23-04-2025
Bill would standardize food truck operations, inspections statewide
AUSTIN (KXAN) — A rally is planned at the Texas Capitol Wednesday to support a bill that proposes a unified permit system for food trucks across Texas.
House Bill 2683 aims to simplify operations for food truck owners by eliminating the need for multiple permits and inspections across different cities and counties.
Currently, food truck operators face varying regulations depending on their location, which can complicate business operations.
Operating a food truck in Texas currently requires several permits, including a business license, a food handler's permit, a health department certification and a mobile vendor permit. Larger cities may also require a commissary agreement, which involves using an approved kitchen.
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In some cities, food trucks are subject to strict regulations, such as being prohibited from operating within 1,000 feet of a brick-and-mortar restaurant or having specific counter height requirements. Proponents of the bill argue these rules are barriers to business.
'This is just duplicative. This has nothing to do with health and safety,' said Phillip Suderman of Institute for Justice. The non profit public interest law firm works to make similar changes nationwide. 'It's not protecting food safety. It's not protecting fire safety. All it is is just creating this duplicate rules and make it more expensive for food trucks to operate.'
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Texas is home to the second highest number of food trucks in the United States, trailing only California, according to a study from Brigham Young University.
The rally is scheduled to begin at 8 a.m., with supporters hoping to push the bill through before the legislative session ends in early June.
All facts from this article were gathered by KXAN journalists. This article was converted into this format with assistance from artificial intelligence. It has been edited and approved by KXAN staff. Read about our approach to using AI tools.
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