HB 2142: Simmons Homelessness Bill Orders A Study, Builds No Housing

Caption

relating to a study by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs on the feasibility of using certain models to address homelessness in this state.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

Report due December 31, 2026. No program starts, and the law expires in 2027.

The bill orders the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs to study whether homelessness could be addressed with small dwelling units and community development services run through partnerships with colleges, private entities and local governments. It touches only that department, which must send a report to the governor, lieutenant governor and legislature by December 31, 2026. Nothing changes on the ground: no housing is built, no program starts, and the law expires September 1, 2027.

Labels

Labels: STALLED AFTER COMMITTEE. Voted out of the House Intergovernmental Affairs committee 6-4 on Apr 30, 2025. Taken up on the floor on May 15, 2025 and failed. The bill died.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB2142 · 2025-01-28

SOLD BY

Rep. Lauren Ashley SimmonsDHouse 146

ITEM

relating to a study by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs on the feasibility of using certain models to address homelessness in this state.

WHAT IT DOES

Report due December 31, 2026. No program starts, and the law expires in 2027.

The bill orders the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs to study whether homelessness could be addressed with small dwelling units and community development services run through partnerships with colleges, private entities and local governments. It touches only that department, which must send a report to the governor, lieutenant governor and legislature by December 31, 2026. Nothing changes on the ground: no housing is built, no program starts, and the law expires September 1, 2027.

CHARGES

[x] STUDY, TASK FORCE, COMMISSION, REPORTanalysis confidence 90%

THE TEXT

“Not later than December 31, 2026, the department shall prepare and submit to the governor, lieutenant governor, and legislature a written report”…

Bill text, introduced version (I)

The only duty in the bill is a study and a report due late 2026, so any action on homelessness waits for a future legislature.

TOTAL

Net to General Revenue · FY 2026($371,000)

LBB estimate, flow · fiscal note version I · ( ) = negative · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version I · April 14, 2025

Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB2142, As Introduced: a negative impact of ($371,000) through the biennium ending August 31, 2027. The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.

First year · FY 2026 · ($371,000)

Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

HISTORY

Jan 28, 2025Filed
Mar 14, 2025Read first time
Mar 14, 2025Referred to Intergovernmental Affairs
Apr 15, 2025Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
Apr 15, 2025Considered in public hearing
Apr 15, 2025Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
Apr 15, 2025Left pending in committee
Apr 30, 2025Considered in formal meeting
Apr 30, 2025Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
May 8, 2025Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
May 8, 2025Committee report distributed
May 9, 2025Committee report sent to Calendars
May 10, 2025Considered in Calendars
May 12, 2025Placed on General State Calendar
May 15, 2025Read 2nd time
May 15, 2025Failed to pass to engrossment
May 15, 2025Record vote RV#2773
May 15, 2025Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal

FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

Smells

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Lauren Ashley Simmons

Donors

Texas Organizing Project Political Action Committee$17K Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$15K Texas Sands PAC$12K

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 · Oct 27, 2024 to Oct 23, 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.

Texas Organizing Project Political Action Committee$17,454.66

Texas Organizing Project Political Action Committee

$17,454.66

Cash: $0.00
Paid by others: $17,454.66
Total: $17,454.66

printing $10,819.39Other filed descriptions $6,635.27

Also funds 4 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Sep 30, 2024 to Oct 22, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Oct 2, 2026 to Oct 22, 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: 101072739.

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$15,000.00

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$15,000.00

Cash: $15,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $15,000.00

Also funds 137 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 24, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 10, 2024 to Oct 16, 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: 100986942, 101031959, 101060742, 101072739.

Texas Sands PAC$12,000.00

Texas Sands PAC

$12,000.00

Cash: $12,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $12,000.00

Also funds 121 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 3, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 10, 2024 to Oct 20, 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: 100986942, 101060742, 101072739.

Money

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

×

Texas Organizing Project Political Action Committee

$17,454.66

Cash: $0.00
Paid by others: $17,454.66
Total: $17,454.66

printing $10,819.39Other filed descriptions $6,635.27

Also funds 4 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Sep 30, 2024 to Oct 22, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Oct 2, 2026 to Oct 22, 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: 101072739.

×

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$15,000.00

Cash: $15,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $15,000.00

Also funds 137 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 24, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 10, 2024 to Oct 16, 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: 100986942, 101031959, 101060742, 101072739.

×

Texas Sands PAC

$12,000.00

Cash: $12,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $12,000.00

Also funds 121 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 3, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 10, 2024 to Oct 20, 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: 100986942, 101060742, 101072739.

Votes1

House May 15, 2025

Yea: 66
Nay: 75
Present, not voting: 1
Absent: 3
Excused: 5

Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 2773

HB 2142 failed to pass to engrossment by (Record 2773): 66 Yeas, 75 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

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

Yea: 66 (published)
Nay: 75 (published)
Present, not voting: 1 (published)
Absent: 3 (derived from named list)
Excused: 5 (derived from named list)

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

Witnesses9

For: 8
Against: 0
On: 1

Names

For

City of Fort Worth1 registration
City of Houston1 registration
City of San Antonio1 registration
Harris County Commissioners Court1 registration
Texas Civil Rights Project1 registration
Texas Council of Community Centers1 registration
Texas Homeless Network1 registration
Travis County Commissioners Court1 registration

On

Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs1 registration

Sources

9 parsed registrations across the loaded witness lists.

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

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

Fiscal

Net to General Revenue · FY 2026($371,000)

LBB estimate, flow · fiscal note version I · ( ) = negative · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version I · April 14, 2025

Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB2142, As Introduced: a negative impact of ($371,000) through the biennium ending August 31, 2027. The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.

First year · FY 2026 · ($371,000)

Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds

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 28, 2025

05/15/2025 H Failed to pass to engrossment

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced · House Committee Report

Data snapshot Nov 1, 2026 at 3:10 PM CST. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

House committee · Intergovernmental Affairs · Committee vote 6 aye, 4 nay, 1 absent · Out of committee

Subjects

Housing--Homeless Persons

Interim Studies

HOMELESS

HOUSING & COMMUNITY AFFAIRS, TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF

Text

The text as introduced · 217 words

89R5748 JG-D

By: Simmons
H.B. No. 2142

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to a study by the Texas Department of Housing and Community

Affairs on the feasibility of using certain models to address

homelessness in this state.

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

SECTION 1. (a) In this section:

(1) "Department" means the Texas Department of Housing

and Community Affairs.

(2) "Institution of higher education" has the meaning

assigned by Section 61.003, Education Code.

(b) The department shall conduct a study on the feasibility

of using a model to address homelessness in this state that is based

on:

(1) partnerships with institutions of higher

education, private entities, and local governments; and

(2) the use of:

(A) small dwelling units, as defined by the

department; and

(B) community development services and plans

provided through programs at institutions of higher education.

(c) Not later than December 31, 2026, the department shall

prepare and submit to the governor, lieutenant governor, and

legislature a written report that includes:

(1) a summary of the results of the study conducted

under this section; and

(2) any recommendations for legislative or other

action based on the results of the study.

(d) This Act expires September 1, 2027.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.

Verdict: Smells

The receipt

SOLD BY

ITEM

WHAT IT DOES

CHARGES

TOTAL

HISTORY

Donors

Texas Organizing Project Political Action Committee

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

Texas Sands PAC

Texas Organizing Project Political Action Committee

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

Texas Sands PAC

House May 15, 2025

For

On