SB 2477 – Urban housing reform

SB 2477 cuts red tape and costs for converting vacant office buildings into much-needed housing in urban Texas. By eliminating burdensome permitting fees, unnecessary zoning changes, and expensive infrastructure demands, the bill removes financial roadblocks that deter private investment. It reduces government overreach by limiting local micromanagement of private development, while still ensuring compliance with basic health and safety standards. The bill helps maximize use of existing infrastructure and avoids taxpayer-funded expansion of public utilities or roads. It discourages urban blight by making it easier for property owners to repurpose unproductive assets. Streamlined administrative approvals protect developers from arbitrary delays by city councils. By preventing new impact fees or parkland taxes, the bill stops cities from extracting extra money from taxpayers under the guise of regulation. Overall, this is a smart, market-driven solution that increases housing without growing government