Food trucks may soon return to Haltom City streets following the passage of statewide legislation that promises to override local regulations that have effectively banned mobile vendors from operating within city limits. Texas House Bill 2844, known as the "Mobile Food Vendor Regulatory Consistency Act," was signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott on June 20, 2025, and will take effect July 1, 2026. The new law establishes a single statewide license for food trucks through the Texas Department of State Health Services, eliminating the patchwork of local rules and fees that have created barriers for mobile vendors.
This development comes as welcome news to Haltom City, where complex local ordinances have steadily reduced food truck participation in recent years. Haltom City's current permit requirements include a four-page, single-spaced application laden with legal terminology that must be read, signed, and notarized before approval. Permits cost $250 and require annual renewal. One particularly burdensome requirement demands written permission from property owners where food trucks intend to operate—a provision that often proves difficult or impossible to fulfill, especially when dealing with absentee property owners of shopping centers or strip malls.
The Haltom United Business Alliance had objected to these restrictions during a 2021 public hearing, warning that the regulations would create insurmountable roadblocks for food trucks seeking to do business in the city. HUBA Communications Director Joe Palmer expressed optimism about the new state legislation. "Mobile food vendors are valuable small businesses, and Haltom City leaders need to do everything in their power to encourage them," Palmer said. "Now that state lawmakers have passed legislation eliminating the burdensome permits and unnecessary fees, food truck owners can funnel their time, energy and money into improving and expanding their businesses."
However, Palmer noted that some local control remains under the new law, particularly regarding rules governing when and where food trucks can operate. "We'll have to wait and see how Haltom City handles this, especially the part about requiring the property owner's permission to operate," he added. The legislation represents a significant shift in food truck regulation across Texas, potentially opening new opportunities for small business growth in communities like Haltom City that have historically maintained restrictive local ordinances. The statewide approach aims to create consistency for mobile food vendors while still allowing municipalities some discretion over operational parameters within their jurisdictions.
