County staff warn HB 23 could limit local plat review; court asks staff to pursue LPPF fee change and draft notice bill resolution

Russell Schaffner, Collin County deputy county administrator, told Commissioners Court that staff discussed several pending bills at a recent Conference of Urban Counties (CUC) meeting and highlighted measures that could affect county planning, finance and operations.

Schaffner flagged HB 23, legislation that would let developers use private third‑party engineering reviewers whose approvals could limit the county's ability to disapprove plats. "If a third party reviewer approves the plat, we cannot disapprove a plat," Schaffner told the court, summarizing the bill's effect as presented at the CUC meeting. He and other staff said the rule would create a faster route to approval for developers but also raised concerns about oversight and potential liability if a third‑party reviewer approves work that…