SB 2463

Menéndez Lighting Bill Lets Each Government Decide What’s Essential

Died in committee

Verdict: Smells

SmellsInitial review

Sen. José MenéndezDSenate 26

Why it's charged

The hole

THE TEXT

…“safety or functionality, as determined by a political subdivision.”

Bill text, introduced version (I)

The bill lets each local government decide which of its own lights are essential. A government could label most or all of its lights essential and leave very little covered by the lights-out rule.

The hole

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 a lighting reduction policy for nonessential outdoor lighting owned or operated by a political subdivision.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

Lights off 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. in bird migration season. No penalty for ignoring it!

The bill orders every Texas city, county and other political subdivision to adopt a rule that dims its own nonessential outdoor lights. Those lights must be off from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. during the spring and fall bird migration seasons, cut back in trees and gardens, and aimed downward or shielded where that applies. Each local government decides for itself which of its lights count as nonessential, and the bill sets no penalty for ignoring the rule.

Labels

Labels: NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Mar 13, 2025 and referred to the Senate Local Government committee. No public hearing. The bill died.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-SB2463 · 2025-03-13

SOLD BY

Sen. José MenéndezDSenate 26

ITEM

relating to a lighting reduction policy for nonessential outdoor lighting owned or operated by a political subdivision.

WHAT IT DOES

Lights off 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. in bird migration season. No penalty for ignoring it!

CHARGES

[x] THE HOLEanalysis confidence 55%

THE TEXT

…“safety or functionality, as determined by a political subdivision.”

Bill text, introduced version (I)

The bill lets each local government decide which of its own lights are essential. A government could label most or all of its lights essential and leave very little covered by the lights-out rule.

TOTAL

No fiscal note in the loaded record.

HISTORY

Mar 13, 2025Received by the Secretary of the Senate
Mar 13, 2025Filed
Apr 3, 2025Read first time
Apr 3, 2025Referred to Local Government

FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

Smells

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

José Menéndez

Donors

Kickapoo Traditional Tribes of Texas$25K Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$20K Texas REALTORS Political Action Committee$10K

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 2, 2024 to Oct 5, 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.

Kickapoo Traditional Tribes of Texas$25,000.00

Kickapoo Traditional Tribes of Texas

$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 Jan 22, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

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

Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Jan 22, 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: 101065471.

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$20,000.00

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$20,000.00

Cash: $20,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $20,000.00

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 · Dec 12, 2024 to Oct 5, 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: 101012370, 101032316, 101072614.

Texas REALTORS Political Action Committee$10,000.00

Texas REALTORS Political Action Committee

$10,000.00

Cash: $10,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $10,000.00

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.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Dec 2, 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: 101032316.

Money

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

Kickapoo Traditional Tribes of Texas

$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 Jan 22, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

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

Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Jan 22, 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: 101065471.

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$20,000.00

Cash: $20,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $20,000.00

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 · Dec 12, 2024 to Oct 5, 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: 101012370, 101032316, 101072614.

Texas REALTORS Political Action Committee

$10,000.00

Cash: $10,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $10,000.00

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.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Dec 2, 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: 101032316.

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 Mar 13, 2025

04/03/2025 S Referred to Local Government

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 · Local Government · Final status: Died in committee

Subjects

City Government--General

County Government--General

Environment--General

LIGHTING

Text

The text as introduced · 210 words

89R15565 CS-D

By: Menéndez
S.B. No. 2463

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to a lighting reduction policy for nonessential outdoor

lighting owned or operated by a political subdivision.

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

SECTION 1. Chapter 305, Local Government Code, is amended

by adding Subchapter C to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER C. LIGHTING

Sec. 305.051. LIGHTS OUT POLICY. (a) In this section:

(1) "Migration season" means the periods of time:

(A) beginning April 1 and ending June 1; and

(B) beginning September 1 and ending November 1.

(2) "Nonessential outdoor lighting" means lighting

that is viewable outdoors and is not considered essential for

safety or functionality, as determined by a political subdivision.

(b) The governing body of a political subdivision shall

adopt an ordinance, order, or regulation that requires nonessential

outdoor lighting owned or operated by the political subdivision to

be:

(1) turned off between the hours of 11 p.m. and 6 a.m.

during migration season;

(2) reduced in natural spaces, including in trees and

gardens; and

(3) as applicable, aimed downward and to use light

shields or motion detectors to reduce the amount of light shining

into the sky or trees.

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