NEWS RELEASE
COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Student leaders from the Texas A&M University Student Government Association (TAMU SGA) testified Thursday before the Texas Local Government Senate Committee, advocating for legislative reform to address Texas’ escalating housing crisis. Representing 80,000 Aggies, TAMU Student Body President Cade Coppinger and Chief of Policy Ben Crockett highlighted restrictive occupancy codes that hinder access to affordable housing across the state, particularly in College Station.
“We have a higher education and housing affordability crisis in College Station,” said Coppinger. “The City of College Station and many other cities in the state [have] occupancy restriction on familial or relatedness status. In College Station, you will see no more than four unrelated guests or even no more than two unrelated folks in some areas who can live together in one dwelling unit. This has created a massive…pricing crisis that we’ve seen with students.”
Crockett underscored how these restrictive codes extend beyond Aggieland, affecting residents across the state. “In fact, about 67% of Texas cities have some form of unrelated occupancy restriction within their zoning code, which would limit unrelated…person[s] to living with between one and five unrelated persons depending on the city. We have in Texas…around 4 million empty bedrooms.”
Crockett also explained that these restrictions drive up costs for all Texans, noting, “Importantly…[these regulations] also drive up costs for our first-time home buyers and our young families because by saying you can only have two [renters] in this home and two [renters] in that home when you could have had six, they’re now having to compete with those first-time home buyers and that competition will drive up prices.”
Chairman Bettencourt (R) reacted strongly, remarking, “I’ve just heard another shocking tale of bureaucracy in Aggieland; you know what, we’re gonna have to do something about this.”
Sen. Eckhardt (D) shared her perspective on the issue, adding, “I’m an empty nester in a big house, and I have four unrelated people living in it. This is a big issue, and I’d be happy to work with the Chairman.”
The TAMU SGA’s testimony highlighted the statewide impact of ordinances that limit unrelated persons from living together, constraining the use of available housing and raising costs. Their proposed bipartisan legislation aims to lift these occupancy restrictions, promoting housing affordability through shared housing arrangements, ultimately benefiting students, families, and seniors across Texas.
For more information on TAMU SGA’s advocacy and legislative initiatives, please visit https://lr.tamu.edu/.