Monitoring the Session

HB 2512

Geren Bill Keeps More Land Under City Control

Became law, effective Sep 1, 2025

Verdict: Smells

SmellsInitial review
Rep. Charlie GerenRHouse 99
Why it's charged
The hole

THE TEXT

…“agreement entered into under Section 43.0751 , or any other”…

Bill text, introduced version (I)

The release-by-petition right stays on the books, but the new exclusion for land under 'any other agreement' with the city, plus city water service areas and a tripled base buffer, could keep much of the land that would otherwise qualify from leaving. The caption is neutral, so this narrows an existing right rather than defeating a promise the bill makes.

The hole

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 release of an area from a municipality's extraterritorial jurisdiction by petition or election.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

The military base buffer triples to 15 miles. Land under “any other” city agreement stays put.

The bill widens the list of places where landowners cannot use a petition or an election to pull their land out of a city's extraterritorial jurisdiction. It touches landowners and residents on the edges of Texas cities, especially near military bases, inside a city's water service area, or under any agreement with the city. More land stays under city control: the military-base buffer grows from five to fifteen miles, and land covered by any agreement or inside a city water service area can no longer be released.

Labels

Labels: NO AUTOGRAPH. Became law without the governor's signature on Jun 20, 2025.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB2512 · 2025-02-05

SOLD BY

Rep. Charlie GerenRHouse 99

ITEM

relating to release of an area from a municipality's extraterritorial jurisdiction by petition or election.

WHAT IT DOES

The military base buffer triples to 15 miles. Land under “any other” city agreement stays put.

The bill widens the list of places where landowners cannot use a petition or an election to pull their land out of a city's extraterritorial jurisdiction. It touches landowners and residents on the edges of Texas cities, especially near military bases, inside a city's water service area, or under any agreement with the city. More land stays under city control: the military-base buffer grows from five to fifteen miles, and land covered by any agreement or inside a city water service area can no longer be released.

CHARGES

[x] THE HOLEanalysis confidence 50%

THE TEXT

…“agreement entered into under Section 43.0751 , or any other”…

Bill text, introduced version (I)

The release-by-petition right stays on the books, but the new exclusion for land under 'any other agreement' with the city, plus city water service areas and a tripled base buffer, could keep much of the land that would otherwise qualify from leaving. The caption is neutral, so this narrows an existing right rather than defeating a promise the bill makes.

TOTAL

No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version F · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version F · May 28, 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. Committee substitute considered in committee
  7. Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
  8. Left pending in committee
  9. Considered in formal meeting
  10. Committee substitute considered in committee
  11. Reported favorably as substituted
  12. Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
  13. Committee report distributed
  14. Committee report sent to Calendars
  15. Considered in Calendars
  16. Placed on General State Calendar
  17. Read 2nd time
  18. Amended 1-Geren
  19. Passed to engrossment as amended
  20. Record vote RV#2709
  21. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  22. Read 3rd time
  23. Passed
  24. Record vote RV#2830
  25. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  26. Reported engrossed
  27. Received from the House
  28. Read first time
  29. Referred to Local Government
  30. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  31. Considered in public hearing
  32. Testimony taken in committee
  33. Left pending in committee
  34. Considered in public hearing
  35. Vote taken in committee
  36. Reported favorably w/o amendments
  37. Committee report printed and distributed
  38. Corrected comm. report printed & distributed
  39. Placed on intent calendar
  40. Rules suspended-Regular order of business
  41. Record vote
  42. Read 2nd time
  43. Amendment(s) offered FA1 King
  44. Amended
  45. Vote recorded in Journal
  46. Amendment(s) offered FA2 Schwertner
  47. Amendment withdrawn
  48. Amendment(s) offered FA3 Bettencourt
  49. Amended
  50. Vote recorded in Journal
  51. Passed to 3rd reading as amended
  52. Record vote
  53. Three day rule suspended
  54. Record vote
  55. Read 3rd time
  56. Passed
  57. Record vote
  58. Senate passage as amended reported
  59. Senate Amendments distributed
  60. Senate Amendments Analysis distributed
  61. House concurs in Senate amendment(s)
  62. Record vote RV#4044
  63. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  64. Text of Senate Amendment(s)
  65. House concurs in Senate amendment(s)-reported
  66. Reported enrolled
  67. Signed in the House
  68. Signed in the Senate
  69. Sent to the Governor
  70. Filed without the Governor's signature
  71. Effective on 9/1/25
FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

SIGNED FOR BY

House · 112 yea · 21 nay

Senate · 27 yea · 4 nay

Sources

House: Final passage · May 16, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate: Final passage · May 27, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

All floor motions and other positions below.

Smells

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Charlie Geren

Donors

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$100KJon & Rebecca Brumley$50,000Michael Gallagher$40,000

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 · Nov 5, 2024 to Oct 24, 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 Trial Lawyers Association PAC$100,000.00

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$100,000.00

Cash
$100,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$100,000.00

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 · Jun 26, 2025 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.

Report IDs: 101004598, 101020024, 101055554, 101067438, 101071413.

Jon & Rebecca Brumley$50,000.00
Michael Gallagher$40,000.00
Money

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

×

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$100,000.00

Cash
$100,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$100,000.00

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 · Jun 26, 2025 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.

Report IDs: 101004598, 101020024, 101055554, 101067438, 101071413.

