the

property was used for the public use;

(B) no actual progress was made toward the public

use; [ or ]

(C) the property became unnecessary for the

public use, or a substantially similar public use, before the 10th

anniversary of the date of acquisition; or

(D) ad valorem taxes due on the property have not

been paid by the entity before the second anniversary of the date on

which the taxes became due; and

(3) a description of the person's right under this

subchapter to repurchase the property.

SECTION 3. Section 21.1021, Property Code, is amended by

adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows:

(a-1) If a property owner's real property was acquired by an

entity that is responsible for paying ad valorem taxes on the

acquired property, the property owner from whom the property was

acquired or the owner's heirs, successors, or assigns may request

at any time after the 18-month anniversary of the acquisition, but

not more than once annually, that the condemning entity make a

determination and provide a statement and other relevant

information regarding:

(1) whether all ad valorem taxes on the acquired

property have been paid; or

(2) if any ad valorem taxes on the acquired property

have not been paid:

(A) the amount of the unpaid ad valorem taxes;

(B) each due date of any unpaid ad valorem taxes;

and

(C) whether the entity has a good faith intention

to pay the unpaid ad valorem taxes.

SECTION 4. Section 21.103, Property Code, is amended to

read as follows:

Sec. 21.103. RESALE OF PROPERTY; PRICE. (a) Not later than

the 180th day after the date of the postmark on a notice sent under

Section 21.102 or a response to a request made under Section 21.1021

that indicates that the property owner, or the owner's heirs,

successors, or assigns, is entitled to repurchase the property

interest in accordance with Section 21.101, the property owner or

the owner's heirs, successors, or assigns must notify the entity of

the person's intent to repurchase the property interest under this

subchapter.

(a-1) Notwithstanding Subsection (a), a person entitled to

repurchase real property under Section 21.101(a)(4) may inform the

entity that acquired the property of the person's intent to

repurchase the property before notice or information is required or

provided under Section 21.102 or 21.1021.

(b) As soon as practicable after receipt of a notice of

intent to repurchase under this section [ Subsection (a) ], the

entity shall offer to sell the property interest to the person for

the price paid to the owner by the entity at the time the entity

acquired the property through eminent domain. The person's right

to repurchase the property expires on the 90th day after the date on

which the entity makes the offer.

SECTION 5. Subchapter E, Chapter 21, Property Code, as

amended by this Act, applies only to a condemnation proceeding in

which the petition is filed on or after the effective date of this

Act and to any property condemned through the proceeding. A

condemnation proceeding in which the petition is filed before the

effective date of this Act and any property condemned through the

proceeding are governed by the law in effect immediately before the

effective date of this Act, and that law is continued in effect for

that purpose.

SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.