SB 1008 Texas Senate · 89th Legislature (2025)

Relating to state and local authority to regulate the food service industry.

SB 1008 clarifies that Texas counties, municipalities, and public health districts can only require permits for food businesses (like restaurants, food trucks, and mobile vendors) if state law already mandates them. It prevents local governments from charging duplicate fees for alcohol permits if businesses already paid fees to operate locally, and requires them to post all fee schedules online. The bill directly affects food service operators and local governments by standardizing permit and fee rules to align with state law. Businesses can now legally challenge local ordinances that violate specific state codes (e.g., Health & Safety Code sections 437.001-437.012). This aims to reduce conflicting regulations for food service businesses across Texas.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2025
Senate Passage
May 2025
House Passage
May 2025
Signed into Law
May 2025
Introduced Jan 29, 2025 Signed May 19, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Engrossed Enrolled · 7 edits · May 19, 2025
MODERATE
This bill was finalized in its enrolled version with several substantive changes to Texas food service regulations. The main updates include new fee limitations for local jurisdictions, expanded exemptions for workplace food delivery, and additional protections for food service establishments regarding sound regulations and local permit requirements. These changes aim to reduce regulatory burdens on food businesses while maintaining public health standards.
Scope change
The bill's scope was expanded to include new sections addressing workplace food delivery, sound regulations, and stakeholder notification requirements that were not present in the earlier version.
REQUIREMENT

Added Section 437.0126 limiting fees that counties, municipalities, and public health districts can charge to the maximum fee the state department would charge.

Added Section 437.0127 requiring jurisdictions to provide email updates to stakeholders about fee, permit, or inspection changes.

Added Section 437.029 prohibiting sound regulation permits and fees for establishments that meet specific delivery or sound level criteria.

Added Section 437.030 exempting permitted food establishments from additional permits when delivering food to workplaces under specific conditions.

Modified Section 437.0124 to change the fee schedule submission deadline from 10 days to 60 days before the fee schedule takes effect.

Added Section 438.1055 prohibiting local jurisdictions from requiring fees for local food manager cards for those who already hold state-issued certificates.

TIMELINE

Established September 1, 2025 as the effective date for the Act.

Floor votes · House May 5, 2025

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
51
Key actions
16
Committee
10
Amendments
3
May 19, 2025
Signed into law
Signed by the Governor
executive
May 7, 2025
Lower · Passed
Signed in the House
lower
May 7, 2025
Upper · Passed
Signed in the Senate
upper
May 6, 2025
Upper · Passed
House passage reported
upper
May 5, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed
lower
Apr 29, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report sent to Calendars
lower
Apr 29, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report distributed
lower
Apr 28, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
lower
Apr 17, 2025
Committee
Referred to State Affairs
lower
Apr 17, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
lower
Apr 10, 2025
Introduced
Received from the Senate
lower
Apr 9, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed
upper
Apr 9, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed to engrossment as amended
upper
Apr 9, 2025
Upper · Passed
Amended
upper
Apr 9, 2025
Introduced
Amendment(s) offered
upper
Mar 27, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee report printed and distributed
upper
Mar 27, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported favorably as substituted
upper
Mar 25, 2025
Upper · Passed
Vote taken in committee
upper
Mar 18, 2025
Upper · Passed
Left pending in committee
upper
Mar 18, 2025
Upper · Passed
Testimony taken in committee
upper
Feb 24, 2025
Committee
Referred to Business & Commerce
upper
Feb 24, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
upper
2 primary · 3 co-sponsors

Sponsors