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HB 3335

Relating to the authority of a county to dispose of surplus and salvage property to a civic or charitable organization.

89th Legislature (2025) Introduced by Sheryl Cole

HB 3335 permits Texas counties to directly transfer surplus property to civic and charitable organizations, bypassing competitive bidding requirements.

Referred to Local Government
#charitable&nonprofitorganizations(i0055) #citygovernment--general(i0060) #propertyinterests--realproperty(i0595) #surplusproperty(s0313)
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Bill Summary · HB 3335

Legislative bill overview

HB 3335 expands county authority to transfer surplus and salvage property directly to civic or charitable organizations without requiring competitive bidding or public sale processes. The bill streamlines the disposition of county-owned property that is no longer needed for governmental operations by allowing direct transfers to qualified nonprofits and community groups.

Why is this important

Counties currently hold significant surplus property—from vehicles and equipment to land and buildings—that represent valuable assets. This bill enables more efficient redistribution of these assets to organizations serving community needs (food banks, homeless services, youth programs, etc.) rather than selling them through formal processes. This can benefit nonprofits that lack funding for new equipment while allowing counties to avoid administrative costs associated with public auctions.

Potential points of contention

  • Lack of transparency and accountability: Direct transfers to charitable organizations bypass competitive bidding, creating potential for favoritism, corruption, or selection of less-effective organizations without public oversight
  • Valuation and fair market value concerns: Without competitive processes, there's no mechanism to ensure counties aren't undervaluing property or giving away significant assets below market value
  • Scope of "civic or charitable organization": The bill's definitions of qualifying organizations are unclear, potentially allowing transfers to groups with minimal community impact or questionable nonprofit status

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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