**ARCHIVED POST **
The Texas Senate has passed SB 198, to prevent homeowners associations from prohibiting use of native grasses or xeriscapes in landscaping. The bill introduced by Kirk Watson of Austin passed the Senate March 18 and now goes to the Texas House.
“It’s about personal property rights,” Watson said. “It simply ensures that a landowner has a right to choose their plants, their grass, and to do so with water efficiency and their pocketbooks in mind.”
The bill would insure that Texans living under HOAs can install drought resistant landscaping or water conserving turf, but it would still let HOAs require that homeowners submit their plans for approval. The bill was voted out of committee unanimously. No one testified against it.
Over in the House Austin Rep Dawna Dukes has introduced HB 449, which goes further by preventing municipalities and counties from restricting xeriscaping. Her bill is still in committee.
You can follow the progress of any bill through the legislature at www.legis.state.tx.us.
**ARCHIVED POST**
**ARCHIVED POST LINKS & PICTURES MAY NOT WORK**
**ARCHIVED POST AUTHOR: Bill Hopkins
