The Days of Unilateral City Annexations in Texas are Over

A bill to stop all cities in Texas from annexing property without owners’ consent has passed the state legislature and is awaiting the governor’s signature.

House Bill 347 extends the limited annexation reform enacted in 2017 to all 254 Texas counties and eliminates the unequal two-tier system it created.

Once the bill is signed into law by the governor, all Texas property owners will be equally protected from future land grabs by cities looking to expand into neighboring unincorporated territory against the wishes of the landowners.

The City Council had directed staff to propose an annexation policy for consideration by the Council. If it has been prepared, it will now have to be changed to incorporate the requirements in the soon to be signed Texas law governing annexation.