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HB 188TEXASSession 891State Billdead

Did Not Advance

Texas HB 188 authorizes counties to regulate impervious cover in unincorporated areas to manage flood risks

Original title: Relating to the authority of a county to regulate impervious cover in the unincorporated area of the county.

Last action · July 23, 2025: FiledSponsor: Erin Zwiener

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

Law

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What This Bill Proposed

County s in Texas are authorized to regulate in s to reduce flood risks, promote drainage, and support flood projects starting 91 days after the legislative session ends.

Why it matters

Landowners and developers in unincorporated county areas face potential new local restrictions on hard surfaces like concrete and roofs to control stormwater runoff.

Who It Would Have Affected

Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

unincorporated area landowners

Property owners in unincorporated areas are subject to new county regulations limiting impervious cover.

Directly affected

county governments

County commissioners courts gain new legal authority to regulate impervious cover and establish flood mitigation rules.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which areas of a county are affected by this bill?

The bill applies specifically to the s of a county—meaning areas located outside city limits.

What reasons can a county use to justify regulating impervious cover?

A county may regulate to reduce flood risk, promote drainage, encourage flood projects, or promote nature-based features that reduce flooding.

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

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Where This Stands

This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · introduced in the House.

Procedural history

1 action

Jul 23, 2025HouseIntroduced
Filed

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

View official text →

Lobbying Activity

No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.

Full breakdown

Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.

Connected Entities

Local Government Code, Water Code

otherLocal Government Code“Statutory code amended by the bill to add Section 240.912”Map →

otherWater Code“Statutory code referenced for the definition of flood projects”Map →

Sources

Open source document

capitol.texas.gov

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance20
Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 60)
Controversy40
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment5
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz25
Current news / social attention level

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