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Bill

HB 385

Relating to the collection and publication of affordable housing information by certain municipalities and the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs.

89th Legislature (2025) Introduced by Ray Lopez

HB 385 mandates Texas cities and TDHCA collect and publicly report affordable housing data to improve transparency and evidence-based policymaking.

Referred to Intergovernmental Affairs
#citygovernment--general(i0060) #economic&industrialdevelopment--general(i0214) #electronicinformationsystems(i0311) #housing--general(i0405) #internet(s0130)
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Bill Summary · HB 385

Legislative bill overview

HB 385 requires certain Texas municipalities and the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) to collect, maintain, and publicly publish data on affordable housing availability, costs, and related metrics. The bill establishes standardized reporting requirements to create transparent, accessible information about the affordable housing landscape across the state.

Why is this important

Affordable housing is a critical policy challenge in Texas, with many communities lacking reliable data on housing supply, demand, and affordability gaps. Standardized data collection enables policymakers, researchers, developers, and the public to make evidence-based decisions about housing initiatives, identify underserved areas, and track progress on affordability goals. This transparency can facilitate better coordination between local and state housing efforts.

Potential points of contention

  • Compliance burden: Municipalities may oppose new reporting requirements, citing costs and administrative overhead, particularly for smaller cities with limited resources
  • Data standardization disagreement: Disputes could arise over which metrics to track, definitions of "affordable," and whether one-size-fits-all reporting works across diverse housing markets
  • Privacy and liability concerns: Questions about how individual property or tenant data is handled, and whether publicizing local housing shortfalls creates legal exposure for municipalities

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

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