Monitoring the Session

SB 1948

bill barring local sprinkler mandates for farm buildings

Became law, effective Sep 1, 2025

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review
Sen. Charles PerryRSenate 28

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 a political subdivision to regulate fire prevention standards for certain agricultural facilities.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

Barns, greenhouses, poultry houses and cotton gins skip the sprinklers.

The bill stops cities, counties and other local governments from requiring fire sprinkler systems in certain farm and agricultural buildings. It covers open-sided pole barns and other non-home farm buildings like barns, greenhouses, farm offices, workshops and poultry houses, plus cotton gins, livestock markets and commercial feed mills. Starting September 1, 2025, any local rule that requires sprinklers in those buildings can no longer be passed or enforced.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-SB1948 · 2025-03-05

SOLD BY

Sen. Charles PerryRSenate 28

ITEM

relating to the authority of a political subdivision to regulate fire prevention standards for certain agricultural facilities.

WHAT IT DOES

Barns, greenhouses, poultry houses and cotton gins skip the sprinklers.

The bill stops cities, counties and other local governments from requiring fire sprinkler systems in certain farm and agricultural buildings. It covers open-sided pole barns and other non-home farm buildings like barns, greenhouses, farm offices, workshops and poultry houses, plus cotton gins, livestock markets and commercial feed mills. Starting September 1, 2025, any local rule that requires sprinklers in those buildings can no longer be passed or enforced.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version S · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version S · March 31, 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. Received by the Secretary of the Senate
  2. Filed
  3. Read first time
  4. Referred to Water, Agriculture, & Rural Affairs
  5. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  6. Considered in public hearing
  7. Testimony taken in committee
  8. Vote taken in committee
  9. Reported favorably as substituted
  10. Recommended for local & uncontested calendar
  11. Committee report printed and distributed
  12. Placed on intent calendar
  13. Rules suspended-Regular order of business
  14. Record vote
  15. Read 2nd time & passed to engrossment
  16. Record vote
  17. Three day rule suspended
  18. Record vote
  19. Read 3rd time
  20. Passed
  21. Record vote
  22. Reported engrossed
  23. Received from the Senate
  24. Read first time
  25. Referred to Land & Resource Management
  26. Considered in public hearing
  27. Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
  28. Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
  29. Committee report distributed
  30. Committee report sent to Calendars
  31. Considered in Calendars
  32. Placed on General State Calendar
  33. Read 2nd time
  34. Postponed 5/21/25 10:00 AM
  35. Laid out as postponed business
  36. Passed to 3rd reading
  37. Record vote RV#3159
  38. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  39. Read 3rd time
  40. Passed
  41. Record vote RV#3197
  42. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  43. House passage reported
  44. Reported enrolled
  45. Signed in the Senate
  46. Signed in the House
  47. Sent to the Governor
  48. Signed by the Governor
  49. Effective on 9/1/25
FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

SIGNED FOR BY

House · 104 yea · 35 nay

Senate · 27 yea · 3 nay

Sources

House: Final passage · May 22, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate: Final passage · Apr 8, 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

Charles Perry

Donors

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$60KRyan Texas PAC$35KFort Stockton Holdings LP$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 1, 2024 to Oct 23, 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$60,000.00

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$60,000.00

Cash
$60,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$60,000.00

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 · Nov 13, 2024 to Oct 23, 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: 100983698, 101007598, 101030579, 101072377.

Ryan Texas PAC$35,000.00

Ryan Texas PAC

$35,000.00

Cash
$35,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$35,000.00

Also funds 25 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Sep 23, 2024 to Oct 22, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 13, 2024 to Mar 12, 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: 100983698, 101057700.

Fort Stockton Holdings LP$25,000.00

Fort Stockton Holdings LP

$25,000.00

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

Also funds 0 other sitting lawmakers.

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

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

Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Nov 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: 100983698.

Money

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

×

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$60,000.00

Cash
$60,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$60,000.00

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 · Nov 13, 2024 to Oct 23, 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: 100983698, 101007598, 101030579, 101072377.

×

Ryan Texas PAC

$35,000.00

Cash
$35,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$35,000.00

Also funds 25 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Sep 23, 2024 to Oct 22, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 13, 2024 to Mar 12, 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: 100983698, 101057700.

×

Fort Stockton Holdings LP

$25,000.00

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

Also funds 0 other sitting lawmakers.

