Senator Hinojosa explained a committee substitute to Senate Bill 1708 that clarifies protections for familial divisions of property — both inside and outside municipal extraterritorial jurisdictions (ETJs) — and clarifies the relationship between the water code, subdivision rules, and platting requirements in chapter 232 of the Local Government Code.

Hinojosa said the committee substitute seeks to ensure that familial divisions of property are not inadvertently made subject to unexpected platting requirements when they fall under water-code authorities or other local rules. The senator explained the substitute would protect established familial divisions and clarify applicable review standards for municipal ETJs and county areas.

Because the committee lacked a quorum at the moment, senators did not adopt the substitute; the committee left the substitute pending subject to call of the chair.