| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
| |
|
|
relating to the regulation of raising or keeping six or fewer |
|
|
chickens by a political subdivision. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. The heading to Chapter 251, Agriculture Code, is |
|
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
|
CHAPTER 251. EFFECT OF NUISANCE ACTIONS AND GOVERNMENTAL |
|
|
REQUIREMENTS ON CERTAIN [PREEXISTING] AGRICULTURAL OPERATIONS |
|
|
SECTION 2. Chapter 251, Agriculture Code, is amended by |
|
|
adding Section 251.007 to read as follows: |
|
|
Sec. 251.007. SIX CHICKENS ALLOWED. (a) Notwithstanding |
|
|
any other law and except as provided by Subsection (b), a political |
|
|
subdivision may not impose a governmental requirement that |
|
|
prohibits an individual from raising or keeping six or fewer |
|
|
chickens in the boundaries of the political subdivision. |
|
|
(b) A municipality may impose reasonable governmental |
|
|
requirements on the raising or keeping of poultry in the boundaries |
|
|
of the municipality that do not have the effect of prohibiting the |
|
|
raising or keeping of six or fewer chickens, including: |
|
|
(1) a limit on the number of chickens an individual may |
|
|
raise or keep in excess of six; |
|
|
(2) a prohibition on breeding poultry; |
|
|
(3) a prohibition on raising or keeping roosters; or |
|
|
(4) the minimum distance an individual must maintain |
|
|
between a chicken coop and a residential structure. |
|
|
(c) A governmental requirement adopted by a political |
|
|
subdivision that violates Subsection (a) is void. |
|
|
SECTION 3. Section 251.007, Agriculture Code, as added by |
|
|
this Act, applies to a governmental requirement adopted before, on, |
|
|
or after the effective date of this Act. |
|
|
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |
|
|
|
|
|
* * * * * |