Bill Text: TX HB3815 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Introduced
NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: Relating to a seller's disclosure notice for residential property regarding floodplains, flood pools, floodways, or reservoirs.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)
Status: (Passed) 2019-06-14 - Effective on 9/1/19 [HB3815 Detail]
Download: Texas-2019-HB3815-Introduced.html
Bill Title: Relating to a seller's disclosure notice for residential property regarding floodplains, flood pools, floodways, or reservoirs.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)
Status: (Passed) 2019-06-14 - Effective on 9/1/19 [HB3815 Detail]
Download: Texas-2019-HB3815-Introduced.html
86R87 NC-D | ||
By: Morrison | H.B. No. 3815 |
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relating to requiring notices of property located in floodplains, | ||||||||
flood pools, or reservoirs to be provided by sellers of real | ||||||||
property and on subdivision plats. | ||||||||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||||||||
SECTION 1. Section 212.004, Local Government Code, is | ||||||||
amended by amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (f) to | ||||||||
read as follows: | ||||||||
(b) To be recorded, the plat must: | ||||||||
(1) describe the subdivision by metes and bounds; | ||||||||
(2) locate the subdivision with respect to a corner of | ||||||||
the survey or tract or an original corner of the original survey of | ||||||||
which it is a part; [ |
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(3) state the dimensions of the subdivision and of | ||||||||
each street, alley, square, park, or other part of the tract | ||||||||
intended to be dedicated to public use or for the use of purchasers | ||||||||
or owners of lots fronting on or adjacent to the street, alley, | ||||||||
square, park, or other part; and | ||||||||
(4) include a certification by a surveyor or engineer | ||||||||
registered to practice in this state describing any area of the | ||||||||
subdivision that is in a 100-year floodplain, 500-year floodplain, | ||||||||
flood pool, or reservoir or stating that no area is in a 100-year | ||||||||
floodplain, 500-year floodplain, flood pool, or reservoir. | ||||||||
(f) In this section, "100-year floodplain," "500-year | ||||||||
floodplain," "flood pool," and "reservoir" have the meanings | ||||||||
assigned by Section 5.020, Property Code. | ||||||||
SECTION 2. Section 232.001, Local Government Code, is | ||||||||
amended by amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (g) to | ||||||||
read as follows: | ||||||||
(b) To be recorded, the plat must: | ||||||||
(1) describe the subdivision by metes and bounds; | ||||||||
(2) locate the subdivision with respect to an original | ||||||||
corner of the original survey of which it is a part; [ |
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(3) state the dimensions of the subdivision and of | ||||||||
each lot, street, alley, square, park, or other part of the tract | ||||||||
intended to be dedicated to public use or for the use of purchasers | ||||||||
or owners of lots fronting on or adjacent to the street, alley, | ||||||||
square, park, or other part; and | ||||||||
(4) include a certification by a surveyor or engineer | ||||||||
registered to practice in this state describing any area of the | ||||||||
subdivision that is in a 100-year floodplain, 500-year floodplain, | ||||||||
flood pool, or reservoir or stating that no area is in a 100-year | ||||||||
floodplain, 500-year floodplain, flood pool, or reservoir. | ||||||||
(g) In this section, "100-year floodplain," "500-year | ||||||||
floodplain," "flood pool," and "reservoir" have the meanings | ||||||||
assigned by Section 5.020, Property Code. | ||||||||
SECTION 3. Section 232.021, Local Government Code, is | ||||||||
amended by amending Subdivisions (1) and (4) and adding | ||||||||
Subdivisions (1-a) and (8-a) to read as follows: | ||||||||
(1) "100-year floodplain" and "500-year floodplain" | ||||||||
have the meanings assigned by Section 5.020, Property Code. | ||||||||
(1-a) "Board" means the Texas Water Development Board. | ||||||||
(4) "Flood pool" has the meaning assigned by Section | ||||||||
5.020, Property Code [ |
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(8-a) "Reservoir" has the meaning assigned by Section | ||||||||
5.020, Property Code. | ||||||||
SECTION 4. Section 232.023(b), Local Government Code, is | ||||||||
amended to read as follows: | ||||||||
(b) A plat required under this section must: | ||||||||
(1) be certified by a surveyor or engineer registered | ||||||||
to practice in this state; | ||||||||
(2) define the subdivision by metes and bounds; | ||||||||
(3) locate the subdivision with respect to an original | ||||||||
corner of the original survey of which it is a part; | ||||||||
(4) describe each lot, number each lot in progression, | ||||||||
and give the dimensions of each lot; | ||||||||
(5) state the dimensions of and accurately describe | ||||||||
