SB 542
bill bars HOA fines for brown lawns during drought
Died in committee
Verdict: No flags
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 property owners' association to assess a fine for discolored vegetation or turf during a period of residential watering restriction.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Summary
Brown lawns stay fine-free through the restriction and a reasonable period after.
The bill bars a property owners' association from fining a homeowner for brown or discolored grass or plants while a drought watering restriction is in place. It touches homeowners in HOA communities and the associations that enforce green-lawn covenants. On the ground, an HOA cannot fine for a brown lawn during a city or water-supplier drought restriction, or for a reasonable period after it is lifted.
Receipt
The receipt
89R-SB542 · 2024-12-06
SOLD BY
ITEM
relating to the authority of a property owners' association to assess a fine for discolored vegetation or turf during a period of residential watering restriction.
WHAT IT DOES
Brown lawns stay fine-free through the restriction and a reasonable period after.
The bill bars a property owners' association from fining a homeowner for brown or discolored grass or plants while a drought watering restriction is in place. It touches homeowners in HOA communities and the associations that enforce green-lawn covenants. On the ground, an HOA cannot fine for a brown lawn during a city or water-supplier drought restriction, or for a reasonable period after it is lifted.
CHARGES
[ ] NONE FOUND
TOTAL
No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
LBB estimate · fiscal note version I · source
Sources
Fiscal note · version I · March 17, 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
- Received by the Secretary of the Senate
- Filed
- Read first time
- Referred to Business & Commerce
- Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
- Considered in public hearing
- Testimony taken in committee
- Left pending in committee
FILED UNDER
DATA CENTERS, WATER AND THE GRID
The bill shields homeowners from HOA fines when drought watering limits leave their lawns brown.
THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
Donors
Donors report through Texans for Charles Schwertner.
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 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.
MoneyMissing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
Votes
No floor vote loaded for this bill.
Fiscal
No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
LBB estimate · fiscal note version I · source
Sources
Fiscal note · version I · March 17, 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 Dec 6, 2024
03/18/2025 S Left pending in committee
Texas Legislature Online · Introduced
Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:19 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.
Senate committee · Business & Commerce · Final status: Died in committee
Companion
HB 359 by Goodwin (identical)
HB 517 by Harris Davila (identical)
Subjects
Environment--Water
Property Interests--Property Owners Association
Utilities--Water & Sewer
RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS
Text
The text as introduced · 223 words
89R1958 CS-D By: Schwertner S.B. No. 542 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the authority of a property owners' association to assess a fine for discolored vegetation or turf during a period of residential watering restriction. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Chapter 202, Property Code, is amended by adding Section 202.008 to read as follows: Sec. 202.008. LIMITATION ON FINES DURING RESIDENTIAL WATER RESTRICTION. (a) For the purposes of this section, "residential watering restriction" means a temporary restriction of water use to irrigate residential vegetation or turf that is mandated by a municipality, water utility, or other wholesale or retail water supplier as part of a strategy to conserve water during a period of drought. (b) A property owners' association may not assess a fine against a property owner for a violation of an applicable restrictive covenant that requires the owner to maintain green vegetation or turf or prohibits discolored or brown vegetation or turf on the property: (1) during a period when the owner's property is subject to a residential watering restriction under which discolored or brown vegetation or turf could reasonably result; and (2) for a reasonable period of time after a residential watering restriction described by Subdivision (1) is lifted. SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.