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Signed Into Law
Signed June 20, 2025Effective 2025-06-20
HB2512

Regular Session

Relating to the release of certain areas from a municipality's extraterritorial jurisdiction by petition or election.

Government Affairs & Regulatory Compliance Analysis

HB2512: Government Affairs Overview

HB2512 imposes immediate restrictions on the ability of landowners to petition for release from a municipality’s Extraterritorial Jurisdiction (ETJ), creating strict geographic exclusions for areas near military bases, industrial districts, and properties subject to Strategic Partnership Agreements. The law mandates a new 7-day notice deadline for municipalities and creates a statutory "opt-out" right for individual landowners who wish to remain in the ETJ despite a broader area petition.

Rep. Charlie Geren·House Bill·Regular Session

Critical
Low Cost
Effective:2025-06-20
Enforcing Agencies

Municipalities (City Secretaries/Planning Departments)

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HB2512
Relating to the release of certain areas from a municipality's extraterritorial jurisdiction by petition or election.
Critical Urgency
Heavily Contested
House Vote112 - 21
YEA
NAY
84% in favor133 voting
Senate Vote27 - 4
YEA
87% in favor31 voting
25
Total Opposition Votes
Cost Impact
Low
Effective
2025-06-20
Enforcing Agencies
Municipalities
Primary Author: Rep. Charlie Geren
89th Texas Legislature
jdkey.com
01

Compliance Analysis

Key implementation requirements and action items for compliance with this legislation

Implementation Timeline

  • Effective Date: June 20, 2025 (Immediate effect due to supermajority vote).
  • Compliance Deadline: Immediate. Any petition for ETJ release filed on or after June 20, 2025, must comply with the new exclusion zones and notice requirements.
  • Agency Rulemaking: No state-level rulemaking is required. However, individual municipalities must immediately draft local ordinances or administrative procedures to define the "Opt-Out" mechanism and notice delivery methods.

Immediate Action Plan

  • Municipalities: Draft and finalize the "Notice of Petition" and "Opt-Out" templates immediately. Establish a protocol to trigger the 7-day mailing process the moment a petition is stamped "Received."
  • Developers (Pending Petitions): If you are preparing a petition, file immediately. Petitions filed before June 20, 2025, are grandfathered and not subject to the military/industrial exclusions or the opt-out requirement.
  • Developers (Future Projects): Commission a geospatial constraints map for all land holdings in the ETJ to identify overlap with military buffers (5 miles) and Industrial Districts.

Operational Changes Required

Contracts

  • Strategic Partnership Agreements (SPAs): Review all active SPAs. Properties subject to these agreements are now statutorily barred from petitioning for ETJ release.
  • Development Agreements: Confirm if existing Chapter 212 agreements contain non-annexation clauses; these may now irrevocably bind the property to the ETJ in certain high-growth counties.

Hiring/Training

  • Municipal Staff: City Secretaries and Planning Departments must be trained on the 7-day shot clock. Failure to send notices to residents within 7 business days of receiving a petition may invalidate the process or invite litigation.
  • Site Selection/Development Teams: Staff must incorporate geospatial analysis into pre-petition due diligence to verify property is not within 5 miles of an active military base or inside a designated Industrial District.

Reporting & Record-Keeping

  • Notice of Petition: Municipalities must generate and retain proof of delivery (e.g., certified mail logs) for notices sent to residents within the petition area.
  • Opt-Out Forms: Municipalities must create and distribute a standardized "Election to Remain in ETJ" form for landowners exercising their right under Section 42.157.
  • Exclusion Verification: Developers must document distance surveys proving the property lies outside the new military and industrial exclusion zones.

Fees & Costs

  • Administrative Costs: Municipalities will incur unrecoverable costs for printing and mailing notices to all residents in a petition area within the strict 7-day window.
  • Legal/Surveying Costs: Developers should anticipate higher upfront costs for legal review and surveying to confirm eligibility for release under the new geographic restrictions.

Strategic Ambiguities & Considerations

  • The "Opt-Out" Mechanism: The statute grants landowners the right to opt out of release but fails to define the process or deadline for doing so. Municipalities will likely define this via local ordinance. Watch for: Short filing windows (e.g., 10-30 days) established by cities to limit opt-outs.
  • "Provide Notice": Section 42.152(d) requires cities to "provide notice" without specifying the method (US Mail vs. website). While cities may attempt digital notice to save costs, businesses should anticipate and demand direct mail to ensure due process is met.
  • Jurisdictional "Donut Holes": The opt-out provision may create fragmented jurisdictions where single parcels remain in the ETJ while surrounding land is released. This creates complex service delivery and taxation questions that are currently unresolved by the statute.

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Information presented is for general knowledge only and is provided without warranty, express or implied. Consult qualified government affairs professionals and legal counsel before making compliance decisions.

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Legislative Timeline

This bill's path through the Texas Legislature

Filed
Feb 5, 2025
Passed House
May 16, 2025
Passed Senate
May 27, 2025
Signed
Jun 20, 2025
Effective
Jun 20, 2025
TopicsCity GovernmentCity Government--annexationPlatting
03

House Authors

Rep. Charlie GerenRepublican · Primary Author
Joint Authors

Bill Text(with markup)

View bill text in multiple formats on Texas Legislature website

Fiscal NoteView Original

Related Legislation

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More from Rep. Charlie Geren

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Related by Topic

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Quick Reference

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about HB2512

Q

What does Texas HB2512 do?

HB2512 imposes immediate restrictions on the ability of landowners to petition for release from a municipality’s Extraterritorial Jurisdiction (ETJ), creating strict geographic exclusions for areas near military bases, industrial districts, and properties subject to Strategic Partnership Agreements. The law mandates a new 7-day notice deadline for municipalities and creates a statutory "opt-out" right for individual landowners who wish to remain in the ETJ despite a broader area petition.

Q

Who authored HB2512?

HB2512 was authored by Texas Representative Charlie Geren during the Regular Session.

Q

When was HB2512 signed into law?

HB2512 was signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott on June 20, 2025.

Q

Which agencies enforce HB2512?

HB2512 is enforced by Municipalities (City Secretaries/Planning Departments).

Q

How significant are the changes in HB2512?

The regulatory priority for HB2512 is rated as "critical". Businesses and organizations should review the legislation to understand potential impacts.

Q

What is the cost impact of HB2512?

The cost impact of HB2512 is estimated as "low". This may vary based on industry and implementation requirements.

Q

What topics does HB2512 address?

HB2512 addresses topics including city government, city government--annexation and platting.

Q

What are the key dates for HB2512?

Key dates for HB2512: Effective date is 2025-06-20. Consult with legal counsel regarding applicability.

Need Strategic Guidance on This Legislation?

JD Key Consulting is an Austin, Texas-based government affairs firm led by James Dickey, former Chairman of the Republican Party of Texas. We specialize in Texas regulatory compliance and legislative strategy for data centers, energy, banking, and manufacturing.

Legislative data provided by LegiScanLast updated: January 11, 2026