FM 149 was created on April 20, 1945 as a short spur between Anderson and Richards inside Grimes County. Later that year, it was extended twice, to the Montgomery County line on June 6, 1945 and to Deckers Prairie ten days later. The designation was extended down the Tomball Road to US 75 (later  I-45) in Houston on July 22, 1949.
On October 31, 1957, the route was extended beyond Anderson to its current western terminus at  FM 244 (now FM 3090). The section from FM 2430 (now West Montgomery Road) to US 75 was transferred to  FM 2430 on December 10, 1959, while FM 149 was rerouted north over the former route of FM 2430. A spur connection to  FM 1488 was added on November 1, 1968 which replaced the old route of FM 149 because one section of the old route was transferred to FM 1488.