Farm Bureau tells committee municipal right‑of‑way maintenance rules burden farmers; bill would limit cities’ requirements

Sen. Perry laid out House Bill 41 63, which would amend the agricultural code to bar municipalities from requiring owners or lessees of agricultural operations to perform certain maintenance tasks on public right‑of‑way adjacent to their land.

Bridal Adamec of the Texas Farm Bureau testified in support, saying municipal demands to maintain right‑of‑way create a substantial burden for farmers and ranchers who manage large acreage. “Farms and ranches cover a lot of acreage and keeping up with maintenance of right of ways takes equipment, lots of fuel and a ton of time. It's costly and exhausting,” Adamec told the committee. He added that some farmers are fined and then billed by cities that send crews to perform the work, and that the current practice effectively forces producers to use private property for public use without compensation.

Adamec said the equipment used on large operations is not well suited to narrow, obstacle‑filled rights of way and that producers face citations for debris blown onto roadways when they mow. The committee closed public testimony on the bill and left it pending for further consideration.