Bill > HB3514

This bill establishes a new program by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) that allows property owners adjacent to state highway right-of-ways to plant or replace vegetation within 500 feet of their property under specific conditions. Property owners can participate in the program to enhance the aesthetic appeal of their property or improve visibility, but they must follow strict guidelines: they are responsible for all associated costs, must use locally adapted vegetation, must hire an approved landscaping professional, and cannot interfere with public utility infrastructure. The program importantly preserves TxDOT's ability to use the right-of-way for road construction or reconstruction and clarifies that a property owner's use of the right-of-way does not constitute abandonment of the land. Additionally, the bill specifies that utilities performing work in the right-of-way are not required to replace or compensate for vegetation removed during their operations. The program will be implemented through rules developed by TxDOT and will take effect on September 1, 2025.

Transportation and Infrastructure

https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=HB3514