On April 27th, 2023 the bill (Senate Bill 1412) to legalize ADUs passed the Texas Senate.  So what is an ADU?  It is an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) or “mother-in-law suite”.   This bill would remove cities’ power to prohibit ADUs in their neighborhoods and eliminate single-family zoning across the state.

Some people look at this as a positive thing. It now makes it easier to rent out that apartment over the garage for some additional income and it could help create some more affordable housing. Supporters say it will give property owners the right to do what they want with their properties.

However, there is a downside to this that many people are not considering. Investors can come in and purchase homes with larger lots and build multiple ADUs on them and then rent each one out. This could easily double or triple the traffic and parking problems many areas are already facing. Escaping this density is one of the many reasons people purchase single-family homes in the first place. This bill still has to pass the House before it would become law. It is currently being considered as House Bill 2789. Senate 1412 was unopposed in the Senate.