Monitoring the Session

HB 4753

lost your certificate of occupancy? Cities must confirm it

Became law

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review
Rep. Gary GatesRHouse 28

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 regulation by a municipality of a certificate of occupancy.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

Owners get a document on request.

The bill requires a city that has a record of issuing a certificate of occupancy to give the building owner, on request, a document confirming the certificate was issued. It touches cities and building owners who have lost or lack the original certificate. A city must accept that document in place of the original and may not require the person to get or display the original.

Labels

Labels: INSTANT LAW. Took effect immediately, on Jun 20, 2025. 833 of the 1,185 graded 89R laws took effect Sep 1, 2025 (derived from the bill histories, snapshot Oct 19, 2026).ACROSS THE AISLE. Joint authors: 4 Republicans, 1 Democrat. Party as the Legislative Reference Library lists it for the 89th Legislature.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB4753 · 2025-03-13

SOLD BY

Rep. Gary GatesRHouse 28 Rep. Carl H. TepperRHouse 84 Rep. Suleman LalaniDHouse 76

+ 2 more authors, 14 coauthors

ITEM

relating to regulation by a municipality of a certificate of occupancy.

WHAT IT DOES

Owners get a document on request.

The bill requires a city that has a record of issuing a certificate of occupancy to give the building owner, on request, a document confirming the certificate was issued. It touches cities and building owners who have lost or lack the original certificate. A city must accept that document in place of the original and may not require the person to get or display the original.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version E · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version E · May 10, 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. Left pending in committee
  8. Considered in public hearing
  9. Committee substitute considered in committee
  10. Reported favorably as substituted
  11. Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
  12. Committee report distributed
  13. Committee report sent to Calendars
  14. Considered in Calendars
  15. Placed on General State Calendar
  16. Read 2nd time
  17. Passed to engrossment
  18. Record vote RV#1513
  19. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  20. Read 3rd time
  21. Passed
  22. Record vote RV#1590
  23. Reported engrossed
  24. Received from the House
  25. Read first time
  26. Referred to Local Government
  27. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  28. Considered in public hearing
  29. Vote taken in committee
  30. Reported favorably w/o amendments
  31. Recommended for local & uncontested calendar
  32. Committee report printed and distributed
  33. Placed on intent calendar
  34. Rules suspended-Regular order of business
  35. Read 2nd time & passed to 3rd reading
  36. Vote recorded in Journal
  37. Three day rule suspended
  38. Record vote
  39. Read 3rd time
  40. Passed
  41. Record vote
  42. Senate passage reported
  43. Reported enrolled
  44. Signed in the House
  45. Signed in the Senate
  46. Sent to the Governor
  47. Signed by the Governor
  48. Effective immediately
FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

SIGNED FOR BY

House · 145 yea · 1 nay

Senate · 31 yea · 0 nay

Sources

House: Final passage · May 7, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate: Final passage · May 20, 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

Gary Gates

Donors

Texas Conservative Majority PAC$273KTexans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$224KTexans for Reasonable Solutions PAC$25K

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 30, 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 Conservative Majority PAC$273,400.00

Texas Conservative Majority PAC

$273,400.00

Cash
$150,000.00
Paid by others
$123,400.00
Total
$273,400.00
canvassing $108,000.00polling $15,400.00

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 · Aug 17, 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: 101068223, 101071943.

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$224,000.08

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$224,000.08

Cash
$35,000.00
Paid by others
$189,000.08
Total
$224,000.08
mail $87,600.08advertising $68,500.00polling $32,900.00

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 · Jun 23, 2025 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: 101010390, 101033067, 101068223, 101071943.

Texans for Reasonable Solutions PAC$25,000.00

Texans for Reasonable Solutions PAC

$25,000.00

Cash
$25,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$25,000.00

Also funds 81 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Aug 23, 2024 to Oct 22, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Jul 30, 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: 101068223.

Money

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

×

Texas Conservative Majority PAC

$273,400.00

Cash
$150,000.00
Paid by others
$123,400.00
Total
$273,400.00
canvassing $108,000.00polling $15,400.00

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 · Aug 17, 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: 101068223, 101071943.

×

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$224,000.08

Cash
$35,000.00
Paid by others
$189,000.08
Total
$224,000.08
mail $87,600.08advertising $68,500.00polling $32,900.00

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 · Jun 23, 2025 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: 101010390, 101033067, 101068223, 101071943.

×

Texans for Reasonable Solutions PAC

$25,000.00

Cash
$25,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$25,000.00

Also funds 81 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Aug 23, 2024 to Oct 22, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Jul 30, 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: 101068223.

Votes5

Senate May 20, 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 Parker moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that HB 4753 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 20, 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 Parker moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that HB 4753 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 20, 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

The bill was read second time and 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 7, 2025

Yea
145
Nay
1
Present, not voting
3
Absent
1
Excused
0
Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 1590

HB 4753 was passed by (Record 1590): 145 Yeas, 1 Nays, 3 Present, not voting.

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

  • Yea: 145 (published)
  • Nay: 1 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 3 (published)
  • Absent: 1 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

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

House May 6, 2025

Yea
143
Nay
2
Present, not voting
2
Absent
1
Excused
2
Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 1513

CSHB 4753 was passed to engrossment by (Record 1513): 143 Yeas, 2 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.

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

  • Yea: 143 (published)
  • Nay: 2 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 2 (published)
  • Absent: 1 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 2 (derived from named list)

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

Witnesses1
For
0
Against
1
On
0
Names

Against

  • Self1 registration
Sources

1 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 fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version E · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version E · May 10, 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 Mar 13, 2025

06/20/2025 E Effective immediately

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.

Coauthors
Salman BhojaniDHouse 92 Pat CurryRHouse 56 Paul DysonRHouse 14 Ryan GuillenRHouse 31 Sam HarlessRHouse 126 Cody HarrisRHouse 8 Richard HayesRHouse 57 AJ LouderbackRHouse 30 J. M. LozanoRHouse 43 Don McLaughlinRHouse 80 Tom OliversonRHouse 130 Dennis PaulRHouse 129 Senfronia ThompsonDHouse 141 Terry M. WilsonRHouse 20
Sponsors
Tan ParkerRSenate 12

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

City Government--General

Text

The text as introduced · 208 words

By: Gates
H.B. No. 4753

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to regulation by a municipality of a certificate of

occupancy.

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

SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 214, Local Government

Code, is amended by adding Section 214.909 to read as follows:

Sec. 214.909. REGULATION OF CERTIFICATES OF OCCUPANCY. (a)

If a municipality has a record of issuing a certificate of

occupancy, the municipality shall provide a document acknowledging

that a certificate of occupancy has been issued by the municipality

upon request by the owner of a building.

(b) A municipality may not adopt or enforce an ordinance,

rule, or other measure that requires a person who requests and

receives a document described by Subsection (a) to obtain or

display an original certificate of occupancy.

(c) A municipality shall consider a document described by

Subsection (a) sufficient to display in place of an original

certificate of occupancy.

SECTION 2. 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.