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

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

Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Nov 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: 100983698.

Votes6

House May 22, 2025

Yea
104
Nay
35
Present, not voting
4
Absent
5
Excused
2
Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 3197

SB 1948 was passed by (Record 3197): 104 Yeas, 35 Nays, 4 Present, not voting.

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

  • Yea: 104 (published)
  • Nay: 35 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 4 (published)
  • Absent: 5 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 2 (derived from named list)

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

House May 21, 2025

Yea
98
Nay
26
Present, not voting
3
Absent
12
Excused
11
Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 3159

SB 1948 was passed to third reading by (Record 3159): 98 Yeas, 26 Nays, 3 Present, not voting.

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

  • Yea: 98 (published)
  • Nay: 26 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 3 (published)
  • Absent: 12 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 11 (derived from named list)

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

Senate Apr 8, 2025

Yea
27
Nay
3
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
0
Excused
1
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 27, Nays 3. (Same as previous roll call)

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

  • Yea: 27 (published)
  • Nay: 3 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 1 (derived from named list)

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

Senate Apr 8, 2025

Yea
27
Nay
3
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
0
Excused
1
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 CSSB 1948 be placed on its third reading and final passage. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 27, Nays 3.

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

  • Yea: 27 (published)
  • Nay: 3 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 1 (derived from named list)

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

Senate Apr 8, 2025

Yea
27
Nay
3
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
0
Excused
1
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 engrossment by the following vote: Yeas 27, Nays 3. (Same as previous roll call)

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

  • Yea: 27 (published)
  • Nay: 3 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 1 (derived from named list)

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

Senate Apr 8, 2025

Yea
27
Nay
3
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
0
Excused
1
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 CSSB 1948 at this time on its second reading: CSSB 1948, Relating to the regulation of fire prevention standards for certain agricultural facilities. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 27, Nays 3.

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

  • Yea: 27 (published)
  • Nay: 3 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 1 (derived from named list)

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

Witnesses9
For
7
Against
1
On
1
Names

For

  • Self; South Texans’ Property Rights Association1 registration
  • Self; Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association1 registration
  • Self; Texas Cotton Ginners Assn1 registration
  • Texas Beekeepers Association1 registration
  • Texas Farm Bureau1 registration
  • Texas Pork Producers Association1 registration
  • Texas Poultry Federation1 registration

Against

  • Travis County ESD No. 6/Lake Travis Fire Rescue1 registration

On

  • State Fire Marshal’s Office ( TDI)1 registration
Sources

9 parsed registrations across the loaded witness lists.

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

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

Fiscal

No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version S · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version S · March 31, 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 Senate · Filed Mar 5, 2025

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

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

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

Sponsors
Trent AshbyRHouse 9

House committee · Land & Resource Management · Committee vote 7 aye, 0 nay, 2 absent · Out of committee

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

Companion

HB 3630 by Ashby (identical)

Subjects

Agriculture

Animals

FIRE SAFETY & PREVENTION

Text

The text as introduced · 233 words

89R11677 SCF-D

By: Perry
S.B. No. 1948

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the authority of a political subdivision to regulate

fire prevention standards for certain agricultural facilities.

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

SECTION 1. Chapter 250, Local Government Code, is amended

by adding Section 250.014 to read as follows:

Sec. 250.014. RESTRICTION ON REGULATION OF CERTAIN

AGRICULTURAL FACILITIES. (a) In this section:

(1) "Agricultural pole barn" means a nonresidential

farm building in which 70 percent or more of the perimeter walls are

permanently open and allow free ingress and egress.

(2) "Nonresidential farm building" means any

temporary or permanent building on a farm, ranch, or other

agricultural facility that is used primarily for agricultural

purposes and not intended to be used as a residential dwelling. The

term includes a barn, greenhouse, shade house, farm office, storage

building, workshop, poultry house, animal handling facility, or

commodity storage and feed processing facility.

(b) Notwithstanding any other law, a political subdivision

may not adopt or enforce an ordinance, order, or other measure that

requires the installation of a fire protection sprinkler system in:

(1) an agricultural pole barn;

(2) a nonresidential farm building;

(3) a cotton gin;

(4) a livestock market, as that term is defined by

Section 161.111, Agriculture Code; or

(5) a commercial feed mill.

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