Food Trucks

Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! Food trucks can be found everywhere in Texas, and they have, in many ways, become a part of the state's culinary culture. However, for many years, operating one meant navigating a series of local permits, inspections, and fees every time a truck crossed into a new city. And now, as of July 1, 2026, a new Texas law has taken effect that creates a single statewide health permit for food trucks, replacing the patchwork of city-by-city licensing. While this new law has garnered supporters, who say it will lower costs, critics have argued that it shifts power away from the cities. In the audio above, Brandon Rottinghaus, a University of Houston political science professor and co-host of Houston Public Media's Party Politics, explores this new law, what its supporters and critics are saying about it, and hears a Houston-area restaurant owner's own personal journey navigating the previous permitting system for food trucks. Featured Guest: Jafar Hajjar, owner of Fuzzy's Pizza in Katy. You can find more Texperts at texperts.org and houstonpublicmedia.org