SB 1166

Junkyard Rules Reach Only Border Counties With 500,000-Plus Cities

Died in committee

Verdict: Smells

SmellsInitial review

Sen. César BlancoDSenate 29

Why it's charged

Bracket bill

THE TEXT

“in which a municipality with a population of 500,000 or more is located; and”…

Bill text, introduced version (I)

Pairing a 500,000-plus city with an international-border location narrows this to a very small set of counties. The caption only says "certain counties" and does not name which ones.

Bracket bill

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 certain counties to regulate junkyards, automotive wrecking and salvage yards, and recycling businesses.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

Salvage yards and recyclers too, for “certain counties” only. That means a very small set.

The bill lets a county commissioners court pass orders regulating junkyards, auto wrecking and salvage yards, and recycling businesses outside city limits. It applies only to a county that sits on an international border and contains a city of 500,000 or more people. County rules cannot conflict with existing state laws on these businesses, and the bill takes effect right away with a two-thirds vote or on September 1, 2025.

Labels

Labels: NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Feb 7, 2025 and referred to the Senate Natural Resources committee. No public hearing. The bill died.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-SB1166 · 2025-02-07

SOLD BY

Sen. César BlancoDSenate 29

ITEM

relating to the authority of certain counties to regulate junkyards, automotive wrecking and salvage yards, and recycling businesses.

WHAT IT DOES

Salvage yards and recyclers too, for “certain counties” only. That means a very small set.

CHARGES

[x] BRACKET BILLanalysis confidence 55%

THE TEXT

“in which a municipality with a population of 500,000 or more is located; and”…

Bill text, introduced version (I)

Pairing a 500,000-plus city with an international-border location narrows this to a very small set of counties. The caption only says "certain counties" and does not name which ones.

TOTAL

No fiscal note in the loaded record.

HISTORY

Feb 7, 2025Received by the Secretary of the Senate
Feb 7, 2025Filed
Feb 28, 2025Read first time
Feb 28, 2025Referred to Natural Resources

FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

Smells

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

César Blanco

Donors

Agave Democratic Infrastructure Fund$26K Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$25K Border Health PAC$25K

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 10, 2024 to Jun 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.

Agave Democratic Infrastructure Fund$25,750.00

Agave Democratic Infrastructure Fund

$25,750.00

Cash: $25,000.00
Paid by others: $750.00
Total: $25,750.00

consulting $750.00

Also funds 5 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Nov 22, 2024 to Oct 12, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Nov 25, 2024 to Dec 13, 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: 100989095.

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$25,000.00

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$25,000.00

Cash: $25,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $25,000.00

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.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Oct 3, 2024 to Jan 26, 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: 100989095, 101009709, 101033590, 101060872.

Border Health PAC$25,000.00

Border Health PAC

$25,000.00

Cash: $25,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $25,000.00

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.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Dec 14, 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: 100989095.

Money

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

Agave Democratic Infrastructure Fund

$25,750.00

Cash: $25,000.00
Paid by others: $750.00
Total: $25,750.00

consulting $750.00

Also funds 5 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Nov 22, 2024 to Oct 12, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Nov 25, 2024 to Dec 13, 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: 100989095.

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$25,000.00

Cash: $25,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $25,000.00

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.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Oct 3, 2024 to Jan 26, 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: 100989095, 101009709, 101033590, 101060872.

Border Health PAC

$25,000.00

Cash: $25,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $25,000.00

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.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Dec 14, 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: 100989095.

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 Senate · Filed Feb 7, 2025

02/28/2025 S Referred to Natural Resources

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced

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

Senate committee · Natural Resources · Final status: Died in committee

Companion

HB 1462 by González, Mary (identical)

Subjects

County Government--General

Environment--Recycling

Vehicles & Traffic--General

BORDER

SALVAGE YARDS & SALVAGE DEALERS

Text

The text as introduced · 237 words

89R7866 MZM-D

By: Blanco
S.B. No. 1166

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the authority of certain counties to regulate

junkyards, automotive wrecking and salvage yards, and recycling

businesses.

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

SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 234, Local Government

Code, is amended by adding Section 234.0025 to read as follows:

Sec. 234.0025. REGULATION OF JUNKYARDS, AUTOMOTIVE

WRECKING AND SALVAGE YARDS, AND RECYCLING BUSINESSES. (a) This

section applies only to a county:

(1) in which a municipality with a population of

500,000 or more is located; and

(2) that is located on an international border.

(b) The commissioners court of a county by order may

regulate the operation of a junkyard, automotive wrecking and

salvage yard, or recycling business located in the unincorporated

area of the county.

(c) A commissioners court may not include in an order

adopted under this section a requirement that conflicts with a

similar requirement prescribed by another law governing a junkyard,

automotive wrecking and salvage yard, or recycling business,

including a requirement prescribed by Chapter 391, 396, or 397,

Transportation Code.

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.