Votes7

House May 29, 2025

Yea
119
Nay
20
Present, not voting
1
Absent
4
Excused
6
Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 4044

Representative Geren moved to concur in the senate amendments to HB 2512. The motion to concur in the senate amendments to HB 2512 prevailed by (Record 4044): 119 Yeas, 20 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

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

  • Yea: 119 (published)
  • Nay: 20 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 1 (published)
  • Absent: 4 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 6 (derived from named list)

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

Senate May 27, 2025

Yea
27
Nay
4
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
0
Excused
0
Names

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

Senate journal

Sources

The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 27, Nays 4. (Same as previous roll call)

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

  • Yea: 27 (published)
  • Nay: 4 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

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

Senate May 27, 2025

Yea
27
Nay
4
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
0
Excused
0
Names

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

Senate journal

Sources

Senator King moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that HB 2512 be placed on its third reading and final passage. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 27, Nays 4.

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

  • Yea: 27 (published)
  • Nay: 4 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

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

Senate May 27, 2025

Yea
27
Nay
4
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
0
Excused
0
Names

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

Senate journal

Sources

HB 2512 as amended was passed to third reading by the following vote: Yeas 27, Nays 4.

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

  • Yea: 27 (published)
  • Nay: 4 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

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

Senate May 27, 2025

Yea
27
Nay
4
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
0
Excused
0
Names

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

Senate journal

Sources

Senator King moved to suspend the regular order of business to take up for consideration HB 2512 at this time on its second reading: HB 2512, Relating to the release of certain areas from a municipality's extraterritorial jurisdiction by petition or election. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 27, Nays 4.

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

  • Yea: 27 (published)
  • Nay: 4 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

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

House May 16, 2025

Yea
112
Nay
21
Present, not voting
2
Absent
0
Excused
15
Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 2830

HB 2512 was passed by (Record 2830): 112 Yeas, 21 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.

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

  • Yea: 112 (published)
  • Nay: 21 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 2 (published)
  • Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 15 (derived from named list)

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

House May 15, 2025

Yea
110
Nay
21
Present, not voting
2
Absent
3
Excused
14
Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 2709

CSHB 2512, as amended, was passed to engrossment by (Record 2709): 110 Yeas, 21 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.

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

  • Yea: 110 (published)
  • Nay: 21 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 2 (published)
  • Absent: 3 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 14 (derived from named list)

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

Witnesses27
For
22
Against
2
On
3
Names

For

  • City of Austin2 registrations
  • City of Fort Worth2 registrations
  • City of Fulshear1 registration
  • City of McAllen1 registration
  • Director, Tarrant County Government Relations1 registration
  • El Paso County1 registration
  • Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance1 registration
  • McKinney Chamber of Commerce; City of McKinney1 registration
  • San Marcos, Texas1 registration
  • Self1 registration
  • Self; American Planning Association, Texas Chapter1 registration
  • Self; South Texans’ Property Rights Association1 registration
  • Texas Association of Builders2 registrations
  • Texas Farm Bureau2 registrations
  • Texas Municipal League2 registrations
  • Texas Water Infrastructure Network (TXWIN)2 registrations

Against

  • City of Leander1 registration
  • Texas Public Policy Foundation1 registration

On

  • Self1 registration
  • Self; BMR Land LLC1 registration
  • Texas Association of Builders1 registration
Sources

27 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.

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

Fiscal

No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version F · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version F · May 28, 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 Feb 5, 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 4:19 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

Sponsors
Phil KingRSenate 10

House committee · Land & Resource Management · Committee vote 6 aye, 0 nay, 3 absent · Out of committee

Senate committee · Local Government · Committee vote 5 aye, 1 nay, 1 absent · Out of committee

Subjects

City Government--Annexation

PLATTING

Text

The text as introduced · 330 words

By: Geren
H.B. No. 2512

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to release of an area from a municipality's

extraterritorial jurisdiction by petition or election.

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

SECTION 1. Section 42.101, Local Government Code, is

amended by amending Subdivisions (1), (4), and (5) and adding

Subdivision (6) to read as follows:

(1) within [ five ] fifteen miles of the boundary of a

military base, as defined by Section 43.0117, at which an active

training program is conducted;

(4) in an area designated as an industrial district

under Subsection 42.044; [ or ]

(5) in an area subject to a strategic partnership

agreement entered into under Section 43.0751 , or any other

agreement, including a development agreement entered into under

Section 212.172; or [ . ]

(6) in an area within a municipality’s certificate of

convenience and necessity issued in accordance with Chapter 13,

Subchapter G, Water Code.

SECTION 2. Section 42.151, Local Government Code, is

amended by amending Subdivisions (1), (4), and (5) and adding

Subdivision (6) to read as follows:

(1) within [ five ] fifteen miles of the boundary of a

military base, as defined by Section 43.0117, at which an active

training program is conducted;

(4) in an area designated as an industrial district

under Section 42.044; [ or ]

(5) in an area subject to a strategic partnership

agreement entered into under Section 43.0751 , or any other

agreement, including a development agreement entered into under

Section 212.172; or [ . ]

(6) in an area within a municipality’s certificate of

convenience and necessity issued in accordance with Chapter 13,

Subchapter G, Water Code.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives

a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as

provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this

Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this

Act takes effect September 1, 2025.