The Texas Association of Campground Owners (TACO) will push to reintroduce legislation next year that would establish statewide building and safety standards for RV parks and campgrounds in Texas, according to a press release.
During a Nov. 12 legislative webinar for TACO members, association officials noted that they helped craft HB 1286 during the previous legislative session, which would have established NFPA 1194 RV park construction standards as the statewide standard in Texas. The legislation, sponsored by Rep. Ryan Guillen, passed the House but did not get a hearing in the Senate.
TACO Executive Director and CEO Brian Schaeffer said the association would work with its allies to reintroduce legislation to establish NFPA 1194 as the statewide building standard in Texas. In fact, Sen. Flores has already filed SB 395 for the upcoming 2025 session.
TACO will also continue its ongoing efforts to push for post-Labor Day school start dates and to reduce commercial property taxes in Texas, said Schaeffer, who was accompanied in the legislative webinar by Randall Dally, TACO’s president and legislative liaison; Ron Hinkle, TACO’s longtime legislative consultant; and Michael Moore, TACO’s assistant executive director.
The association will also continue to monitor “squatters’ rights” and the effects of these rights on RV parks in addition to monitoring and killing any proposed legislation or regulations deemed harmful to RV park operator interests.
Despite Republicans’ growing political power in Texas and TACO’s recent successes in winning favorable legislation, Schaeffer noted that TACO has to remain vigilant to ensure that its legislative wins and park operator interests are respected.
He cited TACO’s efforts to reduce RV park water bills as a case in point. HB 1612 and SB 595 were bills introduced for TACO members. These bills eliminate the need to count every connection downstream from the meter as a residential connection, eliminating unfair billing along with the need to keep phantom water reserves for RV parks.
The new laws also establish that one residential connection is equal to eight occupied or unoccupied RV sites, reducing the water reserve requirement by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). The laws provide a variance based on actual usage for the water system operator if water consumption is less than 10% below the equivalency value. This prevents any monthly pre-site/cabin fee from being imposed. TACO worked with the Texas Rural Water Association (TRWA), a previous opponent, to get these bills passed.
Despite the passage of these new laws, cities across Texas continue to try to circumvent any loss in revenue by declaring that RV parks need larger master meters and a much larger monthly billing fee, Schaeffer said. He said TACO has had to send letters to city officials informing them of laws that prohibit such practices.
Despite these continuing threats, Schaeffer said TACO has secured other legislative wins for park operators that help reduce their insurance risks and financial exposures on other fronts.
These wins include legislation that:
Reduces Campground Liability: HB 2326 by Rep. Andrew Murr creates a new section, 75b of the Civil Practices and Remedies Code, which exempts campgrounds and RV parks from certain liability for damages or injuries resulting from risks inherent to camping because there are some inherent risks that exist in the natural world that are beyond the park operator’s control. The bill does not protect park operators from negligence on their part. TACO recommends park operators post signage citing 75Bb and its provisions. Recommended wording for signage is contained in the TACO Legal Handbook.
Killing an RV Occupancy Tax Bill: TACO managed to kill HB 5136, sponsored by Rep. Kyle Kacal and supported by the Texas Hotel & Lodging Association, which attempted to tax RV park sites as hotel rooms in Washington County, northwest of Houston. TACO President Randall and 44 park owners submitted testimony against the bill. If the bill had passed it would have set a devastating precedent.
Hinkle said the Texas Legislature convenes Jan. 14 to adopt rules and elect a speaker. GOP caucus members will convene Dec. 7 to discuss who they will endorse as their speaker candidate, with incumbent Speaker Dade Phelan, District 21 in Southeast Texas, and Rep. David Cook, District 96 in North Texas, being top contenders for the position.