HB3514 • 2025

Relating to the operation of a program by the Texas Department of Transportation to allow a real property owner to plant or replace vegetation in a right-of-way.

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Canales
Last action: 2025-05-16
Official status: 05/16/2025 S Referred to Transportation
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

Relating to the operation of a program by the Texas Department of Transportation to allow a real property owner to plant or replace vegetation in a right-of-way.

What This Bill Does

Relating to the operation of a program by the Texas Department of Transportation to allow a real property owner to plant or replace vegetation in a right-of-way.

Limits and Unknowns

This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

2025-05-16 Texas Legislature Online
Read first time
2025-05-16 Texas Legislature Online
Referred to Transportation
2025-05-15 Texas Legislature Online
Read 3rd time
2025-05-15 Texas Legislature Online
Passed
2025-05-15 Texas Legislature Online
Record vote. RV#2673
2025-05-15 Texas Legislature Online
Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
2025-05-15 Texas Legislature Online
Reported engrossed
2025-05-15 Texas Legislature Online
Received from the House
2025-05-14 Texas Legislature Online
Read 2nd time
2025-05-14 Texas Legislature Online
Passed to engrossment
2025-05-14 Texas Legislature Online
Record vote. RV#2566
2025-05-14 Texas Legislature Online
Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
2025-05-11 Texas Legislature Online
Placed on General State Calendar
2025-05-09 Texas Legislature Online
Committee report sent to Calendars
2025-05-09 Texas Legislature Online
Considered in Calendars
2025-05-08 Texas Legislature Online
Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
2025-05-08 Texas Legislature Online
Committee report distributed
2025-04-25 Texas Legislature Online
Considered in formal meeting
2025-04-25 Texas Legislature Online
Committee substitute considered in committee
2025-04-25 Texas Legislature Online
Reported favorably as substituted
2025-04-22 Texas Legislature Online
Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
2025-04-22 Texas Legislature Online
Considered in public hearing
2025-04-22 Texas Legislature Online
Committee substitute considered in committee
2025-04-22 Texas Legislature Online
Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
2025-04-22 Texas Legislature Online
Left pending in committee
2025-04-17 Texas Legislature Online
Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
2025-04-17 Texas Legislature Online
Withdrawn from schedule
2025-03-24 Texas Legislature Online
Read first time
2025-03-24 Texas Legislature Online
Referred to Transportation
2025-02-28 Texas Legislature Online
Filed

Official Summary Text

Relating to the operation of a program by the Texas Department of Transportation to allow a real property owner to plant or replace vegetation in a right-of-way.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

89(R) HB 3514 - Engrossed version - Bill Text

89R22006 AJZ-F

By: Canales

H.B. No. 3514

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the operation of a program by the Texas Department of

Transportation to allow a real property owner to plant or replace

vegetation in a right-of-way.

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

SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 202, Transportation Code,

is amended by adding Section 202.0585 to read as follows:

Sec.

202.0585.

VEGETATION IN RIGHT-OF-WAY. (a) Subject to

Subsections (b) and (c), the department by rule shall develop and

implement a program to allow an owner of real property abutting or

adjoining property acquired by the department for the right-of-way

of a road in the state highway system to:

(1)

plant vegetation or replace existing vegetation in

the right-of-way if the owner determines that the new vegetation

will enhance the aesthetic appeal of the property; or

(2)

replace existing vegetation in the right-of-way if

the vegetation to be replaced reduces the visibility of the

property.

(b)

The program may authorize an owner of real property

described by Subsection (a) to plant or replace existing vegetation

only in the right-of-way, including the outer separation, located

within 500 feet of the property.

(c)

An owner of real property who plants or replaces

vegetation in the right-of-way in accordance with this section:

(1)

is responsible for all costs associated with the

planting or replacement of vegetation;

(2)

may use only vegetation adapted to local

conditions;

(3)

must contract with a landscaping professional

approved by the department to plant or replace the vegetation; and

(4)

may not interfere with any public utility

infrastructure located in the right-of-way.

(d)

The rules adopted by the department under Subsection (a)

may not impair or relinquish the state's right to use the

right-of-way when needed to construct or reconstruct the road for

which it was acquired.

(e)

Use by the owner of adjoining or abutting real property

under this section is not abandonment of the right-of-way by the

department.

(f)

This section does not require a utility, as defined by

Section 203.091, that performs work in the right-of-way to replace

vegetation or provide compensation to an owner of real property for

replacing vegetation if the removal of vegetation is necessary to

perform the work.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.