AUSTIN Legislation by State Representative Brooks Landgraf (R-Odessa) to eliminate bureaucratic hurdles for food truck owners across Texas has cleared both chambers of the Texas Legislature and is now headed to Governor Greg Abbott’s desk to be signed into law.
House Bill 2844 creates a single, statewide health permit for food trucks issued by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS). This new system replaces the confusing patchwork of local health permits and duplicative inspections that currently burden mobile food vendors operating in multiple jurisdictions.
“Food truck owners shouldn’t have to jump through a different set of hoops every time they cross a city limit,” Landgraf said. “This bill provides a consistent, statewide framework for health permitting — cutting red tape while keeping food safety standards strong.”
HB 2844 ensures that mobile food vendors are held to uniform, high health standards without being subjected to redundant local regulations. At the same time, the bill preserves local control by allowing cities to continue enforcing rules on where, when, and how food trucks operate — such as zoning restrictions, hours of operation, and proximity to events or schools.
“This is a big win for Texas small business owners, especially the hard-working entrepreneurs running food trucks in our communities,” Landgraf said. “Instead of spending thousands of dollars on repetitive permits and unnecessary fees, food truck owners will be able to reinvest that money into growing their business — upgrading equipment, hiring more staff, and expanding their operations.”
Landgraf filed the Food Truck Freedom bill at the request of several food truck operators in Odessa and Monahans. State Senator Lois Kolkhorst (R-Brenham) sponsored the bill in the Senate.
The bill received overwhelming bipartisan support in both chambers and is set to take effect on July 1, 2026, following the creation of the statewide permit by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission.
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