If passed by the full state legislature, the bill would eliminate local restrictions on ‘mother-in-law’ units.

[Update 09/01/2023: SB 1412 failed to gain full approval by the state legislature. Some blamed “urban democrats” for killing the bill.]
A bill passed by the Texas State Senate would legalize accessory dwelling units (ADUs), or “mother-in-law suites,” across the state, removing cities’ power to prohibit ADUs in their neighborhoods. As Lori Brown reports for Fox 4 News, “Under Senate Bill 1412, city zoning on ADUs would no longer apply.”
Cities and states around the country are moving to loosen restrictions on ADUs and other forms of ‘missing middle housing’ that could help boost the housing supply, stem the affordability crisis, and provide an extra source of income for homeowners while preserving neighborhood character and limiting impact on local resources. “‘It is fair to say this is a nationwide movement toward liberalizing land-use restrictions, moving in the direction of Texas, in terms of property rights,’ said Matt Festa, professor at South Houston College of Law.”
As in most cases, for some, the issue comes down to local control and the fear that local cities and neighborhoods will lose the ability to regulate changes in their area. But in Texas, where property rights are often sacrosanct, it also comes down to the rights of a property owner to use their property in various ways. According to SMU political scientist Matthew Wilson, “There is an argument to be made there, but it is unusual to see a state step in and invalidate local attempts at zoning and control of property use.”
FULL STORY: Texas Senate passes bill to eliminate single-family zoning in neighborhoods

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

The 120 Year Old Tiny Home Villages That Sheltered San Francisco’s Earthquake Refugees
More than a century ago, San Francisco mobilized to house thousands of residents displaced by the 1906 earthquake. Could their strategy offer a model for the present?

HSR Reaches Key Settlement in Northern California City
The state’s high-speed rail authority reached an agreement with Millbrae, a key city on the train’s proposed route to San Francisco.

Washington State Legislature Passes Parking Reform Bill
A bill that would limit parking requirements for new developments is headed to the governor’s desk.

Missouri Law Would Ban Protections for Housing Voucher Users
A state law seeks to overturn source-of-income discrimination bans passed by several Missouri cities.
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