Monitoring the Session

HB 4163

cities can’t make farms mow the roadside

Became law, effective Sep 1, 2025

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review
Rep. Ryan GuillenRHouse 31

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 applicability of certain city requirements to agricultural operations.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

Mow, bale, shred or hoe. None of it, on the right-of-way.

The bill adds one more item to the list of things a Texas city cannot require of farms and ranches. A city could no longer make the owner or lessee of an agricultural operation mow, bale, shred, or hoe the strip of public road right-of-way next to that operation. Farmers and ranchers inside city limits get relief from that upkeep, and the city keeps the job of maintaining those roadside strips starting September 1, 2025.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB4163 · 2025-03-10

SOLD BY

Rep. Ryan GuillenRHouse 31 Rep. Briscoe CainRHouse 128

ITEM

relating to the applicability of certain city requirements to agricultural operations.

WHAT IT DOES

Mow, bale, shred or hoe. None of it, on the right-of-way.

The bill adds one more item to the list of things a Texas city cannot require of farms and ranches. A city could no longer make the owner or lessee of an agricultural operation mow, bale, shred, or hoe the strip of public road right-of-way next to that operation. Farmers and ranchers inside city limits get relief from that upkeep, and the city keeps the job of maintaining those roadside strips starting September 1, 2025.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version E · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version E · May 15, 2025

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

HISTORY

  1. Filed
  2. Read first time
  3. Referred to Agriculture & Livestock
  4. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  5. Considered in public hearing
  6. Committee substitute considered in committee
  7. Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
  8. Left pending in committee
  9. Considered in formal meeting
  10. Committee substitute considered in committee
  11. Recommended to be sent to Local & Consent
  12. Reported favorably as substituted
  13. Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
  14. Committee report distributed
  15. Comm. report sent to Local & Consent Calendar
  16. Considered in Local & Consent Calendars
  17. Placed on Local, Consent, and Res. Calendar
  18. Withdrawn from calendar (contested)
  19. Returned to Local & Consent Calendars Comm.
  20. Considered in Local & Consent Calendars
  21. Transferred to Calendars Committee
  22. Committee report sent to Calendars
  23. Considered in Calendars
  24. Placed on General State Calendar
  25. Read 2nd time
  26. Passed to engrossment
  27. Record vote RV#921
  28. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  29. Read 3rd time
  30. Passed
  31. Record vote RV#1057
  32. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  33. Reported engrossed
  34. Received from the House
  35. Read first time
  36. Referred to Water, Agriculture, & Rural Affairs
  37. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  38. Considered in public hearing
  39. Testimony taken in committee
  40. Vote taken in committee
  41. Reported favorably w/o amendments
  42. Recommended for local & uncontested calendar
  43. Committee report printed and distributed
  44. Co-sponsor authorized
  45. Placed on intent calendar
  46. Rules suspended-Regular order of business
  47. Record vote
  48. Read 2nd time & passed to 3rd reading
  49. Record vote
  50. Three day rule suspended
  51. Record vote
  52. Read 3rd time
  53. Passed
  54. Record vote
  55. Senate passage reported
  56. Reported enrolled
  57. Signed in the House
  58. Signed in the Senate
  59. Sent to the Governor
  60. Signed by the Governor
  61. Effective on 9/1/25
FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

SIGNED FOR BY

House · 117 yea · 18 nay

Senate · 28 yea · 3 nay

Sources

House: Final passage · Apr 30, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate: Final passage · May 21, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

All floor motions and other positions below.

No flags

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Ryan Guillen

Donors

Frontera Texas PAC$160KTexas Sands PAC$121KAssociated Republicans of Texas Campaign Fund$23K

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 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.

Frontera Texas PAC$160,007.97

Frontera Texas PAC

$160,007.97

Cash
$0.00
Paid by others
$160,007.97
Total
$160,007.97
Other filed descriptions $73,500.00mail $40,000.00mailing $19,429.94texting $18,144.37digital $8,211.55printing $722.11

Also funds 3 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Nov 5, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 30, 2025 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.

Report IDs: 101033369, 101062168, 101070155, 101073001.

Texas Sands PAC$120,875.00

Texas Sands PAC

$120,875.00

Cash
$113,500.00
Paid by others
$7,375.00
Total
$120,875.00
polling $7,375.00

Also funds 121 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 3, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 14, 2024 to Sep 25, 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: 100989191, 101033369, 101062168, 101073001.

Associated Republicans of Texas Campaign Fund$22,795.90

Associated Republicans of Texas Campaign Fund

$22,795.90

Cash
$0.00
Paid by others
$22,795.90
Total
$22,795.90
polling $15,000.00Other filed descriptions $7,352.14texting $443.76

Also funds 20 other sitting lawmakers.

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

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 15, 2025 to Sep 10, 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: 101033369, 101070155.

Money

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

×

Frontera Texas PAC

$160,007.97

Cash
$0.00
Paid by others
$160,007.97
Total
$160,007.97
Other filed descriptions $73,500.00mail $40,000.00mailing $19,429.94texting $18,144.37digital $8,211.55printing $722.11

Also funds 3 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Nov 5, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 30, 2025 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.

