Hearing on Legislation to Stop Out-of-County Entities from Removing Property from Irving Tax Rolls

A bill that would restrict Housing Finance Corporations (HFCs) created outside of Dallas County from purchasing property in Irving and removing that property from the property tax rolls will be heard in the House Intergovernmental Affairs Committee Tuesday, March 25, in Austin. The legislation is a priority in Irving’s 2025 legislative program.

House Bill 1585 by Committee Chairman Cecil Bell, Jr. (R-District 3) is identical to HB 2937 by Rafael Anchia (D-District 103), who represents part of Irving in the legislature. Irving staff has worked with Rep. Anchia on the bill.

Under a statute designed to provide affordable housing, HFCs from Cameron County and Pecos, Texas, have purchased properties and received exemptions from paying property taxes by claiming to charge less-than-market rents for some units. Under current state law, the city is not required to be notified of these purchases and has no role in determining affordability nor in granting a tax exemption.

City officials have calculated that the three properties in Irving owned by HFCs have removed more than $118 million from the tax rolls, resulting in a revenue loss to the city of more than $700,000. 

Both HB 1515 and HB 2937 would require any HFC operating in a city, and also in the county, to get approval from the governing bodies before the property can be removed from the tax rolls.

Contact Legislators

The House Intergovernmental Affairs committee will meet Tuesday, March 25, at 8 a.m. To comment on this legislation, contact the following committee members:

Cecil Bell, Jr., Chair | R-District 3

(512) 463-0650 | cecil.bell@house.texas.gov

Erin Zwiener, Vice Chair | D-District 45

(512) 463-0647 | erin.zwiener@house.texas.gov

Sheryl Cole | D-District 46

(512) 463-0506 | sheryl.cole@house.texas.gov

Philip Cortez | D- District 117

(512) 463-0269 | philip.cortez@house.texas.gov

Cassandra Garcia Hernandez | D- District 115

(512) 463-0468 | staff contact: fawaz.anwar@house.texas.gov

Terri Leo Wilson | R-District 23

(512) 463-0502 | terri.wilson@house.texas.gov

David Lowe | R- District 91

(512) 463-0599 | david.lowe@house.texas.gov

Shelly Luther | R- District 62

(512) 463-0297 | shelly.luther@house.texas.gov

Jon Rosenthal | D- District 135

(512) 463-0722 | jon.rosenthal@house.texas.gov

David Spiller | R- District 68

(512) 463-0526 | david.spiller@house.texas.gov

Carl Tepper | R- District 84

(512) 463-0676 | carl.tepper@house.texas.gov

The Irving Legislative Delegation

Rafael Anchia

rafael.anchia@house.texas.gov

Cassandra Garcia Hernandez staff contact:

fawaz.anwar@house.texas.gov

Terry Meza

terry.meza@house.texas.gov

Nathan Johnson

nathan.johnson@senate.texas.gov

Tan Parker

tan.parker@senate.texas.gov