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ChatGPTClaudePerplexityStoryline · 4 events · Mar 6, 2007 – Sep 22, 2026
Proposed residency restrictions for registered sex offenders in Amarillo (2011-2026)
Quick answers
- What is the latest on Sex offender residency ordinance?
- Sep 22, 2026: Police Chief Thomas Hover presents a draft sex offender residency ordinance to the City Council. Discussion item 4.3 on the September 22, 2026 agenda was "Sex Offender Residency Ordinance," presented by Police Chief Thomas Hover. Read the event
- How far back does this record of Sex offender residency ordinance go?
- To Mar 6, 2007: Attorney General opinion says state law does not preempt home-rule cities' sex offender residency ordinances. The storyline has 4 dated events in all. Read the event
Amarillo has no local ordinance limiting where registered sex offenders may live. The City Commission held a public hearing on a proposed 1,000-foot residency restriction on December 6, 2011, and a revised version, Ordinance No. 7319, was on the February 14, 2012 agenda for first reading. No second reading of it appears on the following agendas, and the number 7319 was given to a rezoning ordinance later that month. On September 22, 2026 Police Chief Thomas Hover presented a new draft ordinance to the City Council: it would bar registered offenders whose offenses involved a minor from establishing a permanent residence within 1,000 feet of parks, libraries, schools, youth centers and licensed day care centers, with violations a Class C misdemeanor. Mayor Cole Stanley said it would be fast-tracked. As of October 17, 2026 the ordinance had not appeared on a council agenda for a vote.
A storyline groups dated events in order. It is a chronology, not an argument; it does not say why anything happened. All storylines
· Context
Attorney General opinion says state law does not preempt home-rule cities' sex offender residency ordinances
Texas Attorney General Opinion No. GA-0526, issued at the request of the chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services, concluded that state law does not preempt a home-rule municipality's ordinance prohibiting registered sex offenders from living within a specified distance of places where children typically congregate. It said whether a particular ordinance is constitutional is for a court to decide, and that it found no law authorizing general-law municipalities to adopt such restrictions. Amarillo is a home-rule city.[1][2]
- ✓ Verified
Opinion No. GA-0526 (March 6, 2007) summarizes: "State law does not preempt a home-rule municipality's ordinance prohibiting registered sex offenders from living within a specified distance from locations where children typically congregate." It adds that whether a particular ordinance is permitted by the Texas Constitution "must be determined by a court," and states that it found no law authorizing a general-law municipality to adopt this type of residence restriction. [1]
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Amarillo Tribune; Thomas Hover, Police Chief: The Amarillo Tribune reported that an informal 2015 Texas Municipal League survey found 64 Texas cities had adopted a sex offender residency restriction ordinance, and that in 2016 about 20 small general-law towns reworked or eliminated theirs. It reported that Chief Hover said about 25 other cities have a similar ordinance. [2]
· Origin
City Commission holds a public hearing on a proposed sex offender residency restriction ordinance
The City Commission's December 6, 2011 evening meeting agenda listed a public hearing on a proposed ordinance that, as drafted, would bar people required to register on the Texas sex offender database "because of certain convictions involving a minor child" from establishing a residence within 1,000 feet of a licensed day care center or other places where children commonly gather, such as schools, parks and public recreation areas. The hearing was posted "to present information and data regarding the proposal and to solicit and receive input."[3][2]
- ✓ Verified
The video index for the December 6, 2011 City Commission evening meeting lists item 2, "PUBLIC HEARING - PROPOSED SEX OFFENDER RESIDENCY ORDINANCE," whose overview says the proposed ordinance "would restrict individuals who are required to register on the Texas Sex Offender Database because of certain convictions involving a minor child from establishing residence with 1,000 feet of a licensed Day Care Center or defined Premise where children commonly gather such as schools, parks, public recreation areas and others." [3]
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Amarillo Tribune: The Amarillo Tribune reported that in 2011 some people raised the concern that if registered offenders were too restricted in where they could live they would concentrate in certain areas. [2]
· Precursor
Revised residency ordinance, No. 7319, is on the City Commission agenda for first reading
The February 14, 2012 City Commission agenda listed Ordinance No. 7319 for first reading. It would add Section 10-3-29 to the Municipal Code restricting where registered sex offenders assigned a risk level of "High," "Moderate" or "Not Reported" by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice could establish a new or relocated residence: not within 1,000 feet of certain day care centers and other places where children commonly gather. It included a waiver. The February 21 and February 28, 2012 agendas list no second reading; on both, Ordinance No. 7319 is a rezoning near Western Street and Farmers Avenue.[4][5][6]
- ✓ Verified
The video index for the February 14, 2012 City Commission regular meeting lists item 2, "ORDINANCE NO. 7319," described as "the first reading of an ordinance amending Chapter 10-3, Article III of the Amarillo Municipal Code to add a new section 10-3-29 to restrict the residence location of certain registered sex offenders, providing for a waiver." As proposed it would apply to offenders assigned a risk level of "High," "Moderate," or "Not Reported" by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, within 1,000 feet of certain day care centers and other premises where children commonly gather, and to "those affected parties establishing new or relocated residences." The video index does not record the vote. [4]
- ✓ Verified
On the February 21, 2012 City Commission agenda, Ordinance No. 7319 is the first reading of a rezoning of a 66.58-acre tract near Western Street and Farmers Avenue, and on the February 28, 2012 agenda it is that rezoning's second and final reading. Neither agenda lists a second reading of the sex offender residency ordinance, and no later adoption was found. The City has not published a reason the ordinance did not advance. [5][6]
- ⚠ Sources differ
What happened to the proposal after the December 2011 public hearing.
