HB 3137

Lowe Additive Bill Bans 15 Substances, Including Any Color Additive

Died in committee

Verdict: Smells

SmellsInitial review

Rep. David LoweRHouse 91

Why it's charged

Dragnet

THE CAPTION

“relating to a prohibition on certain herbicides and food and”…

Caption, introduced version (I)

THE TEXT

“(7) color additive;”

Bill text, introduced version (I)

The caption promises a ban on 'certain' additives, but the list names whole categories, any color additive and any artificial flavoring, with no definition to narrow them. That reaches a very large share of food sold in the state, not a short list of specific chemicals.

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 a prohibition on certain herbicides and food and beverage additives; authorizing a civil penalty.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

So much for “certain.” Any artificial flavoring counts too. Up to $500 per item sold!

The bill orders the Texas Department of Agriculture to ban the sale, distribution and use of three weed killers: chloropropham, glyphosate and dicamba. It also bars anyone from selling food or drinks in Texas that contain any of 15 listed substances, including aspartame, MSG, sodium nitrite, any artificial flavoring and any color additive. Sellers face a civil penalty of up to $500 for each item sold, collected by the attorney general, starting September 1, 2025.

Labels

Labels: NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Feb 21, 2025 and referred to the House Public Health committee. No public hearing. The bill died.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB3137 · 2025-02-21

SOLD BY

Rep. David LoweRHouse 91

ITEM

relating to a prohibition on certain herbicides and food and beverage additives; authorizing a civil penalty.

WHAT IT DOES

So much for “certain.” Any artificial flavoring counts too. Up to $500 per item sold!

CHARGES

[x] DRAGNETanalysis confidence 50%

THE CAPTION

“relating to a prohibition on certain herbicides and food and”…

Caption, introduced version (I)

THE TEXT

“(7) color additive;”

Bill text, introduced version (I)

TOTAL

No fiscal note in the loaded record.

HISTORY

Feb 21, 2025Filed
Mar 20, 2025Read first time
Mar 20, 2025Referred to Public Health

FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

Smells

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

David Lowe

Donors

Texans United for a Conservative Majority PAC$121K Justice for Texas Victims$85K Texas 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 21, 2025

03/20/2025 H Referred to Public Health: 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 · Public Health · Final status: Died in committee

Subjects

Civil Remedies & Liabilities

Health--Other Diseases & Medical Conditions

Safety

FOOD

PESTICIDES & HERBICIDES

Text

The text as introduced · 285 words

89R12395 AB-D

By: Lowe
H.B. No. 3137

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to a prohibition on certain herbicides and food and

beverage additives; authorizing a civil penalty.

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

SECTION 1. Subchapter G, Chapter 76, Agriculture Code, is

amended by adding Section 76.1415 to read as follows:

Sec. 76.1415. PROHIBITED HERBICIDES. The department shall

prohibit the sale, distribution, and application of the following

herbicides:

(1) chloropropham;

(2) glyphosate; and

(3) dicamba.

SECTION 2. Subchapter B, Chapter 431, Health and Safety

Code, is amended by adding Section 431.024 to read as follows:

Sec. 431.024. PROHIBITION ON SALE OF FOOD OR BEVERAGE

CONTAINING CERTAIN ADDITIVES. (a) A person may not sell in this

state any food, including a beverage, intended for human

consumption that contains the following substances:

(1) aspartame;

(2) artificial flavoring;

(3) propylparaben;

(4) azodicarbonamide (ADA);

(5) butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA);

(6) butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT);

(7) color additive;

(8) dimethylpolysiloxane (PDMS);

(9) monosodium glutamate (MSG);

(10) tert-butylhydroquinone (TBHQ);

(11) partially hydrogenated oils;

(12) sodium benzoate;

(13) sodium nitrate;

(14) sodium nitrite; or

(15) methylparaben.

(b) A person who violates Subsection (a) is liable for a

civil penalty in an amount not to exceed $500 for each violation.

Each item sold constitutes a separate violation. The attorney

general may file suit in district court to recover a civil penalty

imposed under this section.

(c) A civil penalty collected under this section shall be

deposited in the general revenue fund.

(d) The attorney general may recover reasonable expenses

incurred in collecting the civil penalty, including investigative

costs, court costs, reasonable attorney's fees, witness fees, and

deposition expenses.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.