URGENT! Call before 2:00

2025 State Legislative Alert

Mar 10, 2025

From Our Friends at Texas Neighborhood Coalition:

Call NOW - Vote is at 2:00 TODAY

State Sen. Angela Paxton (R-8)
to oppose SB 15, 673, and 854

These bills would pre-empt local control and destroy single-family neighborhoods.

Call Sen. Paxton at 512-463-0108

Once again, the Texas State Legislature is trying to break apart your single-family neighborhood by drastically reducing minimum lot size and adding a second building (an ADU) to every lot zoned single family. These bills undermine the safety and community of our residential neighborhoods. If passed, they could ruin neighborhoods across Texas.

A bold and eye-catching digital graphic with the words 'URGENT! CALL NOW!' in large, red, capital letters. The background is dramatic, featuring a bright, high-contrast design with elements like a ringing phone icon, exclamation marks, or flashing-style effects to create a sense of urgency. The overall design should be attention-grabbing and dynamic.

Three bills will be discussed today, March 10, at 2 pm during a public hearing of the Senate Local Government Committee. The committee chair is Sen. Bettencourt. Plano's State Senator Angela Paxton is a member of this committee.

The TX Neighborhood Coalition urges all Collin Country supporters to do today:

1) Call Senator Paxton to voice your opposition to these bills. See below for details about each bill and a sample call script. If you don't reach a live person, leave a voice message.

2) Call the other senators on the Local Government Committee and tell them you are opposed to these bills. Please note that Sen. Bettencourt filed SB 15, and Sen. Middleton filed SB 854.

2) Look at the committee list below and forward this email to your friends across Texas, asking them to call their respective state senators in Houston, San Antonio, Dallas, or East Texas to oppose these bills.

Sample Call Script:

My name is _________ and I'm a voter in Senator Paxton's district. I am calling to oppose Senate Bills 15, 673, and 854 that have been referred to the Local Government Committee. These bills go against local control that protects quality of life in residential neighborhoods. They would end single-family zoning and destroy my neighborhood. I urge the Senator to reject SB 15, 673, and 854. Thank you.

Yes, I called my state senator

More about each bill:

SB 15 filed by Committee Chair Sen. Bettencourt would mandate that cities allow mini-lots (no larger than 2,500 sq.ft) in major cities. While this bill would only apply to new neighborhoods, it would tie a city’s hands to plan future neighborhoods based on local control and local needs. All new neighborhoods of more than five acres would have to, without exception, allow these mini-lots.

SB 673 filed by Sen. Bryan Hughes (R-District 1, Mineola) would allow an ADU to be built on every lot in every single-family neighborhood with few restrictions. Cities could not regulate anything related to the ADU including parking requirements or even orientation of the building—meaning that the ADU could be anywhere on a lot including the front yard.

SB 854 filed by Vice Chair Sen. Middleton would force all cities to allow multi-family or mixed-use development on any land owned or rented by a religious organization. There are many cities where existing properties owned or leased by religious organizations are embedded in single-family zoned neighborhoods.

Senate Local Government Committee:

Chair: Paul Bettencourt (R), District 7, West Harris County, 512-463-0107

Vice Chair: Mayes Middleton (R) District 11, Galveston, Harris County
512-463-0111

Molly Cook (D), District 15, Houston, 512-463-0115

Roland Gutierrez (D), District 19, San Antonio, 512-463-0119

Robert Nichols (R), District 3, East and Southeast Texas, 512-463-0103

Angela Paxton (R), District 8, Plano, Allen, McKinney, Anna 512-463-0108

Royce West (D), District 23, Dallas, 512-463-0123

Questions? Contact Bill France at billfrance.tncplano@yahoo.com

Thank you for your help to save our residential neighborhoods!

Bill France, TNC Plano

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