HB 583
Lopez’s Reservoir Fence Rule Reaches Only A Handful Of Counties
Died in committee
Verdict: Smells
Why it's charged
Bracket bill
A population cap combined with a reservoir-size threshold and a second small-county requirement narrows this statewide code section to a handful of counties around particular reservoirs. The caption does say "certain counties," so the narrowness is disclosed.
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
Caption
relating to the regulation of fences near certain reservoirs by certain counties.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Summary
Under 52,000 people, sharing a reservoir over 250,000 acre-feet with another county that small.
The bill orders certain small counties to adopt an order banning anyone from building or keeping a fence or similar structure past the water line of a large reservoir when that reservoir is at full conservation level. It only reaches counties under 52,000 people that share a reservoir holding more than 250,000 acre-feet with another county under 52,000 people. Those counties must pass the ban, can go to court for an injunction to enforce it, and can recover attorney's fees and costs if they win.
Labels
Labels: PENDING FOREVER. Heard by the House Intergovernmental Affairs subcommittee on County & Regional Government on Mar 24, 2025 and left pending. Never voted out. The bill died.
Receipt
The receipt
89R-HB583 · 2024-11-12
SOLD BY
ITEM
relating to the regulation of fences near certain reservoirs by certain counties.
WHAT IT DOES
Under 52,000 people, sharing a reservoir over 250,000 acre-feet with another county that small.
The bill orders certain small counties to adopt an order banning anyone from building or keeping a fence or similar structure past the water line of a large reservoir when that reservoir is at full conservation level. It only reaches counties under 52,000 people that share a reservoir holding more than 250,000 acre-feet with another county under 52,000 people. Those counties must pass the ban, can go to court for an injunction to enforce it, and can recover attorney's fees and costs if they win.
CHARGES
[x] BRACKET BILLanalysis confidence 50%
A population cap combined with a reservoir-size threshold and a second small-county requirement narrows this statewide code section to a handful of counties around particular reservoirs. The caption does say "certain counties," so the narrowness is disclosed.
TOTAL
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
LBB estimate · fiscal note version I · source
Sources
Fiscal note · version I · March 21, 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
- Filed
- Read first time
- Referred to s/c on County & Regional Government by Speaker
- Scheduled for public hearing in s/c on . . .
- Considered by s/c in public hearing
- Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in subcommittee
- Left pending in subcommittee
FILED UNDER
No verified beat found.
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 · Jul 5, 2024 to May 29, 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.
Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$5,000.00
Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC
$5,000.00
- Cash
- $5,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $5,000.00
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.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Dec 13, 2024 to Jul 18, 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: 100987088, 101031958.
Texas Sands PAC$4,000.00
Texas Sands PAC
$4,000.00
- Cash
- $4,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $4,000.00
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.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · on Oct 23, 2024. 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: 100987088.
Valero Energy Corporation PAC$3,000.00
Valero Energy Corporation PAC
$3,000.00
- Cash
- $3,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $3,000.00
Also funds 94 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Oct 25, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Dec 13, 2024 to Jul 9, 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: 100987088, 101031958.
Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC
$5,000.00
- Cash
- $5,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $5,000.00
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.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Dec 13, 2024 to Jul 18, 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: 100987088, 101031958.
Texas Sands PAC
$4,000.00
- Cash
- $4,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $4,000.00
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.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · on Oct 23, 2024. 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: 100987088.
Valero Energy Corporation PAC
$3,000.00
- Cash
- $3,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $3,000.00
Also funds 94 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Oct 25, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Dec 13, 2024 to Jul 9, 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: 100987088, 101031958.
Votes
No floor vote loaded for this bill.
Fiscal
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
LBB estimate · fiscal note version I · source
Sources
Fiscal note · version I · March 21, 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 Nov 12, 2024
03/24/2025 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
Subjects
County Government--General
County Government--Land Use & Zoning
Property Interests--Real Property
Public Lands, Buildings & Resources
Safety
Text
The text as introduced · 273 words
89R1842 SCL-F By: Lopez of Bexar H.B. No. 583 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the regulation of fences near certain reservoirs by certain counties. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 240, Local Government Code, is amended by adding Section 240.911 to read as follows: Sec. 240.911. REGULATION OF FENCES NEAR CERTAIN RESERVOIRS BY CERTAIN COUNTIES. (a) In this section, "conservation capacity" means the capacity of a reservoir's conservation pool as determined by the Texas Water Development Board. (b) This section applies only to a county that: (1) has a population of less than 52,000; and (2) has a reservoir partially located within its boundaries that: (A) has a conservation capacity of more than 250,000 acre-feet; and (B) is partially located in another county with a population of less than 52,000. (c) The commissioners court of a county shall adopt an order prohibiting a person from constructing or maintaining a fence or similar structure in an area located beyond the water line of a reservoir described by Subsection (b)(2) at conservation capacity. (d) A county may bring an action for an injunction to enforce an order adopted under this section. The county may recover reasonable attorney's fees and costs incurred in the action if the county prevails in the action. SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2025.