Bill Text: TX HB1191 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: Relating to the authority of a municipality or county to regulate the raising or keeping of chickens.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2023-05-16 - Referred to Local Government [HB1191 Detail]

Download: Texas-2023-HB1191-Introduced.html
 
 
  By: Cain H.B. No. 1191
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the regulation of raising or keeping six or fewer
  chickens by a political subdivision or property owners'
  association.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  This Act shall be known as the Chicken Freedom
  Act.
         SECTION 2.  The heading to Chapter 251, Agriculture Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         CHAPTER 251.  EFFECT OF NUISANCE ACTIONS AND GOVERNMENTAL
  REQUIREMENTS ON CERTAIN [PREEXISTING] AGRICULTURAL OPERATIONS
         SECTION 3.  Chapter 251, Agriculture Code, is amended by
  adding Section 251.007 to read as follows:
         Sec. 251.007.  SIX CHICKENS ALLOWED.  (a)  Notwithstanding
  any other law and except as provided by Subsection (b), a political
  subdivision may not impose a governmental requirement that
  prohibits an individual from raising or keeping six or fewer
  chickens in the boundaries of the political subdivision.
         (b)  A municipality may impose reasonable governmental
  requirements on the raising or keeping of poultry in the boundaries
  of the municipality that do not have the effect of prohibiting the
  raising or keeping of six or fewer chickens, including:
               (1)  a limit on the number of chickens an individual may
  raise or keep in excess of six;
               (2)  a prohibition on breeding poultry; or
               (3)  a prohibition on raising or keeping roosters.
         (c)  A governmental requirement adopted by a political
  subdivision that violates Subsection (a) is void.
         SECTION 4.  Chapter 202, Property Code, is amended by adding
  Section 202.024 to read as follows:
         Sec. 202.024.  SIX CHICKENS ALLOWED ON SINGLE-FAMILY
  RESIDENTIAL LOT. (a)  Notwithstanding Section 202.002(a), this
  section applies only to a restrictive covenant created on or after
  September 1, 2023.
         (b)  Notwithstanding any other law and except as provided by
  Subsection (c), a property owners' association may not adopt or
  enforce a restrictive covenant that prohibits the raising or
  keeping of six or fewer chickens on a single-family residential
  lot.
         (c)  A property owners' association may adopt and enforce a
  restrictive covenant imposing reasonable requirements on the
  raising or keeping of poultry on a single-family residential lot
  that do not have the effect of prohibiting the raising or keeping of
  six or fewer chickens, including:
               (1)  a limit on the number of chickens that may be
  raised or kept in excess of six;
               (2)  a prohibition on breeding poultry;
               (3)  a prohibition on raising or keeping roosters; or
               (4)  the minimum distance between a chicken coop and
  another lot.
         (d)  A provision that violates Subsection (b) is void.
         SECTION 5.  Section 251.007, Agriculture Code, as added by
  this Act, applies to a governmental requirement adopted before, on,
  or after the effective date of this Act.
         SECTION 6.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2023.
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