each lot, street, alley, square, park, or other part of the tract | ||||||||
intended to be dedicated to public use or for the use of purchasers | ||||||||
or owners of lots fronting on or adjacent to the street, alley, | ||||||||
square, park, or other part; | ||||||||
(6) include or have attached a document containing a | ||||||||
description in English and Spanish of the water and sewer | ||||||||
facilities and roadways and easements dedicated for the provision | ||||||||
of water and sewer facilities that will be constructed or installed | ||||||||
to service the subdivision and a statement specifying the date by | ||||||||
which the facilities will be fully operable; | ||||||||
(7) have attached a document prepared by an engineer | ||||||||
registered to practice in this state certifying that the water and | ||||||||
sewer service facilities proposed under Subdivision (6) are in | ||||||||
compliance with the model rules adopted under Section 16.343, Water | ||||||||
Code, and a certified estimate of the cost to install water and | ||||||||
sewer service facilities; | ||||||||
(8) provide for drainage in the subdivision to: | ||||||||
(A) avoid concentration of storm drainage water | ||||||||
from each lot to adjacent lots; | ||||||||
(B) provide positive drainage away from all | ||||||||
buildings; and | ||||||||
(C) coordinate individual lot drainage with the | ||||||||
general storm drainage pattern for the area; | ||||||||
(9) include a description of the drainage requirements | ||||||||
as provided in Subdivision (8); | ||||||||
(10) identify the topography of the area; | ||||||||
(11) include a certification by a surveyor or engineer | ||||||||
registered to practice in this state describing any area of the | ||||||||
subdivision that is in a 100-year floodplain, 500-year floodplain, | ||||||||
flood pool, or reservoir or stating that no area is in a 100-year | ||||||||
floodplain, 500-year floodplain, flood pool, or reservoir; and | ||||||||
(12) include certification that the subdivider has | ||||||||
complied with the requirements of Section 232.032 and that: | ||||||||
(A) the water quality and connections to the lots | ||||||||
meet, or will meet, the minimum state standards; | ||||||||
(B) sewer connections to the lots or septic tanks | ||||||||
meet, or will meet, the minimum requirements of state standards; | ||||||||
(C) electrical connections provided to the lot | ||||||||
meet, or will meet, the minimum state standards; and | ||||||||
(D) gas connections, if available, provided to | ||||||||
the lot meet, or will meet, the minimum state standards. | ||||||||
SECTION 5. Section 232.024(b), Local Government Code, is | ||||||||
amended to read as follows: | ||||||||
(b) If any part of a plat applies to land intended for | ||||||||
residential housing and any part of that land lies in a 100-year | ||||||||
floodplain, the commissioners court shall not approve the plat | ||||||||
unless: | ||||||||
(1) the subdivision is developed in compliance with | ||||||||
the minimum requirements of the National Flood Insurance Program | ||||||||
and local regulations or orders adopted under Section 16.315, Water | ||||||||
Code; and | ||||||||
(2) the plat evidences a restrictive covenant | ||||||||
prohibiting the construction of residential housing in any area of | ||||||||
the subdivision that is in a 100-year floodplain unless the housing | ||||||||
is developed in compliance with the minimum requirements of the | ||||||||
National Flood Insurance Program and local regulations or orders | ||||||||
adopted under Section 16.315, Water Code. | ||||||||
SECTION 6. Section 5.008(b), Property Code, is amended to | ||||||||
read as follows: | ||||||||
(b) The notice must be executed and must, at a minimum, read | ||||||||
substantially similar to the following: | ||||||||
SELLER'S DISCLOSURE NOTICE | ||||||||
CONCERNING THE PROPERTY AT ___________________________________ | ||||||||
(Street Address and City) | ||||||||
THIS NOTICE IS A DISCLOSURE OF SELLER'S KNOWLEDGE OF | ||||||||
THE CONDITION OF THE PROPERTY AS OF THE DATE SIGNED BY | ||||||||
SELLER AND IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR ANY INSPECTIONS OR | ||||||||
WARRANTIES THE PURCHASER MAY WISH TO OBTAIN. IT IS NOT | ||||||||
A WARRANTY OF ANY KIND BY SELLER OR SELLER'S AGENTS. | ||||||||
Seller __ is __ is not occupying the Property. | ||||||||
If unoccupied, how long since Seller has occupied the Property? | ||||||||
________________________________________________________________ | ||||||||
1. The Property has the items checked below: | ||||||||
Write Yes (Y), No (N), or Unknown (U). | ||||||||
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Roof Type: ________________________________ Age: _____(approx) | ||||||||
Are you (Seller) aware of any of the above items that are not in | ||||||||
working condition, that have known defects, or that are in need of | ||||||||
repair? __ Yes __ No __ Unknown. | ||||||||
If yes, then describe. (Attach additional sheets if necessary): | ||||||||
