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HB3680

Regular Session

Relating to subdivision plat requirements in certain counties; authorizing a fee; authorizing a civil penalty; creating a criminal offense.

Critical
High Cost
Effective:2025-09-01
Enforcing Agencies

County Clerk • County Commissioners Court • District and County Attorneys • Texas Attorney General

HB3680
Relating to subdivision plat requirements in certain counties; authorizing a fee; authorizing a civil penalty; creating a criminal offense.
Critical Urgency
Heavily Contested
House Vote87 - 32
YEA
NAY
73% in favor119 voting
Senate Vote27 - 4
YEA
87% in favor31 voting
36
Total Opposition Votes
Cost Impact
High
Effective
2025-09-01
Enforcing Agencies
County ClerkCounty Commissioners CourtDistrict and County AttorneysTexas Attorney General
Primary Author: Rep. Erin Gamez
89th Texas Legislature
jdkey.com
01

Compliance Analysis

Key implementation requirements and action items for compliance with this legislation

Implementation Timeline

  • Effective Date: September 1, 2025
  • Compliance Deadline: September 1, 2025. (Note: Sales contracts signed on or after this date must use new forms; utility connections scheduled for this date forward require certificates).
  • Agency Rulemaking: The County Commissioners Court is mandated to adopt "Model Rules" for water/sewer and flood management by the effective date.
  • *Regulatory Gray Zone:* Between now and Summer 2025, the County must define the specific fee schedules and application forms. You must monitor the Commissioners Court agenda for these adoption hearings.

Immediate Action Plan

  • 1. Inventory Audit: Immediately review all land holdings in Cameron County. If you have unplatted inventory intended for sale, initiate the platting process now to beat the 2025 regulatory bottleneck.
  • 2. Utility Protocol Review: Utility providers must update their "New Service" checklists to include the Commissioners Court Certificate of Compliance as a mandatory prerequisite.
  • 3. Document Scrub: Redraft all sales contracts and disclosure notices to meet the bilingual and statutory text requirements.
  • 4. Legacy Review: Identify any "grandfathered" subdivisions. Gather proof of subdivision dates (pre-1995/2005) immediately, as the burden of proof for utility connection exemptions lies with the landowner.

Operational Changes Required

Contracts

  • Sales Contracts: Must be amended to include a bilingual (English/Spanish) statement describing how and when utilities will be installed.
  • Executory Contracts (Contracts for Deed):
  • Must attach a specific "Property Condition Disclosure" warning regarding habitability.
  • Must be recorded with the County Clerk within 30 days of execution.
  • Vendor Agreements: Engineering and surveying contracts must now require digital mapping deliverables compatible with County GIS standards.

Hiring/Training

  • Utility Customer Service: Front-line staff must be retrained to deny service requests unless the applicant presents a Certificate of Compliance from the Commissioners Court. There is no discretion here.
  • Sales Teams: Staff must be trained that "selling" includes any offer or advertisement. Marketing unplatted land is now a Class A Misdemeanor.
  • Bilingual Operations: If any negotiation occurs in Spanish, all subsequent documents (contracts, disclosures, annual statements) must be provided in Spanish.

Reporting & Record-Keeping

  • Annual Accounting: For executory contracts, you must mail an annual statement to the purchaser every January (postmarked by Jan 31) detailing payments and interest. Failure allows the buyer to withhold 15% of payments.
  • Plat Recording: Plats must be filed with attached engineering certifications regarding water/sewer compliance and floodplain status before any lot is conveyed.

Fees & Costs

  • Civil Penalties: Budget for potential liability of $10,000 to $15,000 per lot for non-compliance.
  • New County Fees: The law authorizes fees equal to the "greater of $30 or the fee imposed by the municipality." Expect county fees to rise significantly to match neighboring city rates.
  • Inspection Fees: New fees will be assessed to cover the cost of county inspections for subdivision compliance.

Strategic Ambiguities & Considerations

  • "Reasonably Accessible" Mapping: The law exempts developers from digital mapping if the technology is not "reasonably accessible." The statute fails to define this standard. Expect the County to argue that standard GIS software is accessible to all commercial developers.
  • Utility Feasibility: Exceptions for water extension exist if the provider deems it "not feasible." This delegates regulatory power to utility districts, allowing them to potentially stall developments based on their own capacity assessments without clear statutory criteria.
  • "Common Promotional Plan": The definition of "subdivider" is broad. If you sell two or more contiguous lots, you may be classified as a subdivider, triggering these regulations. The threshold for what constitutes a "common plan" will likely be litigated.

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Information presented is for general knowledge only and is provided without warranty, express or implied. Consult qualified government affairs professionals and legal counsel before making compliance decisions.

02

Legislative Timeline

This bill's path through the Texas Legislature

Filed
Mar 4, 2025
Passed House
May 16, 2025
Passed Senate
May 25, 2025
Signed
Jun 20, 2025
TopicsGulf of MexicoCivil Remedies & LiabilitiesCounty GovernmentCounty Government--land Use & ZoningCrimesCrimes--against PropertyInsuranceInsurance--property & CasualtyPolitical SubdivisionsTaxationTaxation--property-appraisals & Appraisal DistrictsUtilitiesUtilities--generalUtilities--water & SewerBorderEconomically Distressed AreasFloodsPlattingAttorney GeneralWater Development Board, TexasUnited Mexican StatesCity GovernmentCity Government--land Use & ZoningCounty Government--roadsCourtsCourts--prosecuting AttorneysCrimes--miscellaneousUtilities--electricUtilities--natural GasAdvertisingBondsCameron County
03

House Authors

Rep. Erin GamezDemocrat · Primary Author
Joint Authors

Senate Sponsor

Sen. Adam HinojosaRepublican · Primary Sponsor

Bill Text(with markup)

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View bill text in multiple formats on Texas Legislature website

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Quick Reference

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about HB3680

Q

What does Texas HB3680 do?

HB3680 fundamentally alters land development and utility operations in Cameron County (and any county bordering both Mexico and the Gulf). The law criminalizes the sale of unplatted lots and prohibits utility connections without a county-issued certificate of compliance, effectively ending the "sell now, infrastructure later" business model in these jurisdictions. Implementation Timeline Effective Date: September 1, 2025 Compliance Deadline: September 1, 2025.

Q

Who authored HB3680?

HB3680 was authored by Texas Representative Erin Gamez during the Regular Session.

Q

When was HB3680 signed into law?

HB3680 was signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott on June 20, 2025.

Q

Which agencies enforce HB3680?

HB3680 is enforced by County Clerk, County Commissioners Court, District and County Attorneys and Texas Attorney General.

Q

How urgent is compliance with HB3680?

The compliance urgency for HB3680 is rated as "critical". Businesses and organizations should review the requirements and timeline to ensure timely compliance.

Q

What is the cost impact of HB3680?

The cost impact of HB3680 is estimated as "high". This may vary based on industry and implementation requirements.

Q

What topics does HB3680 address?

HB3680 addresses topics including gulf of mexico, civil remedies & liabilities, county government, county government--land use & zoning and crimes.

Legislative data provided by LegiScanLast updated: November 25, 2025

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