BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 4163
89R22455 MP-D	By: Guillen; Cain (Perry)
	Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs
	5/15/2025
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

The bill author has informed the committee that some cities currently impose requirements on agricultural operations that interfere with generally accepted agricultural practices, including mandates relating to the maintenance of vegetation along public road rights-of-way, which can create unnecessary burdens for farmers and ranchers, especially when such requirements are unrelated to public health or safety. H.B. 4163 seeks to protect agricultural operations from overly restrictive municipal ordinances by prohibiting a city from imposing certain governmental requirements on an agricultural operation.

H.B. 4163 amends current law relating to the authority of a city to impose certain governmental requirements on an agricultural operation.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 251.0055(c), Agriculture Code, as follows:

(c) Prohibits a city from imposing a governmental requirement that directly or indirectly has certain effects, including requiring the owner or lessee of an agricultural operation to mow, bale, shred, or hoe material on the right-of-way of a public road that is adjacent to the agricultural operation. Makes nonsubstantive changes.

SECTION 2. Provides that Section 251.0055 (Limitations on City Governmental Requirements Applicable Within Corporate Boundaries), Agriculture Code, as amended by this Act, applies to a governmental requirement adopted before, on, or after the effective date of this Act.

SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2025.