Reported value 1[2]
- Value
- The matter did not reappear on future agendas after the December 2011 public hearing
As reported by the Amarillo Tribune in September 2026
· Trigger
Police Chief Thomas Hover presents a draft sex offender residency ordinance to the City Council
Discussion item 4.3 on the September 22, 2026 agenda was "Sex Offender Residency Ordinance," presented by Police Chief Thomas Hover. The draft would bar registered sex offenders whose offenses involved a minor from establishing a permanent residence within 1,000 feet of public parks, libraries, schools, youth centers and licensed day care centers, measured property line to property line. It would not apply to people already living in a zone, to juveniles or registered minors, to temporary residences, or where a protected location opens after a residence is established. Violations would be a Class C misdemeanor with a fine of up to $500 a day. No vote was taken. Mayor Cole Stanley said it would be "fast-tracked as fast as the charter allows."[7][8][9][2]
- ✓ Verified
Discussion item 4.3 on the September 22, 2026 City Council agenda was "Sex Offender Residency Ordinance." Draft minutes of the meeting (in the October 13 agenda packet, for approval) record: "Mayor Stanley introduced the item. Thomas Hover, Police Chief, presented the item." Discussion items carry no vote. [7][8]
- ✓ Verified
As described by NewsChannel 10 and the Amarillo Tribune, the draft would apply to registered sex offenders whose offenses involved a minor and bar a permanent residence within 1,000 feet of designated child safety zones. Exemptions include people who established residence before the ordinance takes effect, juvenile offenders not convicted as adults, registered minors, temporary residents, cases where a protected location opens after residency was established, and incorrect registry information. A violation would be a Class C misdemeanor with a fine of up to $500, each day a separate offense. The Tribune reported that APD would publish a residency restriction map, and that Hover showed a preliminary map. [9][2]
- Buffer feet
- 1,000
- Max fine
- $500
- ⚠ Sources differ
Which schools the draft's 1,000-foot zones would cover, as reported.
Reported value 1[9]
- Value
- Public or private elementary and secondary schools (with public parks, libraries, youth centers and licensed day care centers)
Reported value 2[2]
- Value
- Elementary and middle schools (with public parks and libraries, youth centers and licensed day care centers); churches not included
- ✓ Verified
NewsChannel 10 reported that Amarillo currently has no local residency restrictions for sex offenders and that under state law only probation and parole officers can now act against someone for living within a child safety zone. The Tribune reported that the ordinance would extend the child-safety-zone requirement that probation terms already impose past the probation period. [9][2]
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Thomas Hover, Police Chief: Hover told the council, "The whole purpose of what we're trying to do is protect the vulnerable from harm. In this particular case, the most vulnerable to harm is children." He told the Tribune he kept the 1,000-foot distance used in probation terms rather than a shorter one, and that "Yes, it is restrictive. However, there is a ton of other places for these individuals to live." [2]
- ✓ Verified
Amarillo Tribune; Thomas Hover, Police Chief: The Tribune reported that the Texas Sex Offender Registry lists over 1,000 registered sex offenders living in Potter and Randall counties, that APD's 2024 annual report counted a little over 700 within city limits, and that Hover said offenders with child victims are about 10 to 12% of registered offenders in the city. Hover also described a recent three-day APD compliance operation: "we had 631 homes we visited, 335 field contacts, made seven arrests, and there's nine investigations." [2]
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Cole Stanley, Mayor: Mayor Cole Stanley said the ordinance would be "fast-tracked as fast as the charter allows it to go forward" (Tribune) and that the council expects action this year (NewsChannel 10). He told NewsChannel 10, "It's one more thing that we can do to further protect children." The Tribune reported Hover said the ordinance was well underway and waiting to be placed on an agenda. [2][9]
- ✓ Verified
As of October 17, 2026 no sex offender residency ordinance had appeared on a City Council agenda for a reading: it is not on the October 13, 2026 agenda, and the agenda for the next regular meeting, October 27, 2026, had not been posted on the City's CivicClerk portal. [10]
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Neither the agenda nor the City has published a stated reason for bringing the proposal back in 2026. The Tribune reported that Hover became police chief in early 2026 after being selected in December 2025, and that a resident who has advocated for such an ordinance for years attended the September 22 meeting and spoke in support. [2][7]
