Overall Vote Recommendation

Yes

Principle Criteria

Free Enterprise

Property Rights

Personal Responsibility

Limited Government

Individual Liberty

Digest

HB 2204 seeks to enhance the regulation and oversight of land surveyors in Texas by making targeted amendments to the Occupations Code, specifically sections relevant to the Texas Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors (TBPELS). The bill primarily strengthens the role of the board’s advisory committee and modernizes qualifications for surveyor-in-training certification.

First, HB 2204 authorizes the advisory committee under TBPELS to issue written reports or recommendations regarding any surveying-related subject under the board’s jurisdiction. This can be done either proactively or in response to public requests, enhancing the committee’s advisory capacity. The bill also mandates that the committee maintain a public written record of its meeting discussions and actions taken, increasing transparency and accountability in regulatory decision-making.

Second, the bill requires the board to issue advisory opinions interpreting relevant sections of the Occupations Code or applying them to specific factual circumstances. This provision helps clarify regulatory expectations for licensees and applicants, promoting legal certainty and consistent enforcement.

Lastly, HB 2204 updates the educational pathways for individuals seeking certification as surveyors-in-training. Previously, strict degree requirements in land surveying or civil engineering could act as barriers to entry. The proposed changes allow for a broader range of relevant academic coursework—such as mathematics, land law, photogrammetry, and forestry—making the profession more accessible without compromising competency.

Overall, HB 2204 aims to streamline the licensure process, expand public participation in regulatory matters, and uphold high standards in land surveying—all while respecting the principles of transparency, professional responsibility, and limited government intervention.

The originally filed version of HB 2204 proposed a comprehensive restructuring of the licensure pathway for land surveyors in Texas. It introduced multiple routes to certification as a surveyor-in-training, accommodating various educational backgrounds, including high school graduates, associate degree holders, and those with bachelor’s degrees in diverse disciplines. This version was inclusive and aimed to broaden access to the surveying profession by recognizing both formal education and practical experience. It also expanded the Texas Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors’ responsibilities, requiring them to establish detailed rules for three distinct examinations: the fundamentals of surveying, principles and practice of surveying, and a Texas-specific surveying exam.

In contrast, the Committee Substitute for HB 2204 dramatically narrows the bill’s scope. It eliminates the alternative certification routes and tightens the educational requirements to focus primarily on applicants with bachelor’s degrees that include 32 semester hours in specific subjects such as land surveying, civil engineering, or mathematics. This change reduces flexibility in qualifying for licensure, likely with the intent to maintain high professional standards and streamline the regulatory process.

Additionally, the substitute version removes all provisions related to exam rulemaking and transition implementation dates that were present in the original. It instead focuses on administrative improvements, including enhancing transparency by requiring the advisory committee to maintain public records and allowing it to issue written recommendations to the board. These modifications shift the bill from a broad reform effort to a more incremental update that prioritizes procedural clarity and regulatory consistency over structural overhaul.

Author (1)

Ben Bumgarner

Contact the Author

Rep. Ben Bumgarner

Capitol Phone:

(512) 463-0688

Capitol Office:

EXT E1.310

E-Mail:

[email protected]

Visit Official Website

Fiscal Notes

According to the Legislative Budget Board (LBB), HB 2204 would have no fiscal implication to the state. This is primarily because the Texas Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors (TBPELS), the agency affected by the bill, operates as a self-directed, semi-independent agency. This status means it funds its operations through fees it collects rather than relying on appropriations from the General Revenue Fund, and it is not subject to the traditional legislative budgeting process.

Additionally, the bill is not expected to create any significant fiscal impact for local government units. The proposed administrative changes, such as enhancing transparency in the advisory committee and modest adjustments to licensure qualifications, are not anticipated to require new infrastructure, staffing, or significant shifts in operational costs at the local level.

Overall, the fiscal assessment underscores that HB 2204 can be implemented within the current regulatory and financial framework of the TBPELS, making it a cost-neutral proposal for both state and local governments.

Vote Recommendation Notes

HB 2204 offers modest but meaningful reforms to the regulation of land surveyors in Texas. It upholds individual liberty by removing unnecessary gatekeeping in the licensure process—specifically, it allows applicants to take the national Fundamentals of Surveying (FS) exam without prior authorization from the Texas Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors (TBPELS), eliminating a bureaucratic barrier. This empowers individuals to manage their own professional development timeline.

The bill promotes personal responsibility by maintaining clear educational and experience-based requirements for licensure, while enhancing transparency through advisory committee reporting. It reinforces free enterprise by easing access to a licensed profession without lowering standards, which can help expand the labor pool and meet market demand for surveying professionals.

In terms of private property rights, a competent surveying workforce is critical for the integrity of property boundaries and land use decisions. This bill supports that goal through clarified and codified examination standards. Notably, HB 2204 also aligns with the principle of limited government—it imposes no new regulatory burdens, does not create new licensure categories or fees, and has no fiscal impact on the state or local governments, as confirmed by the Legislative Budget Board. It codifies existing practices and streamlines administrative processes, making it a regulatory refinement rather than an expansion.

In summary, HB 2204 simplifies the pathway to licensure, preserves high professional standards, and does so without increasing the regulatory or licensing burden. As such, Texas Policy Research recommends that lawmakers vote YES on HB 2204.

Individual Liberty: The bill enhances individual liberty by reducing procedural barriers to entry into the land surveying profession. By allowing applicants to take the national Fundamentals of Surveying (FS) exam without first obtaining state board approval, the bill respects an individual's right to pursue a lawful occupation without unnecessary government interference. It grants aspiring professionals more autonomy in charting their own career paths.
Personal Responsibility: The bill reinforces personal responsibility by keeping clear educational and experience-based requirements for licensure. Individuals are still expected to meet rigorous qualifications to ensure competency, but the pathway is now more transparent and navigable. Applicants remain accountable for completing the necessary steps, including exams and coursework, to earn licensure.
Free Enterprise: By streamlining the licensure process, the bill removes inefficiencies that may have discouraged or delayed market entry. This fosters greater participation in the surveying industry and encourages workforce mobility—hallmarks of a competitive, free enterprise system. The bill also supports economic development by making it easier for qualified professionals to meet the growing demand in real estate, infrastructure, and property development sectors.
Private Property Rights: Land surveyors play a vital role in establishing and verifying property boundaries. By supporting a well-regulated and competent surveying profession, the bill indirectly strengthens private property rights. It ensures that those who perform boundary determinations are adequately qualified, which helps protect property owners from disputes, encroachments, and legal uncertainty.
Limited Government: The bill embodies the principle of limited government by refining—rather than expanding—state oversight. It eliminates an outdated approval step, codifies existing exam practices, and requires no additional regulatory infrastructure or cost. The Texas Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors remains self-funded and outside the traditional appropriations process, and no new layers of government involvement are introduced.

Related Legislation

SB 1259 (Same As)

View Bill Text and Status