HB 2844 Texas House · 89th Legislature (2025)

Relating to the regulation of food service establishments, including retail food stores and mobile food vendors; requiring an occupational license; imposing fees; authorizing an administrative penalty.

HB 2844 requires mobile food vendors (like food trucks) to obtain a state-issued license and pay regulatory fees, while authorizing administrative penalties for violations. It exempts small-scale food businesses - defined as those with under $1.5 million in annual revenue (including farmers, sole proprietors, and small retail stores) - from local permit or fee requirements if they already hold a state department permit or food manufacturing license. The bill preempts local governments from imposing conflicting regulations on these exempt businesses. It also establishes new state-level rules for mobile food vendor operations under Chapter 437B of the Health and Safety Code.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Mar 2025
Committee Review
May 2025
House Passage
May 2025
Senate Passage
Jun 2025
Signed into Law
Jun 2025
Introduced Mar 19, 2025 Signed Jun 20, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Engrossed Enrolled · 4 edits · Jun 20, 2025
MODERATE
This bill was updated from its Engrossed to Enrolled version, primarily adding a new small-scale food business permit exemption and a new Section 437.0063 to the Health and Safety Code. The changes expand regulatory flexibility for small food businesses and clarify exemptions for those already licensed as food manufacturers or holding department permits.
Scope change
The bill's scope expanded to include a new small-scale food business exemption that exempts certain small businesses from additional permitting requirements if they already hold specific department licenses or permits.
ELIGIBILITY

Added a new Section 437.0063 creating a 'Small-Scale Food Business Permit Exemption' that exempts businesses with less than $1.5 million in annual revenue from certain permitting fees if they already hold specific department licenses.

REQUIREMENT

Added vehicle insurance and proof of additional commercial vehicle licenses as new application requirements for mobile food vendor licenses.

TIMELINE

Established a July 1, 2026 deadline for mobile food vendors to obtain new licenses under the updated chapter, with rules required by May 1, 2026.

TECHNICAL

Corrected formatting and line breaks throughout the document, converting the bill from a draft format to the final enrolled version suitable for publication.

Floor votes · Senate May 26, 2025 · House May 15, 2025

How they voted

282
Passed
Total votes 30
May 26, 2025
D Democratic10
8 Yea 2 Nay
80% Yea
R Republican20
20 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
62
Key actions
21
Committee
12
Amendments
11
Jun 20, 2025
Signed into law
Signed by the Governor
executive
Jun 1, 2025
Upper · Passed
Signed in the Senate
upper
May 31, 2025
Lower · Passed
Signed in the House
lower
May 29, 2025
Introduced
House concurs in Senate amendment(s)-reported
upper
May 29, 2025
Introduced
Text of Senate Amendment(s)
lower
May 29, 2025
Introduced
House concurs in Senate amendment(s)
lower
May 28, 2025
Introduced
Senate Amendments Analysis distributed
lower
May 28, 2025
Introduced
Senate Amendments distributed
lower
May 26, 2025
Lower · Passed
Senate passage as amended reported
lower
May 26, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed
upper
May 26, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed to 3rd reading as amended
upper
May 26, 2025
Upper · Passed
Amended
upper
May 26, 2025
Introduced
Amendment(s) offered
upper
May 23, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee report printed and distributed
upper
May 23, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported favorably as substituted
upper
May 22, 2025
Upper · Passed
Vote taken in committee
upper
May 21, 2025
Upper · Passed
Left pending in committee
upper
May 21, 2025
Upper · Passed
Testimony taken in committee
upper
May 19, 2025
Committee
Referred to Health & Human Services
upper
May 19, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
upper
May 19, 2025
Introduced
Received from the House
upper
May 16, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed
lower
May 15, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed to engrossment as amended
lower
May 15, 2025
Lower · Passed
Amended
lower
May 15, 2025
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (122-12-10)
house
May 7, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report sent to Calendars
lower
May 6, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report distributed
lower
Apr 25, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported favorably as substituted
lower
Apr 23, 2025
Lower · Passed
Left pending in committee
lower
Apr 23, 2025
Lower · Passed
Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
lower
Mar 19, 2025
Committee
Referred to State Affairs
lower
Mar 19, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
lower
3 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors