Monitoring the SessionHB 537
Died in committee
THE TEXT
…“the commissioners court of a county with a population of more than 3.3 million by order may regulate”…
Bill text, introduced version (I)
The population bracket narrows the new noise power to the very largest county or counties. The caption admits only "certain counties" and does not say how few.
Bracket billInitial review · graded Oct 20, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade
relating to the authority of certain counties to regulate noise levels in residential areas; creating a criminal offense.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Unincorporated areas only. Strike three is a Class C misdemeanor. Fireworks get a pass.
The bill lets the commissioners court of a county with more than 3.3 million people pass an order limiting how loud noise from a home can be in unincorporated residential areas. It touches residents of those unincorporated neighborhoods, and it bars the county from using this power to regulate fireworks. A person who violates the county order three or more times commits a Class C misdemeanor offense, starting September 1, 2025.
Labels: ZOMBIE BILL. Died 2 times: 88R HB 899 (Died in committee) and this bill (Died in committee). Checked against 88R only.DO-OVER. Reworked text of a bill filed before that died: 88R HB 899 (Died in committee). Filed in 2 sessions, counting this one. Checked against 88R only.TRY NO. 2. Filed in 2 sessions: 88R and 89R. Checked against 88R only.CREATES AN OFFENSE. The caption of the graded version (introduced) reads: “relating to the authority of certain counties to regulate noise levels in residential areas; creating a criminal offense.”PENDING FOREVER. Heard by the House Intergovernmental Affairs subcommittee on County & Regional Government on Apr 7, 2025 and left pending. Never voted out. The bill died.
89R-HB537 · 2024-11-12
relating to the authority of certain counties to regulate noise levels in residential areas; creating a criminal offense.
Unincorporated areas only. Strike three is a Class C misdemeanor. Fireworks get a pass.
The bill lets the commissioners court of a county with more than 3.3 million people pass an order limiting how loud noise from a home can be in unincorporated residential areas. It touches residents of those unincorporated neighborhoods, and it bars the county from using this power to regulate fireworks. A person who violates the county order three or more times commits a Class C misdemeanor offense, starting September 1, 2025.
[x] BRACKET BILLanalysis confidence 50%
THE TEXT
…“the commissioners court of a county with a population of more than 3.3 million by order may regulate”…
Bill text, introduced version (I)
The population bracket narrows the new noise power to the very largest county or counties. The caption admits only "certain counties" and does not say how few.
No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
LBB estimate · fiscal note version I · source
Fiscal note · version I · April 2, 2025
No first-year general revenue figure available here.
LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.
Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.
No verified beat found.
THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
Not tied to this bill.
The author's campaign account only. Own money and internal transfers are separate on the member page.
Derived itemized flow · Jul 4, 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.
$42,500.00
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.
TeamDerived itemized flow · Nov 19, 2024 to Sep 30, 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: 100985345, 101012323, 101027868, 101056902, 101071964.
$17,500.00
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.
TeamDerived itemized flow · Nov 25, 2024 to Sep 30, 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: 100985345, 101012323, 101056902, 101071964.
$10,000.00
Also funds 17 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Oct 28, 2024 to Aug 26, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamDerived itemized flow · on Dec 15, 2025. 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: 101027868.
Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
$42,500.00
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.
TeamDerived itemized flow · Nov 19, 2024 to Sep 30, 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: 100985345, 101012323, 101027868, 101056902, 101071964.
$17,500.00
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.
TeamDerived itemized flow · Nov 25, 2024 to Sep 30, 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: 100985345, 101012323, 101056902, 101071964.
$10,000.00
Also funds 17 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Oct 28, 2024 to Aug 26, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamDerived itemized flow · on Dec 15, 2025. 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: 101027868.
No floor vote loaded for this bill.
No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
LBB estimate · fiscal note version I · source
Fiscal note · version I · April 2, 2025
No first-year general revenue figure available here.
LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.
Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.
Analysis of text version I by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 20, 2026, against the published rubric.
Filed 2 times: 88R and 89R. Checked against 88R only.
by Rep. Walle, same lead author · Died in committee · reworked
Introduced textLast action, Apr 19, 2023: Referred to Local Government
Relating to the authority of certain counties to regulate noise levels in residential areas; creating a criminal offense.
Caption, 88R bill history
Texas House · Filed Nov 12, 2024
04/07/2025 H Left pending in subcommittee
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
County Government--General
Crimes--Miscellaneous
Environment--Noise
The text as introduced · 183 words
89R2012 CS-F By: Walle H.B. No. 537 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the authority of certain counties to regulate noise levels in residential areas; creating a criminal offense. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Chapter 240, Local Government Code, is amended by adding Subchapter D to read as follows: SUBCHAPTER D. REGULATION OF NOISE LEVELS IN CERTAIN COUNTIES Sec. 240.061. AUTHORITY TO REGULATE. (a) To promote public health, safety, and welfare, the commissioners court of a county with a population of more than 3.3 million by order may regulate the level of noise emanating from a residence located in a residential area in the unincorporated area of the county. (b) This section does not authorize the commissioners court of a county to regulate the use of fireworks. Sec. 240.062. CRIMINAL PENALTY. (a) A person commits an offense if the person on three or more occasions violates an order adopted under this subchapter. (b) An offense under this section is a Class C misdemeanor. SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.