Restoring Property Owner Autonomy
HB 2013 prohibits homeowners’ associations (HOAs) from enforcing deed restrictions that ban the keeping of chickens on private property—so long as the practice is allowed by municipal ordinance. This bill reinforces the principle that property owners, not unelected HOA boards, should have the final say in how their land is used.

Defending Property Rights and Self-Sufficiency
The Libertarian Party of Texas (LPTexas) holds that the right to use and enjoy one’s property is fundamental and should not be subject to arbitrary interference (Platform § I.2). HB 2013 supports this principle by affirming the rights of Texans to raise backyard chickens for personal use, which promotes food independence, sustainability, and responsible land use.

Limiting Private Bureaucracies Acting as Governments
LPTexas opposes coercive restrictions imposed by private governing bodies that mimic the powers of government without consent of the governed. HOAs often enforce sweeping limitations that undermine liberty. This bill pushes back against that trend, protecting individual rights within voluntary communities and ensuring that local ordinances—not overreaching contracts—govern reasonable use of private property.

Encouraging Local and Voluntary Solutions
HB 2013 respects the principle of local control. It ensures that decisions about what is acceptable in a neighborhood are made at the municipal level, where voters have more influence, rather than by rigid and often unaccountable HOA boards. It strikes a balance between individual liberty and community norms.

Conclusion
The Libertarian Party of Texas supports HB 2013 for strengthening property rights, limiting HOA overreach, and promoting self-reliance. Texans should be free to responsibly use their property without micromanagement from unelected neighborhood enforcers. We urge lawmakers to support this bill in defense of liberty and local autonomy.