Bill Text: TX HB330 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Introduced


Bill Title: Relating to regulation of residential wind power facilities by property owners' associations.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-02-23 - Referred to Business & Industry [HB330 Detail]

Download: Texas-2023-HB330-Introduced.html
  88R3120 KBB-D
 
  By: Goodwin H.B. No. 330
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to regulation of residential wind power facilities by
  property owners' associations.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 202, Property Code, is amended by adding
  Section 202.024 to read as follows:
         Sec. 202.024.  REGULATION OF RESIDENTIAL WIND POWER
  FACILITIES. (a)  In this section:
               (1)  "Development period" and "residential unit" have
  the meanings assigned by Section 202.010.
               (2)  "Wind power facility" has the meaning assigned by
  Section 301.0001, Utilities Code.
         (b)  Except as otherwise provided by Subsection (d), a
  property owners' association may not include or enforce a provision
  in a dedicatory instrument that prohibits or restricts a property
  owner from installing a wind power facility of an appropriate
  residential scale.
         (c)  A provision that violates Subsection (b) is void.
         (d)  A property owners' association may include or enforce a
  provision in a dedicatory instrument that prohibits a wind power
  facility that:
               (1)  as adjudicated by a court:
                     (A)  threatens the public health or safety; or
                     (B)  violates a law;
               (2)  is located on property owned or maintained by the
  property owners' association;
               (3)  is located on property owned in common by the
  members of the property owners' association;
               (4)  is located in an area on the property owner's
  property other than an area designated by the property owners'
  association, unless the alternate location increases the estimated
  annual energy production of the facility, as determined by using a
  publicly available modeling tool provided by the National Renewable
  Energy Laboratory, by more than 10 percent above the energy
  production of the facility if located in an area designated by the
  property owners' association;
               (5)  as installed, voids material warranties; or
               (6)  was installed without prior approval by the
  property owners' association or by a committee created in a
  dedicatory instrument for such purposes that provides decisions
  within a reasonable period or within a period specified in the
  dedicatory instrument.
         (e)  A property owners' association or the association's
  architectural review committee may not withhold approval for
  installation of a wind power facility if the provisions of the
  dedicatory instruments to the extent authorized by Subsection (d)
  are met or exceeded, unless the association or committee, as
  applicable, determines in writing that placement of the facility as
  proposed by the property owner constitutes a condition that
  substantially interferes with the use and enjoyment of land by
  causing unreasonable discomfort or annoyance to persons of ordinary
  sensibilities. For purposes of making a determination under this
  subsection, the written approval of the proposed placement of the
  facility by all property owners of adjoining property constitutes
  prima facie evidence that such a condition does not exist.
         (f)  During the development period for a development with
  fewer than 51 planned residential units, the declarant may prohibit
  or restrict a property owner from installing a wind power facility.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.
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