HB 4165
Bucy’s bill rewriting the zoning protest rule
Died in committee
Verdict: No flags
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 protesting changes to municipal zoning regulations and boundaries.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Summary
Nonresidential changes keep the 20 percent, three-fourths vote rule.
The bill rewrites the Texas rule that lets nearby landowners protest a city zoning change and force a three-fourths council vote. For zoning changes that do not involve residential property, the old rule stays the same: a protest signed by owners of 20 percent of the affected or adjoining land still forces a three-fourths vote. For residential zoning changes, a protest now needs owners of 50 percent of the land and forces only a simple majority of the full council, so residential neighbors lose their power to require a supermajority for changes that apply to zoning proposals noticed on or after September 1, 2025.
Labels
Labels: NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Mar 10, 2025 and referred to the House Land & Resource Management committee. No public hearing. The bill died.
Receipt
The receipt
89R-HB4165 · 2025-03-10
SOLD BY
ITEM
relating to protesting changes to municipal zoning regulations and boundaries.
WHAT IT DOES
Nonresidential changes keep the 20 percent, three-fourths vote rule.
The bill rewrites the Texas rule that lets nearby landowners protest a city zoning change and force a three-fourths council vote. For zoning changes that do not involve residential property, the old rule stays the same: a protest signed by owners of 20 percent of the affected or adjoining land still forces a three-fourths vote. For residential zoning changes, a protest now needs owners of 50 percent of the land and forces only a simple majority of the full council, so residential neighbors lose their power to require a supermajority for changes that apply to zoning proposals noticed on or after September 1, 2025.
CHARGES
[ ] NONE FOUND
TOTAL
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
HISTORY
- Filed
- Read first time
- Referred to Land & Resource Management
FILED UNDER
No verified beat found.
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 · Oct 28, 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.
Agave Democratic Infrastructure Fund$56,000.00
Agave Democratic Infrastructure Fund
$56,000.00
- Cash
- $25,000.00
- Paid by others
- $31,000.00
- Total
- $56,000.00
Also funds 5 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Nov 22, 2024 to Oct 12, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
Sources
Derived itemized flow · Nov 22, 2024 to Oct 12, 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: 100986907, 101059773, 101069326, 101072293.
Texas Sands PAC$17,000.00
Texas Sands PAC
$17,000.00
- Cash
- $17,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $17,000.00
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.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Dec 9, 2024 to Sep 29, 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: 100986907, 101032801, 101059773, 101072293.
Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
Agave Democratic Infrastructure Fund
$56,000.00
- Cash
- $25,000.00
- Paid by others
- $31,000.00
- Total
- $56,000.00
Also funds 5 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Nov 22, 2024 to Oct 12, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
Sources
Derived itemized flow · Nov 22, 2024 to Oct 12, 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: 100986907, 101059773, 101069326, 101072293.
Texas Sands PAC
$17,000.00
- Cash
- $17,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $17,000.00
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.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Dec 9, 2024 to Sep 29, 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: 100986907, 101032801, 101059773, 101072293.
Votes
No floor vote loaded for this bill.
Fiscal
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
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 Mar 10, 2025
03/31/2025 H Referred to Land & Resource Management: Mar 31 2025 4:34PM
Texas Legislature Online · Introduced
Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:20 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.
House committee · Land & Resource Management · Final status: Died in committee
Subjects
City Government--Land Use & Zoning
Text
The text as introduced · 348 words
By: Bucy H.B. No. 4165 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to protesting changes to municipal zoning regulations and boundaries. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 211.006(d), Local Government Code, is amended to read as follows: (d) If a proposed change to a regulation or boundary other than in a zoning classification affecting residential is protested in accordance with this subsection, the proposed change must receive, in order to take effect, the affirmative vote of at least three-fourths of all members of the governing body. The protest must be written and signed by the owners of at least 20 percent of either: (1) the area of the lots or land covered by the proposed change; or (2) the area of the lots or land immediately adjoining the area covered by the proposed change and extending 200 feet from that area. (d-1) If a proposed change to a regulation or boundary in a zoning classification affecting residential is protested in accordance with this subsection, the proposed change must receive, in order to take effect, the affirmative vote of a majority of all members of the governing body. The protest must be written and signed by the owners of at least 50 percent of either: (1) the area of the lots or land covered by the proposed change; or (2) the area of the lots or land immediately adjoining the area covered by the proposed change and extending 200 feet from that area. SECTION 2. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to a proposal to change a municipal zoning regulation or zoning district boundary for which notice is given on or after the effective date of this Act. A proposal to change a municipal zoning regulation or zoning district boundary for which notice is given before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the notice was given, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.