Monitoring the Session

HB 2998

Lowe Pesticide Bill Could Send Hand Sprayers To The Ballot

Died in committee

Verdict: Smells

SmellsInitial review
Rep. David LoweRHouse 91
Why it's charged
Dragnet

THE CAPTION

…“requiring voter approval for mass pesticide application”…

Caption, introduced version (I)

THE TEXT

“"Mass pesticide application" means the application of a pesticide by using a motor vehicle or other mechanical device.”

Bill text, introduced version (I)

The caption pitches a vote on mass spraying. The definition covers any pesticide use with any mechanical device, which on its face could include a small hand pump sprayer used on one city lot, not just large truck or aerial spraying.

Dragnet

Initial review · graded Oct 20, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade

Caption

relating to requiring voter approval for mass pesticide application by municipalities or counties.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

“Mass” means using any “mechanical device.” No spraying without a majority yes vote.

The bill bars Texas cities and counties from doing a mass pesticide application unless local voters first approve it at an election held for that purpose. It defines mass pesticide application as applying a pesticide with a motor vehicle or any other mechanical device, so it reaches city and county spraying crews and the local governing bodies that would have to call the vote. Starting September 1, 2025, a city or county that wants to spray this way must first win a majority yes vote on a for-or-against ballot.

Labels

Labels: NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Feb 18, 2025 and referred to the House Intergovernmental Affairs committee. No public hearing. The bill died.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB2998 · 2025-02-18

SOLD BY

Rep. David LoweRHouse 91

ITEM

relating to requiring voter approval for mass pesticide application by municipalities or counties.

WHAT IT DOES

“Mass” means using any “mechanical device.” No spraying without a majority yes vote.

The bill bars Texas cities and counties from doing a mass pesticide application unless local voters first approve it at an election held for that purpose. It defines mass pesticide application as applying a pesticide with a motor vehicle or any other mechanical device, so it reaches city and county spraying crews and the local governing bodies that would have to call the vote. Starting September 1, 2025, a city or county that wants to spray this way must first win a majority yes vote on a for-or-against ballot.

CHARGES

[x] DRAGNETanalysis confidence 45%

THE CAPTION

…“requiring voter approval for mass pesticide application”…

Caption, introduced version (I)

THE TEXT

“"Mass pesticide application" means the application of a pesticide by using a motor vehicle or other mechanical device.”

Bill text, introduced version (I)

The caption pitches a vote on mass spraying. The definition covers any pesticide use with any mechanical device, which on its face could include a small hand pump sprayer used on one city lot, not just large truck or aerial spraying.

TOTAL

No fiscal note in the loaded record.

HISTORY

  1. Filed
  2. Read first time
  3. Referred to Intergovernmental Affairs
FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

Smells

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

David Lowe

Donors

Texans United for a Conservative Majority PAC$121KJustice for Texas Victims$85KTexas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$30K

Not tied to this bill.

Sources

The author's campaign account only. Own money and internal transfers are separate on the member page.

Derived itemized flow · Jul 1, 2024 to Oct 22, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Texans United for a Conservative Majority PAC$120,500.00

Texans United for a Conservative Majority PAC

$120,500.00

Cash
$120,500.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$120,500.00

Also funds 30 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Sep 3, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Sep 3, 2024 to Aug 26, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 100987224, 101007668, 101028850, 101030722, 101040612, 101068843.

Justice for Texas Victims$85,000.00

Justice for Texas Victims

$85,000.00

Cash
$85,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$85,000.00

Also funds 12 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Sep 25, 2025 to Feb 4, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Sep 26, 2025 to Feb 4, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101028850, 101030722, 101040612.

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$30,000.00

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$30,000.00

Cash
$30,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$30,000.00

Also funds 137 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 24, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Sep 17, 2024 to Jan 12, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 100987224, 101007668, 101030722.

Money

Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.

×

Texans United for a Conservative Majority PAC

$120,500.00

Cash
$120,500.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$120,500.00

Also funds 30 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Sep 3, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Sep 3, 2024 to Aug 26, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 100987224, 101007668, 101028850, 101030722, 101040612, 101068843.

×

Justice for Texas Victims

$85,000.00

Cash
$85,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$85,000.00

Also funds 12 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Sep 25, 2025 to Feb 4, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Sep 26, 2025 to Feb 4, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101028850, 101030722, 101040612.

×

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$30,000.00

Cash
$30,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$30,000.00

Also funds 137 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 24, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Sep 17, 2024 to Jan 12, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 100987224, 101007668, 101030722.

Votes

No floor vote loaded for this bill.

Fiscal

No fiscal note in the loaded record.

How this was graded

Analysis of text version I by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 20, 2026, against the published rubric.

Sources

Texas House · Filed Feb 18, 2025

03/20/2025 H Referred to Intergovernmental Affairs: Mar 20 2025 11:50AM

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced

Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:19 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

House committee · Intergovernmental Affairs · Final status: Died in committee

Subjects

City Government--General

County Government--General

Safety

PESTICIDES & HERBICIDES

Text

The text as introduced · 222 words

89R9635 DNC-D

By: Lowe
H.B. No. 2998

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to requiring voter approval for mass pesticide application

by municipalities or counties.

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

SECTION 1. Chapter 370, Local Government Code, is amended

by adding Section 370.010 to read as follows:

Sec. 370.010. VOTER APPROVAL FOR MASS PESTICIDE APPLICATION

REQUIRED. (a) In this section:

(1) "Mass pesticide application" means the

application of a pesticide by using a motor vehicle or other

mechanical device.

(2) "Pesticide" has the meaning assigned by Section

76.001, Agriculture Code.

(b) Notwithstanding any other law, a municipality or county

may not conduct a mass pesticide application unless the application

is approved by a majority of voters voting at an election held for

that purpose in the municipality or county. For purposes of this

section, an application that wholly occurs in the boundaries of a

municipality does not require approval of the voters of a county in

which the municipality is located.

(c) The governing body of a municipality or county may order

an election under this section.

(d) At an election to approve mass pesticide application,

the ballot must be printed to provide for voting for or against the

approval of the mass pesticide application.

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