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

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

In Most U.S. Cities, Archaic Laws Limit Roommate Living
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Ten Signs of a Resurgent Downtown
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Off-Peak is the New On-Peak
Public transit systems in major U.S. cities are starting to focus on non-rush hour travelers as pre-pandemic commuting patterns shift and transportation needs change.

Tacoma Coalition Calls for ‘Tenants’ Bill of Rights’
The group wants to put more power in the hands of tenants, but the city has its own, competing proposal for addressing the housing crisis.

New Power Transmission Line Approved in the Southwest
The proposed transmission line will transfer wind-produced power from New Mexico to cities in Arizona and California.

The Limitations of ‘Reconnecting Communities’
The Biden administration has pledged to correct the damage imposed on communities by highways and infrastructure, but many projects are only committing to minor improvements, not transformative changes.
Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission
Code Studio
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HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Montrose County
Knox County
Wichita-Sedgwick County Metropolitan Area Planning Department
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