Don't Mess with Texas Beach Access - Stop SB 434 and HB 3114

The public's beach access rights are being threatened by bad bills that have been introduced in the current state legislative session. Senate Bill 434 and House Bill 3114, if either are passed, have the potential to severely affect the public’s right to access large sections of Texas beaches. The bills would allow private property owners who have property facing a Gulf beach to go to court and challenge the public’s right to access the beach in front of that property, effectively placing the burden of proof on the public to show that they have the right of beach access. Currently Texans have the right to access the state’s beaches from the mean low tide line to the line of vegetation. This right is guaranteed by the Texas Open Beaches Act which became law in 1959 and was voted into the Texas State Constitution in 2009 by 75% of those voting in a statewide referendum.