Monitoring the Session

SB 2367

Kolkhorst Bill Gives Park Rule Power To A County Under 75,000

Became law, effective Sep 1, 2025

Verdict: Smells

SmellsInitial review
Sen. Lois KolkhorstRSenate 18
Why it's charged
Bracket bill

THE TEXT

“less than 75,000 that is adjacent to three counties with populations of more than 450,000”

Bill text, introduced version (I)

A small county bordering three large counties describes a very small number of places, likely one, while the caption speaks only of "certain counties." The caption at least signals that the bill is narrow, so confidence is moderate.

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 enact certain park use rules.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

It must also border three counties over 450,000. The caption only says “certain counties.”

This bill adds one more type of county to an existing law that lets certain counties set up a board to make park use rules. The new county is one with fewer than 75,000 people that borders three counties of more than 450,000 people each. That county gains the park-rule authority, but like the counties next to the largest county, its board may not make rules about fireworks.

Labels

Labels: NO AUTOGRAPH. Became law without the governor's signature on Jun 20, 2025.DO-OVER. Reworked text of a bill filed before that died: 88R SB 781 (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.QUICK READ: 150 WORDS. The bill as filed runs 150 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).

Receipt

The receipt

89R-SB2367 · 2025-03-12

SOLD BY

Sen. Lois KolkhorstRSenate 18

ITEM

relating to the authority of certain counties to enact certain park use rules.

WHAT IT DOES

It must also border three counties over 450,000. The caption only says “certain counties.”

This bill adds one more type of county to an existing law that lets certain counties set up a board to make park use rules. The new county is one with fewer than 75,000 people that borders three counties of more than 450,000 people each. That county gains the park-rule authority, but like the counties next to the largest county, its board may not make rules about fireworks.

CHARGES

[x] BRACKET BILLanalysis confidence 65%

THE TEXT

“less than 75,000 that is adjacent to three counties with populations of more than 450,000”

Bill text, introduced version (I)

A small county bordering three large counties describes a very small number of places, likely one, while the caption speaks only of "certain counties." The caption at least signals that the bill is narrow, so confidence is moderate.

TOTAL

No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version I · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version I · April 24, 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 Local Government
  5. Posting rule suspended
  6. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  7. Considered in public hearing
  8. Left pending in committee
  9. Considered in public hearing
  10. Vote taken in committee
  11. Reported favorably w/o amendments
  12. Recommended for local & uncontested calendar
  13. Committee report printed and distributed
  14. Placed on local & uncontested calendar
  15. Laid before the Senate
  16. Read 2nd time & passed to engrossment
  17. Vote recorded in Journal
  18. Three day rule suspended
  19. Record vote
  20. Read 3rd time
  21. Passed
  22. Record vote
  23. Reported engrossed
  24. Received from the Senate
  25. Read first time
  26. Referred to Intergovernmental Affairs
  27. Considered in formal meeting
  28. Recommended to be sent to Local & Consent
  29. Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
  30. Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
  31. Committee report distributed
  32. Comm. report sent to Local & Consent Calendar
  33. Considered in Local & Consent Calendars
  34. Placed on Local, Consent, and Res. Calendar
  35. Read 2nd time
  36. Passed to 3rd reading
  37. Nonrecord vote recorded in Journal
  38. Read 3rd time
  39. Passed
  40. Record vote RV#3832
  41. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  42. Nonrecord 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. Filed without the Governor's signature
  49. Effective on 9/1/25
FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

SIGNED FOR BY

House · 119 yea · 22 nay

Senate · 31 yea · 0 nay

Sources

House: Final passage · May 28, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate: Final passage · May 9, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

All floor motions and other positions below.

Smells

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Lois Kolkhorst

Donors

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$60KBorder Health PAC$35KSRR Ranches, LLC$30K

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 11, 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 19, 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: 101007416, 101012417, 101070754.

Border Health PAC$35,000.00

Border Health PAC

$35,000.00

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

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 6, 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: 101012417.

SRR Ranches, LLC$30,000.00

SRR Ranches, LLC

$30,000.00

Cash
$30,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$30,000.00

Also funds 3 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Oct 23, 2024 to Oct 8, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

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

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Oct 23, 2024 to Oct 1, 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: 101012417, 101070754.

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 19, 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: 101007416, 101012417, 101070754.

×

Border Health PAC

$35,000.00

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

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 6, 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: 101012417.

