By: Muñoz (Senate Sponsor - Hinojosa of Hidalgo) H.B. No. 2731

(In the Senate - Received from the House May 19, 2025; May 19, 2025, read first time and referred to Committee on Local Government; May 26, 2025, reported adversely, with favorable Committee Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 7, Nays 0; May 26, 2025, sent to printer.) Click here to see the committee vote

COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR H.B. No. 2731 By: Gutierrez

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the regulation of roadside vendors and solicitors in certain counties.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Sections 285.001(b) and (c), Transportation Code, are amended to read as follows:

(b) The commissioners court of a county with a population of more than 200,000 [870,000] that borders the United Mexican States by order may regulate the following activities in the unincorporated areas of the county, provided that the activities occur in a parking lot or on or in the right-of-way of a public highway or road [described by Subsection (a) in the manner described by that subsection, except that]:

(1) the sale of items and the erection, maintenance, or placement of a structure by a vendor of live animals [the regulation of activities on or in the right-of-way of a public highway or road is limited to public highways and roads with a speed limit of 40 miles per hour or faster]; and

(2) the solicitation of money [the county may not prohibit the sale of livestock].

(c) A county regulating vendors under Subsection (b):

(1) may require that a vendor be located not closer to the edge of the public highway or road than a distance that is equal to one-half the width of the right-of-way adjacent to the highway or road; and

(2) may not adopt an order under Subsection (b) prohibiting the sale of livestock.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.

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