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Signed Into Law
Signed June 20, 2025Effective 2025-09-01
SB2367

Regular Session

Relating to the authority of certain counties to enact certain park use rules.

Government Affairs & Regulatory Compliance Analysis

SB2367: Government Affairs Overview

SB2367 explicitly grants the Waller County Board of Park Commissioners new regulatory authority to enact and enforce rules regarding county park usage, effective September 1, 2025. While the Board is prohibited from regulating fireworks, all businesses hosting events or operating commercially within Waller County parks must prepare for a new layer of local oversight, permitting, and potential civil penalties.

Sen. Lois Kolkhorst·Senate Bill·Regular Session

Low
Low Cost
Effective:2025-09-01
Enforcing Agencies

Waller County Board of Park Commissioners • Waller County Commissioners Court

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SB2367
Low
Relating to the authority of certain counties to enact certain park use rules.
Low Compliance Urgency
Requires routine attention
Cost Impact
Low
Effective
2025-09-01
Enforcing Agencies
Waller County Board of Park Comm...Waller County Commissioners Court
Primary Author: Sen. Lois Kolkhorst
89th Texas Legislature
jdkey.com
01

Compliance Analysis

Key implementation requirements and action items for compliance with this legislation

Implementation Timeline

  • Effective Date: September 1, 2025
  • Compliance Deadline: Q4 2025 - Q1 2026. While the law is effective in September, enforcement cannot begin until the Board formally adopts specific rules during public meetings.
  • Agency Rulemaking: The Waller County Board of Park Commissioners must draft and vote on the specific rules. Monitor Board agendas starting September 2025; there will be a lag between the effective date and the publication of enforceable prohibitions.

Immediate Action Plan

  • Audit Locations: Immediately identify which of your operational sites or event venues are designated as Waller County parks.
  • Monitor Agendas: Assign a compliance officer to monitor the Waller County Board of Park Commissioners' meeting agendas starting September 1, 2025, for proposed rule adoptions.
  • Review Insurance: Consult your broker to ensure your General Liability policy does not exclude coverage for claims arising from "illegal acts" or "ordinance violations," as a simple rule breach could jeopardize coverage.
  • Update Checklists: Prepare to integrate the new Board rules into pre-event safety checklists immediately upon their publication.

Operational Changes Required

Contracts

  • Vendor Agreements: Update Master Services Agreements (MSAs) for any vendor operating in Waller County parks. Insert clauses requiring strict adherence to "rules promulgated by the Board of Park Commissioners."
  • Indemnification: Expand indemnification provisions to hold vendors liable for civil penalties (up to $1,000 per violation) resulting from their staff's non-compliance with park rules.
  • Force Majeure: Ensure "governmental action" or "change in local ordinance" is a trigger allowing you to cancel or modify an event without penalty if new Board rules render the event operationally impossible.

Hiring/Training

  • Site Management: Event managers must be trained on the specific prohibitions once published (e.g., glass bans, vehicle restrictions).
  • Security Briefings: Security personnel must be briefed on the distinction between Board rules (enforceable) and general guidelines to avoid false enforcement actions.

Reporting & Record-Keeping

  • Permit Display: If the Board establishes a permit system for commercial use, physical proof of the permit must be maintained on-site at all times.
  • Incident Logs: Update incident reporting forms to align with any specific data requirements the Board may mandate regarding injuries or property damage within park limits.

Fees & Costs

  • Civil Penalties: Budget for potential risk of fines up to $1,000 per violation for non-compliance.
  • Permitting Fees: Anticipate new fee schedules for commercial access or exclusive use of park facilities as the Board exercises its new authority to generate revenue/manage usage.

Strategic Ambiguities & Considerations

  • Definition of "Park Use": The statute grants authority over "park use" without defining the scope. It is unclear if this extends to regulating commercial business hours, noise decibel levels, or vendor pricing. Expect the Board to test the limits of this authority early on.
  • The Fireworks "Gap": The legislature explicitly stripped the Board of authority to regulate fireworks. However, the County Commissioners Court retains authority to ban fireworks during droughts. This creates a regulatory conflict; businesses must verify which body has jurisdiction over pyrotechnics at the time of their event.
  • Enforcement Jurisdiction: It is currently undefined whether rule violations will be cited by Park Rangers, Constables, or the Sheriff’s Office, which affects how citations are adjudicated.

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Information presented is for general knowledge only and is provided without warranty, express or implied. Consult qualified government affairs professionals and legal counsel before making compliance decisions.

02

Legislative Timeline

This bill's path through the Texas Legislature

Filed
Mar 12, 2025
Passed Senate
May 9, 2025
Passed House
May 28, 2025
Signed
Jun 20, 2025
Effective
Sep 1, 2025
TopicsCounty GovernmentCounty Government--generalParks & WildlifeParks & Wildlife--parksWaller County
03

Senate Authors

Sen. Lois KolkhorstRepublican · Primary Author

House Sponsor

Rep. Stan KitzmanRepublican · Primary Sponsor

Bill Text(with markup)

View bill text in multiple formats on Texas Legislature website

Fiscal NoteView Original

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Quick Reference

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about SB2367

Q

What does Texas SB2367 do?

SB2367 explicitly grants the Waller County Board of Park Commissioners new regulatory authority to enact and enforce rules regarding county park usage, effective September 1, 2025. While the Board is prohibited from regulating fireworks, all businesses hosting events or operating commercially within Waller County parks must prepare for a new layer of local oversight, permitting, and potential civil penalties.

Q

Who authored SB2367?

SB2367 was authored by Texas Senator Lois Kolkhorst during the Regular Session.

Q

When was SB2367 signed into law?

SB2367 was signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott on June 20, 2025.

Q

Which agencies enforce SB2367?

SB2367 is enforced by Waller County Board of Park Commissioners and Waller County Commissioners Court.

Q

How significant are the changes in SB2367?

The regulatory priority for SB2367 is rated as "low". Businesses and organizations should review the legislation to understand potential impacts.

Q

What is the cost impact of SB2367?

The cost impact of SB2367 is estimated as "low". This may vary based on industry and implementation requirements.

Q

What topics does SB2367 address?

SB2367 addresses topics including county government, county government--general, parks & wildlife, parks & wildlife--parks and waller county.

Q

What are the key dates for SB2367?

Key dates for SB2367: Effective date is 2025-09-01. Consult with legal counsel regarding applicability.

Q

What are the penalties under SB2367?

SB2367 establishes the following penalties: civil penalty of Subject to existing statutory limits under Local Government Code 320.0455 (typically up to $1,000 per violation depending on specific county adoption) for Violation of adopted park rules in counties meeting the new population bracket (specifically Waller County).. Consult with legal counsel for specific applicability to your situation.

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JD Key Consulting is an Austin, Texas-based government affairs firm led by James Dickey, former Chairman of the Republican Party of Texas. We specialize in Texas regulatory compliance and legislative strategy for data centers, energy, banking, and manufacturing.

Legislative data provided by LegiScanLast updated: January 11, 2026