Texas Short 306,000 Homes: Can New Bills Fix It?
Texas Comptroller’s report reveals a housing crisis - key bills seek to fix it.
POLICYFEATURED
Austin, TX — Texas is battling a housing affordability crisis, with median home prices up 40% from 2019 to 2023, per Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar’s recent report. Facing a 306,000-home shortage, the Texas Association of Business (TAB) is pushing legislative fixes to ease the strain.
The Details:
Price Surge: Median home prices in Texas rose 40% between 2019 and 2023, per Texas A&M University data.
Supply Gap: Texas is short 306,000 homes as of 2023, according to Up for Growth.
Building Trends: Texas has led the U.S. in building permits since the 2007-2008 financial crisis, despite a post-crisis dip.
Key Bills to Follow:
SB 15 (Bettencourt): Eases size and density rules for residential lots in certain cities.
SB 840 (Hughes): Streamlines municipal rules for multifamily and mixed-use projects.
SB 854 (Middleton): Limits regulation of multifamily development on religious land.
HB 24 (Orr): Removes barriers to attainable workforce housing.
Why It Matters:
These bills could unlock housing supply, making Texas more affordable for workers and businesses.
Bottom Line:
Texas’s 306,000-home gap needs bold solutions, and TAB-backed bills offer a path forward.