SB 1927 Texas Senate · 89th Legislature (2025)

Relating to municipal regulation of the removal of an Ashe juniper tree.

SB 1927 would have amended Texas law to prevent municipalities from banning the removal of Ashe juniper trees on residential properties or charging fees for such removals, except in specific areas. The exception applies to regions within 15 miles of active military bases (as defined in state law) and in counties with populations exceeding 2 million. This bill directly affects homeowners in those designated areas who might otherwise face restrictions on removing Ashe juniper trees. The bill was reported adversely by the Senate Local Government Committee on April 14, 2025, and did not advance further.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Mar 2025
Committee Review
May 2025
Senate Passage
Apr 2025
House Passage
Governor
Introduced Mar 5, 2025 Last action May 26, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced Engrossed · 3 edits · Apr 16, 2025
MINOR
The bill was reformatted and clarified to specify that municipalities cannot charge fees for removing Ashe juniper trees on residential properties, with two key exceptions: areas within 15 miles of active military bases and counties with populations over two million. The effective date remains September 1, 2025.
Scope change
The bill's scope was narrowed to specifically target Ashe juniper trees on residential properties, while adding exemptions for military base areas and high-population counties.
ELIGIBILITY

Added a specific exception for Ashe juniper removal in areas within 15 miles of active military bases and counties with populations exceeding two million, where municipalities may still prohibit removal or impose fees.

REQUIREMENT

Clarified that the tree mitigation fee prohibition applies specifically to diseased, dead, or dangerous trees, plus Ashe juniper on residential property, with the new exceptions now explicitly stated.

TECHNICAL

The bill text was reformatted from a draft version to an engrossed version, with improved spacing and structure while maintaining the same legislative intent.

Floor votes · Senate Apr 16, 2025

How they voted

219
Passed
Total votes 30
Apr 16, 2025
D Democratic10
1 Yea 9 Nay
90% Nay
R Republican20
20 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
30
Key actions
9
Committee
10
May 10, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report sent to Calendars
lower
May 10, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report distributed
lower
May 2, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
lower
Apr 22, 2025
Committee
Referred to Land & Resource Management
lower
Apr 22, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
lower
Apr 17, 2025
Introduced
Received from the Senate
lower
Apr 16, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed
upper
Apr 14, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee report printed and distributed
upper
Apr 14, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported favorably as substituted
upper
Apr 10, 2025
Upper · Passed
Vote taken in committee
upper
Apr 7, 2025
Upper · Passed
Left pending in committee
upper
Apr 7, 2025
Upper · Passed
Testimony taken in committee
upper
Mar 17, 2025
Committee
Referred to Local Government
upper
Mar 17, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
upper
6 primary · 6 co-sponsors

Sponsors