HB 359
no HOA fines for brown lawns during drought watering restrictions
Died in committee
Verdict: No flags
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 the authority of a property owners' association to assess a fine for discolored vegetation or turf during a period of residential watering restriction.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Summary
Your brown lawn is safe until a reasonable period after the restriction lifts.
The bill bars property owners' associations from fining homeowners for brown or discolored grass and plants while a city or water supplier has drought watering restrictions in place. It touches homeowners in HOA neighborhoods and the associations that enforce green-lawn rules. Starting September 1, 2025, an HOA cannot fine for a brown lawn during a drought watering restriction or for a reasonable period after the restriction lifts.
Receipt
The receipt
89R-HB359 · 2024-11-12
SOLD BY
ITEM
relating to the authority of a property owners' association to assess a fine for discolored vegetation or turf during a period of residential watering restriction.
WHAT IT DOES
Your brown lawn is safe until a reasonable period after the restriction lifts.
The bill bars property owners' associations from fining homeowners for brown or discolored grass and plants while a city or water supplier has drought watering restrictions in place. It touches homeowners in HOA neighborhoods and the associations that enforce green-lawn rules. Starting September 1, 2025, an HOA cannot fine for a brown lawn during a drought watering restriction or for a reasonable period after the restriction lifts.
CHARGES
[ ] NONE FOUND
TOTAL
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
HISTORY
- Filed
- Read first time
- Referred to Trade, Workforce & Economic Development
FILED UNDER
DATA CENTERS, WATER AND THE GRID
THE TEXT
…“a temporary restriction of water use to irrigate residential vegetation or turf that is mandated by a municipality, water utility, or other wholesale or retail water supplier as part of a strategy to conserve water during a period of drought”
Bill text, introduced version (I)
The bill shields homeowners from HOA fines when they follow drought rules that limit lawn watering.
THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
Donors
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 · Oct 28, 2024 to Oct 24, 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.
Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
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 Nov 12, 2024
02/28/2025 H Referred to Trade, Workforce & Economic Development: Feb 28 2025 11:02AM
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 · Trade, Workforce & Economic Development · Final status: Died in committee
Companion
SB 542 by Schwertner (identical)
HB 517 by Harris Davila (duplicate)
Subjects
Environment--Water
Property Interests--Property Owners Association
Utilities--Water & Sewer
RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS
Text
The text as introduced · 223 words
89R1958 CS-D By: Goodwin H.B. No. 359 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the authority of a property owners' association to assess a fine for discolored vegetation or turf during a period of residential watering restriction. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Chapter 202, Property Code, is amended by adding Section 202.008 to read as follows: Sec. 202.008. LIMITATION ON FINES DURING RESIDENTIAL WATER RESTRICTION. (a) For the purposes of this section, "residential watering restriction" means a temporary restriction of water use to irrigate residential vegetation or turf that is mandated by a municipality, water utility, or other wholesale or retail water supplier as part of a strategy to conserve water during a period of drought. (b) A property owners' association may not assess a fine against a property owner for a violation of an applicable restrictive covenant that requires the owner to maintain green vegetation or turf or prohibits discolored or brown vegetation or turf on the property: (1) during a period when the owner's property is subject to a residential watering restriction under which discolored or brown vegetation or turf could reasonably result; and (2) for a reasonable period of time after a residential watering restriction described by Subdivision (1) is lifted. SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.