HB 145

Relating to the authority of certain counties to regulate the installation and use of lighting in certain areas.

Filed

Verdict: Smells

SmellsInitial review

Rep. Philip CortezDHouse 117

Why it's charged

Bracket bill

THE TEXT

…“population of more than one million that has at least five United”…

Bill text, introduced version (I)

A population floor paired with a five-base requirement aims the power at a very small number of counties, likely one plus its neighbors. The caption does say "certain counties," so the narrowness is partly disclosed.

Bracket bill

Initial review · graded Nov 9, 2026 · How we grade

Caption

relating to the authority of certain counties to regulate the installation and use of lighting in certain areas.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

This bill widens the zone where certain counties can regulate outdoor lighting near U.S. military bases, from 5 miles to 50 miles around a base.

This bill widens the zone where certain counties can regulate outdoor lighting near U.S. military bases, from 5 miles to 50 miles around a base. It applies only to a county of more than one million people with at least five U.S. military bases, plus neighboring counties within five miles of an Army installation. Commissioners courts in those counties could adopt lighting orders across a much larger unincorporated area, but only when a base commander asks.

Receipt

The receipt

90R-HB145 · 2026-11-09

SOLD BY

Rep. Philip CortezDHouse 117

ITEM

relating to the authority of certain counties to regulate the installation and use of lighting in certain areas.

WHAT IT DOES

This bill widens the zone where certain counties can regulate outdoor lighting near U.S. military bases, from 5 miles to 50 miles around a base.

CHARGES

[x] BRACKET BILLanalysis confidence 50%

THE TEXT

…“population of more than one million that has at least five United”…

Bill text, introduced version (I)

TOTAL

No fiscal note in the loaded record.

HISTORY

Nov 9, 2026Filed

FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

Smells

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Philip Cortez

Donors

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$44K Texas Sands PAC$37K Physicians for Free Market Healthcare PAC$35K

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 · Oct 28, 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.

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$44,000.00

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$44,000.00

Cash: $44,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $44,000.00

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 6, 2024 to Sep 25, 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: 100985407, 101008363, 101026711, 101035640, 101039466, 101052595, 101071633.

Texas Sands PAC$37,000.00

Texas Sands PAC

$37,000.00

Cash: $37,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $37,000.00

Also funds 121 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 3, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 6, 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.

Report IDs: 100985407, 101039466, 101071633.

Physicians for Free Market Healthcare PAC$35,000.00

Physicians for Free Market Healthcare PAC

$35,000.00

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

Also funds 33 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jun 30, 2025 to Oct 22, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Sep 22, 2025 to Oct 15, 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: 101026711, 101035640, 101071633.

Money

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

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$44,000.00

Cash: $44,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $44,000.00

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 6, 2024 to Sep 25, 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: 100985407, 101008363, 101026711, 101035640, 101039466, 101052595, 101071633.

Texas Sands PAC

$37,000.00

Cash: $37,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $37,000.00

Also funds 121 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 3, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 6, 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.

Report IDs: 100985407, 101039466, 101071633.

Physicians for Free Market Healthcare PAC

$35,000.00

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

Also funds 33 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jun 30, 2025 to Oct 22, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Sep 22, 2025 to Oct 15, 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: 101026711, 101035640, 101071633.

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 a super-expensive superintelligence, Nov 9, 2026, against the published rubric.

Sources

Texas House · Filed Nov 9, 2026

11/09/2026 H Filed

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced

Data snapshot Nov 10, 2026 at 2:31 AM CST. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

Subjects

County Government--General

Military & Veterans

LIGHTING

Text

The text as introduced · 207 words

90R5713 ZAG-F

By: Cortez
H.B. No. 145

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the authority of certain counties to regulate the

installation and use of lighting in certain areas.

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

SECTION 1. Section 240.032(b-1), Local Government Code, is

amended to read as follows:

(b-1) This subsection applies only to a county with a

population of more than one million that has at least five United

States military bases and to any county adjacent to that county that

is within five miles of a United States Army installation, base, or

camp. On the request of a United States military installation,

base, or camp commanding officer, the commissioners court of a

county subject to this subsection may adopt orders regulating the

installation and use of outdoor lighting within 50 [ five ] miles of

the installation, base, or camp in any unincorporated territory of

the county.

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, 2027.