Report IDs: 101033369, 101062168, 101070155, 101073001.

×

Texas Sands PAC

$120,875.00

Cash
$113,500.00
Paid by others
$7,375.00
Total
$120,875.00
polling $7,375.00

Also funds 121 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 3, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 14, 2024 to Sep 25, 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: 100989191, 101033369, 101062168, 101073001.

×

Associated Republicans of Texas Campaign Fund

$22,795.90

Cash
$0.00
Paid by others
$22,795.90
Total
$22,795.90
polling $15,000.00Other filed descriptions $7,352.14texting $443.76

Also funds 20 other sitting lawmakers.

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

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 15, 2025 to Sep 10, 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: 101033369, 101070155.

Votes6

Senate May 21, 2025

Yea
28
Nay
3
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
0
Excused
0
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

Senate journal

Sources

The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 28, Nays 3. (Same as previous roll call)

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 28 (published)
  • Nay: 3 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate May 21, 2025

Yea
28
Nay
3
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
0
Excused
0
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

Senate journal

Sources

Senator Perry moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that HB 4163 be placed on its third reading and final passage. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 28, Nays 3.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 28 (published)
  • Nay: 3 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate May 21, 2025

Yea
28
Nay
3
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
0
Excused
0
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

Senate journal

Sources

The bill was read second time and was passed to third reading by the following vote: Yeas 28, Nays 3. (Same as previous roll call)

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 28 (published)
  • Nay: 3 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate May 21, 2025

Yea
28
Nay
3
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
0
Excused
0
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

Senate journal

Sources

Senator Perry moved to suspend the regular order of business to take up for consideration HB 4163 at this time on its second reading: HB 4163, Relating to the authority of a city to impose certain governmental requirements on an agricultural operation. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 28, Nays 3.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 28 (published)
  • Nay: 3 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

House Apr 30, 2025

Yea
117
Nay
18
Present, not voting
2
Absent
0
Excused
13
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 1057

HB 4163 was passed by (Record 1057): 117 Yeas, 18 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 117 (published)
  • Nay: 18 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 2 (published)
  • Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 13 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

House Apr 29, 2025

Yea
130
Nay
15
Present, not voting
3
Absent
2
Excused
0
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 921

CSHB 4163 was passed to engrossment by (Record 921): 130 Yeas, 15 Nays, 3 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 130 (published)
  • Nay: 15 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 3 (published)
  • Absent: 2 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Witnesses13
For
12
Against
1
On
0
Names

For

  • Self1 registration
  • Self; Texas farmer ranchers1 registration
  • Self; Texas Forestry Association1 registration
  • Self; Texas Wildlife Association1 registration
  • Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association2 registrations
  • Texas Beekeepers Association1 registration
  • Texas Citrus Mutual1 registration
  • Texas Corn Producers Association1 registration
  • Texas Farm Bureau1 registration
  • Texas farm bureau1 registration
  • Texas Sheep and Goat Raisers Association1 registration

Against

  • City of Irving1 registration
Sources

13 parsed registrations across the loaded witness lists.

Derived stock of witness registrations. Repeated appearances count separately. Organizations and self-representation appear as printed.

House witness list. Source snapshot 2026-10-20, Central time.

Senate witness list. Source snapshot 2026-10-20, Central time.

Fiscal

No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version E · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version E · May 15, 2025

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

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 Mar 10, 2025

06/20/2025 E Effective on 9/1/25

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced · House Committee Report · Engrossed · Senate Committee Report · Enrolled

Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:20 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

Sponsors
Charles PerryRSenate 28
Cosponsors
Lois KolkhorstRSenate 18

House committee · Agriculture & Livestock · Committee vote 7 aye, 0 nay, 2 absent · Out of committee

Senate committee · Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs · Committee vote 8 aye, 0 nay, 1 absent · Out of committee

Subjects

Agriculture

City Government--Land Use & Zoning

Text

The text as introduced · 215 words

By: Guillen
H.B. No. 4163

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the applicability of certain city requirements to

agricultural operations.

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

SECTION 1. Section 251.0055 (c), Agriculture Code, is

amended by adding Subdivision (5) to read as follows:

(c) A city may not impose a governmental requirement that

directly or indirectly:

(1) prohibits the use of a generally accepted

agricultural practice listed in the manual prepared under Section

251.007, except as provided by Subsections (a) and (b);

(2) prohibits or restricts the growing or harvesting

of vegetation for animal feed or forage, except as provided by

Subsection (d);

(3) prohibits the use of pesticides or other measures

to control vermin or disease-bearing insects to the extent

necessary to prevent an infestation; or

(4) requires an agricultural operation be designated

for:

(A) agricultural use under Section 1-d, Article

VIII, Texas Constitution; or

(B) farm, ranch, wildlife management, or timber

production use under Section 1-d-1, Article VIII, Texas

Constitution ; or

(5) requires the owner or lessees of an agricultural

operation to mow, bale, shred, or hoe material on the right-of-way

of a portion of a public road that is adjacent to agricultural

operation .

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