Monitoring the Session

HB 4722

conservation easements can guard against artificial light

Died in committee

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review
Rep. Ellen TroxclairRHouse 19

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 definition of conservation easement.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

Living things get protection from excessive artificial light.

The bill adds one more allowed purpose to the state definition of a conservation easement: protecting living things from excessive artificial light. Landowners and the groups that hold conservation easements could now write easements that limit outdoor lighting on a property. Starting September 1, 2025, dark-sky lighting limits count as a recognized conservation easement purpose under Texas law.

Labels

Labels: QUICK READ: 140 WORDS. The bill as filed runs 140 words, counting the existing law it amends and the text it strikes. The median 89R bill as filed runs 441 words (derived, 8,702 graded bills, snapshot Oct 19, 2026).NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Mar 13, 2025 and referred to the House Trade, Workforce & Economic Development committee. No public hearing. The bill died.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB4722 · 2025-03-13

SOLD BY

Rep. Ellen TroxclairRHouse 19

ITEM

relating to the definition of conservation easement.

WHAT IT DOES

Living things get protection from excessive artificial light.

The bill adds one more allowed purpose to the state definition of a conservation easement: protecting living things from excessive artificial light. Landowners and the groups that hold conservation easements could now write easements that limit outdoor lighting on a property. Starting September 1, 2025, dark-sky lighting limits count as a recognized conservation easement purpose under Texas law.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No fiscal note in the loaded record.

HISTORY

  1. Filed
  2. Read first time
  3. Referred to Trade, Workforce & Economic Development
FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

No flags

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Ellen Troxclair

Donors

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$100KTexans for Lawsuit Reform PC$10KTexas REALTORS Political Action Committee$5K

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 29, 2024 to Oct 21, 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 for Lawsuit Reform PAC$100,000.00

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$100,000.00

Cash
$100,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$100,000.00

Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jul 14, 2025 to Feb 3, 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: 101031227, 101040659.

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PC$10,000.00

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PC

$10,000.00

Cash
$10,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$10,000.00

Also funds 0 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · on Oct 2, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.

Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Oct 2, 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: 101072162.

Texas REALTORS Political Action Committee$5,083.34

Texas REALTORS Political Action Committee

$5,083.34

Cash
$5,000.00
Paid by others
$83.34
Total
$5,083.34
advertising $83.34

Also funds 140 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 2, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 12, 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: 100982032, 101031227, 101072162.

Money

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

×

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$100,000.00

Cash
$100,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$100,000.00

Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jul 14, 2025 to Feb 3, 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: 101031227, 101040659.

×

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PC

$10,000.00

Cash
$10,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$10,000.00

Also funds 0 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · on Oct 2, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.

Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Oct 2, 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: 101072162.

×

Texas REALTORS Political Action Committee

$5,083.34

Cash
$5,000.00
Paid by others
$83.34
Total
$5,083.34
advertising $83.34

Also funds 140 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 2, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 12, 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: 100982032, 101031227, 101072162.

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 Mar 13, 2025

04/03/2025 H Referred to Trade, Workforce & Economic Development: Apr 3 2025 12:38PM

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced

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

House committee · Trade, Workforce & Economic Development · Final status: Died in committee

Companion

SB 2874 by Gutierrez (identical)

Subjects

Environment--General

Property Interests--Real Property

CONSERVATION EASEMENTS

Text

The text as introduced · 140 words

By: Troxclair
H.B. No. 4722

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the definition of conservation easement.

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

SECTION 1. Section 183.001 (1), Natural Resources Code to

read as follows:

Sec. 183.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:

(1) "Conservation easement" means a nonpossessory

interest of a holder in real property that imposes limitations or

affirmative obligations designed to:

(A) retain or protect natural, scenic, or

open-space values of real property or assure its availability for

agricultural, forest, recreational, or open-space use;

(B) protect natural resources;

(C) maintain or enhance air or water quality;

[ or ]

(D) preserve the historical, architectural,

archeological, or cultural aspects of real property[ . ] ; or

(E) protect living things from excessive

artificial light

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