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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the regulation of raising or keeping six or fewer |
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chickens by a political subdivision. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. The heading to Chapter 251, Agriculture Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 251. EFFECT OF NUISANCE ACTIONS AND GOVERNMENTAL |
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REQUIREMENTS ON CERTAIN [PREEXISTING] AGRICULTURAL OPERATIONS |
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SECTION 2. Chapter 251, Agriculture Code, is amended by |
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adding Section 251.007 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 251.007. SIX CHICKENS ALLOWED. (a) Notwithstanding |
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any other law and except as provided by Subsection (b), a political |
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subdivision may not impose a governmental requirement that |
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prohibits an individual from raising or keeping six or fewer |
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chickens in the boundaries of the political subdivision. |
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(b) A municipality may impose reasonable governmental |
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requirements on the raising or keeping of poultry in the boundaries |
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of the municipality that do not have the effect of prohibiting the |
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raising or keeping of six or fewer chickens, including: |
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(1) a limit on the number of chickens an individual may |
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raise or keep in excess of six; |
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(2) a prohibition on breeding poultry; |
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(3) a prohibition on raising or keeping roosters; or |
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(4) the minimum distance an individual must maintain |
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between a chicken coop and a residential structure. |
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(c) A governmental requirement adopted by a political |
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subdivision that violates Subsection (a) is void. |
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SECTION 3. Section 251.007, Agriculture Code, as added by |
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this Act, applies to a governmental requirement adopted before, on, |
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or after the effective date of this Act. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |