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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the authority of a municipality or county to regulate |
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the raising or keeping of chickens. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 250, Local Government Code, is amended |
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by adding Section 250.014 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 250.014. REGULATION OF CHICKENS. (a) Notwithstanding |
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any other law and except as provided by Subsection (b), a |
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municipality or county may not adopt or enforce an ordinance or |
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order that prohibits an individual from raising or keeping six or |
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fewer chickens. |
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(b) A municipality may impose reasonable regulations on the |
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raising or keeping of chickens that do not have the effect of |
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prohibiting the raising or keeping of six or fewer chickens, |
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including: |
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(1) a limit on the number of chickens that an |
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individual may raise or keep in excess of six; |
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(2) a prohibition on breeding chickens; |
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(3) a prohibition on raising or keeping roosters; |
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(4) a requirement that an individual only keep |
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chickens in the rear yard of a residence; |
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(5) a requirement that an individual provide fencing |
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or shelter sufficient to contain chickens on the individual's |
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property; or |
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(6) a regulation related to the accumulation of animal |
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waste that results in an offensive odor or attracts pests. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |