H.B. No. 3371
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to the regulation of certain battery-charged fences by
  municipalities and counties.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 250, Local Government Code, is amended
  by adding Section 250.009 to read as follows:
         Sec. 250.009.  BATTERY-CHARGED FENCES. (a)  In this
  section, "alarm system" means an alarm system for which a permit may
  be issued under Subchapter F or F-1, Chapter 214, or Subchapter D,
  Chapter 233.
         (b)  This section applies only to a battery-charged fence
  that:
               (1)  interfaces with an alarm system in a manner that
  enables the fence to cause the connected alarm system to transmit a
  signal intended to summon law enforcement in response to a
  burglary;
               (2)  is located on property that is not designated by a
  municipality or county for residential use;
               (3)  has an energizer that is driven by a commercial
  storage battery that is not more than 12 volts of direct current;
               (4)  produces an electric charge on contact that does
  not exceed energizer characteristics set for electric fence
  energizers by the International Electrotechnical Commission as
  published in the commission's standards on June 29, 2018;
               (5)  is completely surrounded by a nonelectric
  perimeter fence or wall that is not less than five feet in height;
               (6)  is not more than the higher of:
                     (A)  10 feet in height; or
                     (B)  two feet higher than the height of the
  nonelectric perimeter fence or wall; and
               (7)  is marked with conspicuous warning signs that are
  located on the battery-charged fence at not less than 60-foot
  intervals and that read: "WARNING--ELECTRIC FENCE."
         (c)  Notwithstanding any other law, a municipality or county
  may not adopt or enforce an ordinance, order, or regulation that:
               (1)  requires a permit for the installation or use of a
  battery-charged fence to which this section applies that is in
  addition to an alarm system permit issued by the municipality or
  county;
               (2)  imposes installation or operational requirements
  for:
                     (A)  the battery-charged fence that are
  inconsistent with the standards set by the International
  Electrotechnical Commission as published on June 29, 2018; or
                     (B)  an alarm system described by Subsection (b);
  or
               (3)  prohibits the installation or use of a
  battery-charged fence.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 3371 was passed by the House on April
  18, 2019, by the following vote:  Yeas 146, Nays 1, 2 present, not
  voting;
  that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B. No.
  3371 on May 24, 2019, by the following vote:  Yeas 132, Nays 7, 2
  present, not voting; and that the House adopted H.C.R. No. 186
  authorizing certain corrections in H.B. No. 3371 on May 25, 2019, by
  the following vote: Yeas 146, Nays 0, 1 present, not voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House  
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 3371 was passed by the Senate, with
  amendments, on May 22, 2019, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays
  1; and that the Senate adopted H.C.R. No. 186 authorizing certain
  corrections in H.B. No. 3371 on May 26, 2019, by the following vote:
  Yeas 31, Nays 0.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate  
  APPROVED: __________________
                  Date      
   
           __________________
                Governor