Texas Statewide Rule

Texas Bans Local Juvenile Curfews Statewide

Few RestrictionsApplies statewide across Texas (2026)

Texas HB 1819 (88th Legislature, 2023), codified at Local Government Code 341.906 / 351.906 / 370.004, prohibits all Texas municipalities and counties from adopting or enforcing juvenile curfew ordinances. Existing local curfews expired automatically and are unenforceable across Texas.

Key Facts

Authority: HB 1819 (2023)
Code section: Local Gov't Code 341.906
Effective date: September 1, 2023
Existing curfews: All voided
Truancy laws: Still apply separately

Source: Texas Statutes

Full Breakdown

Effective September 1, 2023, the Texas Legislature passed HB 1819 to prohibit any general-applicability juvenile curfew ordinance by a county, municipality, or other political subdivision. The law expressly preempted and voided every preexisting juvenile curfew, ending a decades-long practice in cities like Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio, and Austin. Police can no longer detain or cite minors solely for being out past a set hour. Localities retain authority to enforce truancy laws under Education Code Chapter 25, parental responsibility statutes, trespass and loitering rules, and specific curfews tied to declared emergencies under Government Code Chapter 418. Courts must dismiss any pending juvenile curfew citation issued under a now-void ordinance.

Violations & Penalties

A minor cannot be cited or detained for a curfew violation in Texas. Officers or municipalities continuing to enforce a void curfew ordinance face civil rights claims and dismissal of any related charges.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are juvenile curfews legal anywhere in Texas?

No. As of September 1, 2023, HB 1819 prohibits every Texas city and county from enforcing a general juvenile curfew. Any prior local curfew ordinance was automatically voided by state law.

Can my teen still be cited for being out late in Texas?

Not for a curfew alone. Police may still enforce truancy laws during school hours, parental supervision statutes, trespass rules, and emergency curfews tied to a declared disaster, but not a routine nighttime curfew.

What about emergency curfews after a disaster?

Government Code Chapter 418 permits the governor or local officials to impose curfews during declared emergencies. These narrow, time-limited curfews are not preempted by HB 1819.

Sources

Texas Local Government Code Chapter 341 - Municipal Curfew Limitation

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Texas Bans Local Juvenile Curfews Statewide

Few RestrictionsApplies statewide across Texas (2026)

Full Breakdown

Frequently Asked Questions

Are juvenile curfews legal anywhere in Texas?

No. As of September 1, 2023, HB 1819 prohibits every Texas city and county from enforcing a general juvenile curfew. Any prior local curfew ordinance was automatically voided by state law.

Can my teen still be cited for being out late in Texas?

What about emergency curfews after a disaster?

Government Code Chapter 418 permits the governor or local officials to impose curfews during declared emergencies. These narrow, time-limited curfews are not preempted by HB 1819.