This Wednesday  April 2, 2025,— HB3919  (“the small lot impervious cover bill”) will be heard by the House Land & Resource Management Committee room E.2026 at 8 AM.  This bill would allow 70% impervious cover on residential lots of 4,000 square feet or less.

Please take 10 minutes before Wednesday at 11 AM to either:
✅ Call  or email committee members to voice opposition (sample script & numbers below); OR
✅ Submit a quick public comment online for each bill (instructions below).

OR do both if you have time.

The Bill at a Glance

📌 HB3919 mandates that on small lots of less 4,000 square feet or less, the impervious cover allowed will be 70%.

Background:

The city of Austin, in passing the H.O.M.E. initiative set the minimum lots size at 1800 square feet.    The city is working on tools so that re-subdivision of lots will be simplified.     Any of these lots less than 4,00 square feet will receive a large  (25%) increase in impervious cover limits if this state law is passed.    Austin already has had significant riverine and localized urban flooding.   Allowing a large increase in impervious cover combined with inadequate drainage infrastructure will put communities at higher risk of flood inundation.

Our local Representative Gina Hinojosa is on this committee – you can reach out to her by email or calling her office at (512) 463-0668.

Let the legislature know we are concerned about the  increase in impervious cover on small residential lots in our neighborhoods, and the impact it will have on flooding in our community.

 

 

☎️ Quick Call Script for L&RM Committee Members

📞 “Hi, my name is [Your Name]. I am a supporter of flood-free family-friendly neighborhoods. I  oppose the increased impervious cover on small lats allowed in HB3919,  which would increase significantly the risk of flooding in our community.   I urge the representative to remove the section of the bill that requires only 30% permeable cover.”

Committee Members to Call (or click names to send emails):

✍️ How to Submit Written Comments

Sample Comments for HB 3919

“I oppose the section of HB3919 that requires only 30% permeable cover on small lots, raising the impervious cover from 45% to 70%, which greatly increases flood risk in our community.”