HOUSTON – As the City of Houston continues to examine how to handle residents experiencing homelessness , the topic of panhandling has returned to the spotlight.

MORE: Houston expands civility ordinance: Advocates and officials voice concerns over implementation

Panhandling itself isn’t illegal in Texas. However, if you’ve ever wondered why someone can ask for help on a sidewalk but not in the middle of a busy intersection, the difference comes down to state law and how local cities enforce it.

SEE ALSO: How helping homeless strikes chord for Texans’ Darrell Taylor with 52 Sundays initiative: ‘I’ve been homeless before’

Across our area, cities have taken their own approaches to regulating panhandling — often focusing on where it happens and how it’s done.

What Texas law say

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