Relating to the zoning of maternity group homes

This bill requires a city, city council, or city zoning commission to consider a maternity group home as a residential use of property for the purpose of zoning and to treat a maternity group home as a permitted use in all residential zones or districts. The bill defines “maternity group home”, “permitted use”, and “residential”. The bill provides that any restriction, reservation, condition, exception, or covenant in any subdivision plan, deed, or other instrument of or pertaining to the transfer, sale, lease, or use of property in a city that permits residential use of property but prohibits the use of property as a maternity group home for new and expecting mothers, to the extent of the prohibition, is void as against the public policy of this state and shall not be given legal or equitable effect. The bill does not include similar provisions for county zoning under Code chapter 335.