Texas is currently experiencing a housing shortage. According to the Texas Comptroller, “Texas was 306,000 homes short of what was needed” in 2023 (Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, 2024). Recently, Texas A&M’s Student Government Association’s Policy Division and Department of Legislative Relations released a data set that estimates that Texas has 1.7 to 4.3 million spare bedrooms (TAMU SGA, 2024). However, under most municipal occupancy ordinances and codes, there are limits to the number of occupants a dwelling may have (if the occupants are not related). On the other hand, municipal occupancy codes and ordinances generally have no limits on related (whether by blood, marriage, or adoption) occupants. These limits on unrelated occupants hamper the ability for Texans to earn a little more cash by leasing a spare bedroom, while also keeping other Texans out of housing. House Bill 2797 (2025) aims to rectify this situation, by prohibiting municipalities from passing ordinances and rules that limit unrelated occupancy, albeit with a few exceptions for health and safety.
Taxes & Spending
Just the Facts: Property Taxes in Texas’ Most Populous Cities, Counties, and School Districts 4th Edition
Property taxes imposed by local governments have, in many instances, outpaced population growth and inflation. As a result, Texans pay some of the highest property taxes in the nation. Key points: Property taxes are assessed and collected by local governing bodies. The State does not levy a property tax. Local governments levied $89.4 billion in...
April 3, 2026