Big news in TEXAS this week!

[TxAg11]

http://www.chron.com/news/politics/...cken-bill-sparks-Foghorn-Leghorn-11058562.php

For us under-the-radar members, we can come out of hiding, sorta.
But, hey, this is a big step in the right direction!


---------------------------------EDIT--------------------------------
IMPORTANT:

This bill will be up for a vote in the Texas House in several weeks. I'd encourage you all to:

A. Find out who represents your county
B. Email and/or call your representatives and encourage them to support this bill. Give testimonials, pictures, and details.

Don't know who represents you? Go here: http://www.fyi.legis.state.tx.us/Home.aspx

I've never really been involved in the political process, but I just emailed all of my representatives. I'm sure many of you, myself included, are sick of feeling like having chickens is something that has to be kept under the rug for fear of being fined by the city. 6 chickens may not be many, but it's a step in the right direction!

 

[Kiki]

I'm following this Bill closely!
By: Taylor of Collin S.B. No. 1620
(In the Senate - Filed March 9, 2017; March 21, 2017, read
first time and referred to Committee on Intergovernmental
Relations; March 30, 2017, reported favorably by the following
vote: Yeas 5, Nays 0; March 30, 2017, sent to printer.)


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.

 

[MikeerichTX]

What does this mean for people with HOA restrictions?

 

[Kiki]

What does this mean for people with HOA restrictions?

This means that HOA's will NOT be allowed to deny one from keeping backyard chickens.
People will be able to keep them BUT....only a few and no roosters.

 

[ChickenMama79]

This is so awesome!!!!

 

[Kiki]

This is so awesome!!!!

no kidding!

 

[TxAg11]

Quote:
Seriously! It's going to take some getting used to not getting super paranoid every time one of our hens starts "buck buck BUCKAWK!"-ing after laying in our very suburban neighborhood of Sugar Land. I can finally rest easy knowing that some City employee can't call in Ordinance control if they happen to hear our illegal fugitive chickens.

 

[ChickenMama79]

Oh, wow! I didn't realize there were places in Texas that didn't allow any. I was just excited that my town can't limit us to 4 anymore! We've got enough kids and a large enough backyard that we could have 8 easily. I'm happy for all y'all that can now legally keep hens!!

Quote:
Seriously! It's going to take some getting used to not getting super paranoid every time one of our hens starts "buck buck BUCKAWK!"-ing after laying in our very suburban neighborhood of Sugar Land. I can finally rest easy knowing that some City employee can't call in Ordinance control if they happen to hear our illegal fugitive chickens.

 

[Kiki]

Not legal JUST yet, but it will be soon!

 

[Kiki]

Quote: agreed!