Texas Legislature Struggles to Pass Key Bills Before Deadline.
Bills aimed at reducing housing costs in Texas by loosening local regulations to build more homes failed to pass in the state legislature. Democrats, who represent urban areas with high housing costs, were among the opposition. The bills would have reduced city requirements for land new homes must sit on and targeted compatibility requirements that restrict building height based on proximity to single-family homes. A bill to loosen rules on accessory dwelling units also failed. A bill to accelerate cities’ development review processes for new housing did pass.