Relating to the authority of counties to regulate noise levels in residential areas; creating a criminal offense.
HB 3641 allows Texas counties to regulate noise levels from residences in unincorporated areas through commissioners court orders, aiming to protect public health and safety. It directly affects residents in unincorporated county areas by enabling local noise rules, though it explicitly excludes fireworks regulation. Violating such orders twice or more would be a Class C misdemeanor (a minor criminal offense with a fine). The bill takes effect on September 1, 2025.
Bill status
passed
3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Mar 2025
Committee Review
May 2025
House Passage
May 2025
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Mar 25, 2025
Last action May 16, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison
What changed between versions
Introduced
→
Engrossed
·
3 edits
·
May 15, 2025
MINOR
The bill was reformatted from an introduced draft to an engrossed version, with substantive policy changes including expanding noise regulation authority to cover tracts of land in residential areas and adding a new exemption for business activity noise. The effective date remains September 1, 2025.
Scope change
Expanded scope to include tracts of land in residential areas and added business activity noise as an exempt category from regulation
SCOPE
Added authority to regulate noise from tracts of land in residential areas, not just residences
EXEMPTIONS
New exemption for noise emanating from business activities
TECHNICAL
Reformatted bill text from introduced draft to engrossed version with updated metadata and sponsor information
Floor votes · House May 15, 2025
How they voted
109–28
Passed · 7 other
Total votes 144
May 15, 2025
D
Democratic59
89% Yea
R
Republican85
65% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
28
Key actions
9
Committee
8
Amendments
2
May 16, 2025
Committee
Referred to Local Government
upper
May 16, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
upper
May 15, 2025
Introduced
Received from the House
upper
May 15, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed
lower
May 14, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed to engrossment as amended
lower
May 14, 2025
Lower · Passed
Amended
lower
May 2, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report sent to Calendars
lower
May 1, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report distributed
lower
Apr 28, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported favorably as substituted
lower
Apr 15, 2025
Lower · Passed
Left pending in committee
lower
Apr 15, 2025
Lower · Passed
Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
lower
Apr 15, 2025
Lower · Passed
Recalled from subcommittee
lower
Mar 25, 2025
Committee
Referred to s/c on County & Regional Government by Speaker
lower
Mar 25, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
lower
4 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Armando Walle
DDemocratic
P
Briscoe Cain
RRepublican
P
Cecil Bell
RRepublican
P
Don McLaughlin
RRepublican
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