Real estate
BY KAROLINE PFEIL
Legislation put forward by Lake Travis- area representatives aiming to prevent homeowners associations from charging fees for brown or unwatered lawns was passed this session, local o cials shared. House Bill 359 was a bill Rep. Vikki Goodwin’s team worked on, which was aimed at preventing HOAs from ning homeowners for not watering their lawns during periods of drought. Although HB 359 did not pass, a duplicate bill put forward by Rep. Caroline Harris Davila, HB 517, did. “When I went and talked to groups, whether it was in Austin or some of the surrounding suburbs or even a couple of rural counties, people were very excited by that bill,” Goodwin said. Brown grass bill out of Lake Travis passes
Also of note
Local water bills led
HB 1432, put forward by Goodwin, aimed to protect homeowners’ right to use drought-tolerant landscaping, sometimes known as “xeriscaping.” “It’s in state law currently [that] homeowners associations aren’t supposed to ban homeowners from xeriscaping, but unfortunately the way the law was written, there have been cases where someone has xeriscaped their lawn and the HOA has said ‘you can’t do that,’’ Goodwin said. HB 1432 would have clari ed Texas law and made it clear to HOAs that homeowners can use either native grass or xeriscaping.” “Unfortunately, it did not even get a hearing this session,” Goodwin said, “So that was a little bit disappointing, but we’ll continue to try.” Other bills supported by Goodwin during this legislative session included HB 1344, put forward by Rep. Ellen Troxclair. This bill did not pass but would have provided opportunities for the Texas Water Development Board to assist with projects in low income areas.
House Bill
Did it pass?
Description
A property owners’ association may not issue a ne against a property for not maintaining green vegetation or turf during water restrictions or shortly after water restrictions. Prevents home owners associations from denying home owners the right to use drought- resistant landscaping. Gives priority to municipalities located within 50 miles of high- growth areas for Texas Water Development Board funding.
HB 517
Yes
HB 1432
No
HB 1344
No
SOURCE: TEXAS LEGISLATURE COMMUNITY IMPACT
What they’re saying
“Conserving water shouldn’t come with penalties–especially
the protection of this vital natural resource.” Lakeway City Manager Joseph Molis said that HB 517 re ected practices supported by Lakeway. “HB 517 is a legislative limitation on HOAs, but it re ects a practice of the [city] of Lakeway in using discretionary authority in enforcement of [code] requirements due to mitigating circumstances, such as drought,” Molis said.
The cities of Bee Cave and Lakeway, which both supported water conservation bills put forward by Goodwin, celebrated the passage of HB 517. “The [city] of Bee Cave supports HB 517, which prevents HOAs from ning homeowners for not watering their lawns during drought restrictions,” Bee Cave Communications Director Crystal Cotti said. “... This law empowers homeowners to make smart, water-conscious choices that encourage
when nearly half of residential water use goes toward outdoor landscaping.” CRYSTAL COTTI, BEE CAVE COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR
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