By: Hall, et al. S.B. No. 14
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to a property owner's right to remove a tree or vegetation.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 240.909(b), Local Government Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (b)  Notwithstanding Section 250.009, the [The]
  commissioners court of a county subject to this section may
  prohibit or restrict the clear-cutting of live oak trees in the
  unincorporated area of the county.
         SECTION 2.  The heading to Chapter 250, Local Government
  Code, is amended to read as follows:
  CHAPTER 250.  MISCELLANEOUS LOCAL GOVERNMENT REGULATORY AUTHORITY
  [OF MUNICIPALITIES AND COUNTIES]
         SECTION 3.  Chapter 250, Local Government Code, is amended
  by adding Section 250.009 to read as follows:
         Sec. 250.009.  REMOVAL OF TREE OR VEGETATION.  (a)  Except
  as provided by Subsection (b) and Section 240.909, a municipality,
  county, or other political subdivision may not enact or enforce any
  ordinance, rule, or other regulation that restricts the ability of
  a property owner of residential real property to remove a tree or
  vegetation on the owner's property, including a regulation that
  requires the owner to file an affidavit or notice before removing
  the tree or vegetation.
         (b)  This section does not prevent the adoption or
  enforcement by a municipality, county, or other political
  subdivision of:
               (1)  a provision in a dedicatory instrument, as defined
  by Section 202.001, Property Code, or restriction, as defined by
  Section 212.152 of this code, that restricts the ability of a
  property owner to remove a tree or vegetation on the owner's
  property, including a standard, bylaw, rule, or regulation
  enforcing a provision of a dedicatory instrument or restriction
  that requires the owner to obtain approval for the removal or file
  an affidavit, application, or notice before the removal;
               (2)  an ordinance, rule, or other regulation designed
  to mitigate tree-borne diseases as recommended by the Texas A&M
  Forest Service;
               (3)  an ordinance, rule, or other regulation related
  to:
                     (A)  high grass; or 
                     (B)  weed removal for the purpose of fire
  prevention; or
               (4)  an ordinance, rule, or regulation applicable to a
  person who owns a tract of land and who has divided or proposes to
  divide the tract into 25 or more parts to lay out a subdivision of
  the tract for the purpose of developing the land for sale as
  residential property.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect December 1, 2017.