________________________________________________________________ | ||||||||
________________________________________________________________ | ||||||||
2. Does the property have working smoke detectors installed in | ||||||||
accordance with the smoke detector requirements of Chapter 766, | ||||||||
Health and Safety Code?* __ Yes __ No __ Unknown. | ||||||||
If the answer to the question above is no or unknown, | ||||||||
explain. (Attach additional sheets if necessary):______________ | ||||||||
________________________________________________________________ | ||||||||
________________________________________________________________ | ||||||||
*Chapter 766 of the Health and Safety Code requires | ||||||||
one-family or two-family dwellings to have working smoke detectors | ||||||||
installed in accordance with the requirements of the building code | ||||||||
in effect in the area in which the dwelling is located, including | ||||||||
performance, location, and power source requirements. If you do | ||||||||
not know the building code requirements in effect in your area, you | ||||||||
may check unknown above or contact your local building official for | ||||||||
more information. A buyer may require a seller to install smoke | ||||||||
detectors for the hearing impaired if: (1) the buyer or a member of | ||||||||
the buyer's family who will reside in the dwelling is hearing | ||||||||
impaired; (2) the buyer gives the seller written evidence of the | ||||||||
hearing impairment from a licensed physician; and (3) within 10 | ||||||||
days after the effective date, the buyer makes a written request for | ||||||||
the seller to install smoke detectors for the hearing impaired and | ||||||||
specifies the locations for installation. The parties may agree | ||||||||
who will bear the cost of installing the smoke detectors and which | ||||||||
brand of smoke detectors to install. | ||||||||
3. Are you (Seller) aware of any known defects/malfunctions in any | ||||||||
of the following? | ||||||||
Write Yes (Y) if you are aware, write No (N) if you are not aware. | ||||||||
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__ Other Structural Components (Describe):_______________________ | ||||||||
________________________________________________________________ | ||||||||
________________________________________________________________ | ||||||||
If the answer to any of the above is yes, explain. (Attach | ||||||||
additional sheets if necessary):________________________________ | ||||||||
________________________________________________________________ | ||||||||
________________________________________________________________ | ||||||||
4. Are you (Seller) aware of any of the following conditions? | ||||||||
Write Yes (Y) if you are aware, write No (N) if you are not aware. | ||||||||
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If the answer to any of the above is yes, explain. (Attach | ||||||||
additional sheets if necessary):________________________________ | ||||||||
________________________________________________________________ | ||||||||
________________________________________________________________ | ||||||||
*A single blockable main drain may cause a suction entrapment | ||||||||
hazard for an individual. | ||||||||
5. Are you (Seller) aware of any item, equipment, or system in or | ||||||||
on the property that is in need of repair? __ Yes (if you are | ||||||||
aware) __ No (if you are not aware). If yes, explain (attach | ||||||||
additional sheets as necessary). | ||||||||
_________________________________ | ||||||||
6. Are you (Seller) aware of any of the following? | ||||||||
Write Yes (Y) if you are aware, write No (N) if you are not aware. | ||||||||
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If the answer to any of the above is yes, explain. (Attach | ||||||||
additional sheets if necessary): ______________________________ | ||||||||
________________________________________________________________ | ||||||||
________________________________________________________________ | ||||||||
7. If the property is located in a coastal area that is seaward of | ||||||||
the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway or within 1,000 feet of the mean high | ||||||||
tide bordering the Gulf of Mexico, the property may be subject to | ||||||||
the Open Beaches Act or the Dune Protection Act (Chapter 61 or 63, | ||||||||
Natural Resources Code, respectively) and a beachfront | ||||||||
construction certificate or dune protection permit may be required | ||||||||
for repairs or improvements. Contact the local government with | ||||||||
ordinance authority over construction adjacent to public beaches | ||||||||
for more information. | ||||||||
8. This property may be located near a military installation and | ||||||||
may be affected by high noise or air installation compatible use | ||||||||
zones or other operations. Information relating to high noise and | ||||||||
compatible use zones is available in the most recent Air | ||||||||
Installation Compatible Use Zone Study or Joint Land Use Study | ||||||||
