HB 4626

cities need a hearing before turning property into homeless housing

Companion SB 617 became law

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review

Rep. Caroline Harris DavilaRHouse 52

Initial review · graded Oct 22, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade

Caption

relating to hearing and public notice requirements regarding the conversion by a municipality of certain properties to house homeless individuals.

Caption from analyzed text · version H.

Summary

Hearing 90 days out, notice 36 hours before it. Neighbors can sue.

The bill bars a city council from approving the conversion of city-controlled property into housing for homeless people unless it first holds a public hearing at least 90 days before the work starts, at a spot within one mile of the property. It touches city governments and the homes and businesses within a mile of the site, which must get mailed notice at least 36 hours before the hearing, and it overrides any conflicting city charter rule. Neighbors who were owed notice can go to district court to block the conversion if the city skips these steps, and emergency shelter during disasters or declared emergencies is exempt.

Labels

Labels: BACK FROM THE DEAD. Same text as a bill filed before that died: 88R SB 1214 by Sen. Schwertner (Died in committee). Filed in 2 sessions, counting this one. Checked against 88R only.TRY NO. 2. Filed in 2 sessions: 88R and 89R. Checked against 88R only.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB4626 · 2025-03-12

SOLD BY

Rep. Caroline Harris DavilaRHouse 52

+ 2 coauthors

ITEM

relating to hearing and public notice requirements regarding the conversion by a municipality of certain properties to house homeless individuals.

WHAT IT DOES

Hearing 90 days out, notice 36 hours before it. Neighbors can sue.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version I · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version I · April 14, 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

Mar 12, 2025Filed
Apr 3, 2025Read first time
Apr 3, 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 28, 2025Considered in formal meeting
Apr 28, 2025Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
May 6, 2025Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
May 6, 2025Committee report distributed
May 7, 2025Committee report sent to Calendars
May 8, 2025Considered in Calendars
May 10, 2025Placed on General State Calendar
May 13, 2025Companion considered in lieu of SB 617
May 13, 2025Laid on the table subject to call

FILED UNDER

SPEECH AND LAWFARE

THE TEXT

…“an individual who is entitled to notice under Subsection (b) may bring an action for injunctive relief”…

Bill text, House committee report version (H)

The bill gives nearby residents and businesses a right to sue in district court to stop a city's homeless-housing conversion when the hearing and notice rules are not followed.

No flags

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Caroline Harris Davila

Donors

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$961K Texas Conservative Majority PAC$739K Court Reform Action for Familes Texas PAC$75K

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 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.

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$960,552.08

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$960,552.08

Cash: $85,000.00
Paid by others: $875,552.08
Total: $960,552.08

advertising $595,238.00mail $237,770.40polling $42,460.35fundraiser $83.33

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 · Jun 23, 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: 101008087, 101031516, 101035818, 101040655, 101057099, 101067933, 101070037.

Texas Conservative Majority PAC$739,102.00

Texas Conservative Majority PAC

$739,102.00

Cash: $200,000.00
Paid by others: $539,102.00
Total: $739,102.00

canvassing $430,352.00advertising $100,000.00polling $8,750.00

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 · Sep 8, 2026 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: 101067933, 101070037.

Court Reform Action for Familes Texas PAC$75,000.00

Court Reform Action for Familes Texas PAC

$75,000.00

Cash: $75,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $75,000.00

Also funds 0 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · on Oct 6, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

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

Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Oct 6, 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: 101070037.

Money

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

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$960,552.08

Cash: $85,000.00
Paid by others: $875,552.08
Total: $960,552.08

advertising $595,238.00mail $237,770.40polling $42,460.35fundraiser $83.33

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 · Jun 23, 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: 101008087, 101031516, 101035818, 101040655, 101057099, 101067933, 101070037.

Texas Conservative Majority PAC

$739,102.00

Cash: $200,000.00
Paid by others: $539,102.00
Total: $739,102.00

canvassing $430,352.00advertising $100,000.00polling $8,750.00

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 · Sep 8, 2026 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: 101067933, 101070037.

Court Reform Action for Familes Texas PAC

$75,000.00

Cash: $75,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $75,000.00

Also funds 0 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · on Oct 6, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

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

Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Oct 6, 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: 101070037.

Votes

No floor vote loaded for this bill.

Witnesses5

For: 1
Against: 4
On: 0

Names

For

Self; Williamson County Republican Party1 registration

Against

Caritas of Austin1 registration
City of Dallas1 registration
City of San Antonio1 registration
Texas Homeless Network1 registration

Sources

5 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

No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version I · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version I · April 14, 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 H by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 22, 2026, against the published rubric.

FILED BEFORE

Filed 2 times: 88R and 89R. Checked against 88R only.

88R SB 1214

by Sen. Schwertner, different lead author · Died in committee · same text

Introduced text

Last action, May 4, 2023: Referred to Urban Affairs

Relating to hearing and public notice requirements regarding the conversion by a municipality of certain properties to house homeless individuals.

Caption, 88R bill history

Sources

Texas House · Filed Mar 12, 2025

05/13/2025 H Laid on the table subject to call

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced · House Committee Report

Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:19 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

Coauthors

Carrie IsaacRHouse 73

Joanne ShofnerRHouse 11

House committee · Intergovernmental Affairs · Committee vote 7 aye, 3 nay, 1 absent · Out of committee

Companion

SB 617 by Schwertner (identical)

Subjects

City Government--General

Housing--Homeless Persons

PUBLIC NOTICE

Text

The text as introduced · 413 words

89R1184 JG-F

By: Harris Davila
H.B. No. 4626

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to hearing and public notice requirements regarding the

conversion by a municipality of certain properties to house

homeless individuals.

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

SECTION 1. Subtitle A, Title 8, Local Government Code, is

amended by adding Chapter 255 to read as follows:

CHAPTER 255. CONVERSION OF PROPERTY FOR CERTAIN PURPOSES

Sec. 255.001. SPECIAL HEARING AND NOTICE REQUIREMENTS FOR

CONVERSION OF PROPERTY TO HOUSE HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS. (a) Except

as provided by Subsection (e), a municipality's governing body may

not approve the conversion of a property under the municipality's

control to provide housing to homeless individuals unless the

governing body holds a public hearing not less than 90 days before

the municipality begins the conversion. The governing body must

hold the hearing at a location within a one-mile radius of the

property.

(b) Not later than 36 hours before a public hearing required

under Subsection (a) is held, a municipality's governing body must

provide notice of the hearing by mail to each residence and business

located within a one-mile radius of the property described by that

subsection.

(c) If a municipality's governing body fails to comply with

this section, an individual who is entitled to notice under

Subsection (b) may bring an action for injunctive relief in a

district court in the county in which the property described by

Subsection (a) is located to prevent the conversion of the

property.

(d) In the event of a conflict between this chapter and a

provision in a municipality's charter relating to the conversion or

notice of the conversion of a property described by Subsection (a),

this chapter controls.

(e) This section does not apply to the conversion of a

property to provide temporary shelter or housing during a natural

disaster, declared state of emergency, or other life-threatening

public emergency.

SECTION 2. Chapter 255, Local Government Code, as added by

this Act, applies only to the conversion of property described by

Section 255.001(a), Local Government Code, as added by this Act,

that is set to begin on or after the effective date of this Act.

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.