Weird Laws in Texas: Strange Rules That Are Actually Real in 2026
Short answer
Yes. Texas has odd-sounding laws that are still on the books, including a ban on selling human organs (Penal Code § 48.02), a ban on selling horsemeat as food (Agriculture Code ch. 149) and a rule against selling cars on both Saturday and Sunday (Transportation Code § 728.002). Many viral lists are myths, so check the statute.
Last verified November 2, 2026 against current Texas law
Search for weird laws in Texas and you will find lists of 50 or more rules, many of them copied from site to site with no source. Some are real, some were repealed years ago, and some never existed. This page sticks to rules we could check against the Texas statutes, and it tells you plainly when a famous claim does not hold up. Each strange law below includes the section number, what it actually says and what the penalty is.
| Selling a human organ | Illegal: Class A misdemeanor, Penal Code § 48.02 |
|---|---|
| Selling horsemeat as food | Illegal, Agriculture Code ch. 149 |
| Selling cars on Saturday and Sunday | Barred on consecutive days, Transportation Code § 728.002 |
| Cannibalism | No stand-alone offense, but abuse of a corpse is a state jail felony, Penal Code § 42.08 |
| Driving barefoot, owning a switchblade | Legal, despite the myths |
What are some weird laws in Texas that are real?
Three of the best-known strange Texas laws are real and still enforceable. Each one is short, specific and written in the current code.
You cannot sell your kidney, or your eye
Under Penal Code § 48.02, a person commits an offense by knowingly or intentionally offering to buy, offering to sell, acquiring, receiving, selling or otherwise transferring a human organ for valuable consideration. The law defines “human organ” to include the kidney, liver, heart, lung, pancreas, eye, bone and skin, or any other organ or tissue. It leaves out hair and blood. A violation is a Class A misdemeanor, which carries up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $4,000.
Paying for medical care is not covered. The statute allows fees to doctors and hospitals, reimbursement of medical or legal expenses for the person receiving the organ, and reimbursement of a donor’s travel, housing and lost wages.
You cannot sell horsemeat for people to eat
Texas makes it an offense to sell, offer for sale or display for sale horsemeat as food for human consumption, or to keep it with the intent to sell it that way, under Agriculture Code § 149.002. Transferring horsemeat to someone you know, or reasonably should know, plans to sell it for human food is also covered by Agriculture Code § 149.003. A first offense carries a fine of up to $1,000, jail of 30 days to two years, or both. A repeat offense is punishable by two to five years in prison under Agriculture Code § 149.005.
Car dealers cannot sell on both Saturday and Sunday
Transportation Code § 728.002 says a person may not, on consecutive days of Saturday and Sunday, sell or offer for sale a motor vehicle, or force an employee to do so. Each day a vehicle is offered and each sale counts as a separate violation. That is why many Texas dealerships close one of the two weekend days. The law does not stop an occasional sale by someone who is not in the business of selling vehicles, so a private seller can still list a car all weekend.
Is cannibalism illegal in Texas?
Yes, in practice, though not under its own name. The Penal Code does not list cannibalism as a stand-alone offense. Instead, conduct involving human remains falls under Penal Code § 42.08, abuse of a corpse. A person commits that offense by knowingly, and without legal authority, disturbing, damaging, dissecting, carrying away or treating a human corpse “in an offensive manner.” The law counts any portion of a corpse and cremated remains as a corpse. Abuse of a corpse is generally a state jail felony (only vandalizing a burial space is a Class A misdemeanor), which means 180 days to two years in a state jail and a fine of up to $10,000.
Killing someone is a separate crime, such as murder or manslaughter, and prosecutors can charge both at once. A cemetery that removes damaged or rule-breaking items has a defense, but that exception has nothing to do with eating remains.
Strange laws in Texas that are really myths or old news
Many crazy-sounding Texas laws are really misunderstood. These are the ones people ask about most, with what the rule actually is.
| Claim | What is true |
|---|---|
| “It is illegal to drive barefoot.” | No Texas law bans it. See driving barefoot in Texas. |
| “Switchblades are banned.” | Texas legalized them in 2013, with limits on where you can carry them. See switchblade laws. |
| “You can keep a raccoon as a pet.” | No. Texas does not let you keep one. See raccoon and exotic pet rules. |
| “Fighting is fine if both people agree.” | Texas has no mutual combat law. See mutual combat in Texas. |
| “Dumpster diving is always a crime.” | No statewide ban exists, but trespass, theft and city rules still apply. See dumpster diving. |
Two cautions apply to any list of dumb laws in Texas. First, city and county ordinances can be stranger than state law, and they vary by place, so a rule that holds in one town may not exist in the next. Second, a law that is still written down but never enforced is not the same as a law that was repealed. When in doubt, read the section itself on the Texas Legislature’s statutes site, or ask the city secretary for the ordinance.
Is Onyx Odds legal in Texas?
Unclear. Onyx Odds is one of the newer apps people ask about when they search for unusual Texas gambling rules. Review sites describe it as a sweepstakes-style social sportsbook that uses virtual currencies called Onyx Coins and Onyx Cash. Those same sites say it accepts Texas players, but they are commercial reviews that name no Texas statute, court ruling or Attorney General opinion approving it. We found no Texas authority that settles whether prizes in a sweepstakes sportsbook count as gambling.
Texas gambling law is in Penal Code ch. 47, and the state has no licensed online sportsbook. We do not recommend or rank any operator. Our guides to sports betting in Texas and offshore and sweepstakes sites explain the law and the risks.
What is illegal in Texas that surprises people?
Beyond the headline oddities, everyday rules catch people off guard. Burn bans can make a backyard fire illegal in your county, as our Texas burn ban guide explains. Selling homemade food is legal only within the limits in the cottage food law. For more everyday rules, browse our everyday life and property rights guides.
Frequently asked questions
What is the weirdest law in Texas?
There is no official ranking, but the most surprising real rules are the ban on selling horsemeat for human food and the bar on selling cars on both Saturday and Sunday. Both are in current statutes and apply today. The organ sale ban is the one with a criminal penalty most people have never heard of.
Is cannibalism legal in Texas?
No. Texas has no law named for cannibalism, but treating a human corpse in an offensive manner is abuse of a corpse under Penal Code § 42.08, a state jail felony. Any killing involved would be charged separately as homicide.
Are the “50 weird laws in Texas” lists accurate?
Often not. Many items are repealed, local ordinances, or never existed. A claim is only reliable if it points to a specific statute or ordinance. Use the section number to find the text, and check the date of the last amendment.
Can I sell my plasma or hair in Texas?
The organ sale law defines human organs to exclude hair, blood and blood components such as plasma. Selling those is not covered by Penal Code § 48.02. Other rules may still apply to how blood products are collected.
Can I sell my own car on a weekend in Texas?
Yes. The Saturday and Sunday rule has an exception for an occasional sale by a person who is not in a business that includes selling motor vehicles. Dealers and people selling cars as a business are the ones it affects.
Do city ordinances add more odd rules?
Yes. Cities in Texas can pass their own rules on noise, trash, animals and signs, so some of the strangest rules are local. Check the city’s municipal code for the exact wording before relying on a list you found online.
What changed on this page
November 2, 2026: First published. Statutes checked against the current Texas Penal Code, Agriculture Code and Transportation Code.
If this affects you: if you are charged with an offense, speak with a Texas-licensed criminal defense attorney. For questions about selling vehicles or food, contact the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles or the Texas Department of State Health Services. This guide is general legal information, not advice for your situation. Read how we research every guide in our editorial policy, or report an error.