prepared for a military installation and may be accessed on the | ||||||||
Internet website of the military installation and of the county and | ||||||||
any municipality in which the military installation is located. | ||||||||
_______________ ________________________________________ | ||||||||
Date Signature of Seller | ||||||||
The undersigned purchaser hereby acknowledges receipt of the | ||||||||
foregoing notice. | ||||||||
_______________ ________________________________________ | ||||||||
Date Signature of Purchaser | ||||||||
SECTION 7. Subchapter A, Chapter 5, Property Code, is | ||||||||
amended by adding Section 5.020 to read as follows: | ||||||||
Sec. 5.020. NOTICE OF FLOODPLAIN, FLOOD POOL, OR RESERVOIR. | ||||||||
(a) In this section: | ||||||||
(1) "100-year floodplain" means any area of land that | ||||||||
is identified as an area that has a one percent chance of being | ||||||||
inundated by a flood event each year on a flood insurance rate map. | ||||||||
(2) "500-year floodplain" means any area of land that | ||||||||
is identified as an area that has a two-tenths of one percent chance | ||||||||
of being inundated by a flood event each year on a flood insurance | ||||||||
rate map. | ||||||||
(3) "Flood pool" means the area adjacent to a | ||||||||
reservoir that lies above the normal maximum operating level of the | ||||||||
reservoir and that is subject to controlled inundation under the | ||||||||
management of the United States Army Corps of Engineers. | ||||||||
(4) "Flood insurance rate map" means the most recent | ||||||||
flood hazard map published by the Federal Emergency Management | ||||||||
Agency under the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. | ||||||||
Section 4001 et seq.). | ||||||||
(5) "Reservoir" means a water impoundment project | ||||||||
operated by the United States Army Corps of Engineers that is | ||||||||
intended to retain water or delay the runoff of water in a | ||||||||
designated surface area of land. | ||||||||
(b) This section applies only to the sale of residential or | ||||||||
commercial real property located in a 100-year floodplain, 500-year | ||||||||
floodplain, flood pool, or reservoir. | ||||||||
(c) On or before the date a seller of real property and a | ||||||||
purchaser enter into a contract binding the purchaser to purchase | ||||||||
the property, the seller shall give to the purchaser a signed, | ||||||||
written notice in substantially the following form: | ||||||||
NOTICE OF FLOODPLAIN, FLOOD POOL, OR RESERVOIR | ||||||||
The property at ______________ (street address and city) or | ||||||||
described as ______________ (legal description) is located (check | ||||||||
as applicable): | ||||||||
( ) wholly ( ) partly in a 100-year floodplain | ||||||||
( ) wholly ( ) partly in a 500-year floodplain | ||||||||
( ) wholly ( ) partly in a flood pool | ||||||||
( ) wholly ( ) partly in a reservoir | ||||||||
_______________________ | ||||||||
(Purchaser's signature) | ||||||||
_______________ | ||||||||
(Date) | ||||||||
_______________________ | ||||||||
(Seller's signature) | ||||||||
______________ | ||||||||
(Date) | ||||||||
(d) If a contract is entered into without the seller | ||||||||
providing the notice required by this section, the purchaser may | ||||||||
terminate the contract for any reason within seven days after the | ||||||||
date the purchaser receives: | ||||||||
(1) the notice from the seller; or | ||||||||
(2) information described by the notice under | ||||||||
Subsection (c) from any other person. | ||||||||
(e) After the date of the conveyance, the purchaser may | ||||||||
bring an action for misrepresentation against the seller if the | ||||||||
seller: | ||||||||
(1) failed to provide the notice before the date of the | ||||||||
conveyance; and | ||||||||
(2) had actual knowledge that the property was located | ||||||||
in a 100-year floodplain, 500-year floodplain, flood pool, or | ||||||||
reservoir. | ||||||||
SECTION 8. (a) The changes in law made by this Act to | ||||||||
Sections 212.004, 232.001, 232.021, and 232.023, Local Government | ||||||||
Code, apply only to a subdivision plat application submitted for | ||||||||
approval on or after the effective date of this Act. A subdivision | ||||||||
plat application submitted for approval before the effective date | ||||||||
of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the | ||||||||
application was submitted, and that law is continued in effect for | ||||||||
that purpose. | ||||||||
(b) The changes in law made by this Act in amending Section | ||||||||
5.008, Property Code, and adding Section 5.020, Property Code, | ||||||||
apply only to a contract for the sale of real property entered into | ||||||||
on or after the effective date of this Act. A contract entered into | ||||||||
before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in | ||||||||
effect on the date the contract was entered into, and that law is | ||||||||
continued in effect for that purpose. | ||||||||
SECTION 9. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |