Legislation

Visit the Texas Attorney General’s website to learn more about legislation that affects colonias.

• 1950s

  Small lots sold at low prices often with high interest rates to low-income individuals.

  

  These lots often lacked infrastructure and access to publicly provided utilities.

  These unsafe living conditions sparked the interest of the TEXAS LEGISLATURE.

• 1989

  SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 5

  Voters approve grants authorized for use in economically distressed areas with inadequate water or sewer systems.

  SENATE BILL 2
  71st texas legislature

  Counties required to adopt Model Subdivision Rules if they wish to provide water and sewer funding to colonias

• 1995

  SENATE BILL 336
  74th texas legislature

  Passed Colonia Fair Land Sales Act. Enacted a comprehensive regulatory procedure for contracts for deed, including homebuyer protections, such as, buyer default and foreclosure rights

• 1999

  SENATE BILL 1421
  76th texas legislature

  Created the Colonia Initiatives program under the Office of the Secretary of State, including a director of colonia initiatives and six colonia ombudspersons serving in the counties with the largest colonia populations

  APPROPRIATIONS RIDER 14

  Texas Department of Housing & Community Affairs Contract for Deed Conversion initiative

• 2005

  SENATE BILL 827
  79th texas legislature

  Created the Colonia Classification System and a progress-tracking system of state-funded colonia improvement projects

• 2007

  SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 20

  Voters approved additional funding to provide assistance to economically distressed areas.

  SENATE BILL 99
  80th texas legislature

  Continued work of Senate Bill 827

• 2014

  From 2006 to 2014, counties with the largest colonia populations saw improvements thanks to state, federal and local funding.