×

SRR Ranches, LLC

$30,000.00

Cash
$30,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$30,000.00

Also funds 3 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Oct 23, 2024 to Oct 8, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

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

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Oct 23, 2024 to Oct 1, 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: 101012417, 101070754.

Votes4

House May 28, 2025

Yea
119
Nay
22
Present, not voting
2
Absent
1
Excused
5
Names

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

House journal

The shared roll contains conflicting member evidence. Those positions remain conflicting.

Cunningham is listed as absent in the shared roll and nay in this bill's list. That position remains conflicting.

Sources

Record 3832

SB 2367 (Alders, Ashby, Bumgarner, Cain, Cunningham, Dean, DeAyala, Geren, Harless, Harris Davila, Hull, Isaac, Leo Wilson, Lowe, Money, Patterson, Schatzline, Slawson, Swanson, Toth, Troxclair, Vasut, and Wilson - no) (119 - 22 - 2)

Shared roll motion

The following bills which were considered on second reading on the previous legislative day on the local, consent, and resolutions calendar were laid before the house, read third time, and passed by the following record vote (members registering votes and the results of the vote are shown following the bill number). (Record 3832): 141 Yeas, 0 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.

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

  • Yea: 119 (published)
  • Nay: 22 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 2 (published)
  • Absent: 1 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 5 (derived from named list)

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

Senate May 9, 2025

Final passage

Yea
31
Nay
0
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

Senate journal

Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.

The journal row lists three votes in order: passage to engrossment, suspension of the three-day rule, and final passage. This entry records final passage. Repeated tallies belong to separate votes.

Sources

SB 2367 (Kolkhorst) Relating to the authority of certain counties to enact certain park use rules. (viva voce vote) (31-0) (31-0)

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

  • Yea: 31 (published)
  • Nay: 0 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

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

Senate May 9, 2025

Suspension of the three-day rule

Yea
31
Nay
0
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

Senate journal

Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.

The journal row lists three votes in order: passage to engrossment, suspension of the three-day rule, and final passage. This entry records suspension of the three-day rule. Repeated tallies belong to separate votes.

Sources

SB 2367 (Kolkhorst) Relating to the authority of certain counties to enact certain park use rules. (viva voce vote) (31-0) (31-0)

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

  • Yea: 31 (published)
  • Nay: 0 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

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

Senate May 9, 2025

Passage to engrossment

Yea
Not printed
Nay
Not printed
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

Senate journal

Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.

The journal row lists three votes in order: passage to engrossment, suspension of the three-day rule, and final passage. This entry records passage to engrossment. Repeated tallies belong to separate votes.

Voice vote. No numeric tally or individual yeas are inferred.

Sources

SB 2367 (Kolkhorst) Relating to the authority of certain counties to enact certain park use rules. (viva voce vote) (31-0) (31-0)

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

  • Yea: Not printed
  • Nay: Not printed
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

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

Fiscal

No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version I · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version I · April 24, 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.

FILED BEFORE

Filed 2 times: 88R and 89R. Checked against 88R only.

88R SB 781

by Sen. Kolkhorst, same lead author · Died in committee · reworked

Introduced text

Last action, Mar 1, 2023: Referred to Local Government

Relating to the authority of certain counties to enact certain park use rules.

Caption, 88R bill history

Sources

Texas Senate · Filed Mar 12, 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
Stan KitzmanRHouse 85

House committee · Intergovernmental Affairs · Committee vote 11 aye, 0 nay · Out of committee

Senate committee · Local Government · Committee vote 6 aye, 0 nay, 1 absent · Out of committee

Subjects

WALLER COUNTY (GS26C)

County Government--General

Parks & Wildlife--Parks

Text

The text as introduced · 150 words

89R8828 JBD-D

By: Kolkhorst
S.B. No. 2367

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the authority of certain counties to enact certain park

use rules.

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

SECTION 1. Sections 320.0455(a) and (b-1), Local Government

Code, are amended to read as follows:

(a) This section applies only to a county with a population

of:

(1) 2.8 million or more;

(2) 800,000 or more that is adjacent to a county with a

population of 2.8 million or more; [ or ]

(3) more than 550,000 and less than 620,000 ; or

(4) less than 75,000 that is adjacent to three

counties with populations of more than 450,000 .

(b-1) A board created for a county described by Subsection

(a)(2) or (a)(4) may not adopt rules relating to the use of

fireworks.

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