Legislative Blog
J.B. Williams, J.D.
7 bills that modify the Transportation Code
A Blog about 88th Legislature Laws
A Bit of Background
The following backgrounds help summarize the author's views on both the general topic: Texas and more specifically 88th Legislature Laws as it relates to that topic.
Brief Summary of Texas
Texas is truly a Republic. There are a multitude of items that to modify the state constitution must be modified. So there are times when Constitutional amendments are on the voting ballots. While I sometimes abhor the wording, the concept that all of those legally able to vote in Texas must vote on the change is a good one. And bills in Texas are generally short, making it easier for everyone to understand.
Summary of 88th Legislature Laws
The blogs here will discuss the laws passed by Congress and signed into law, as well as those, passed by Congress and approved by the voters to become law. There are a multitude of laws and each time I post blogs I will notate here the current effective date if it is different from prior blogs. I am currently posting bills that took effect immediately - those bills total 336. I am currently posting regarding larger bills, so each blog covers a single bill.
Blog Summary
HB 842
HB 898 - increased penalty for passing certain vehicles
HB 823 - renaming portion of state highway
HB 975 - renaming portion of state highway
HB 1198
HB 1199 - Accident reports must include if there were trailers
HB 1263
7 bills that modify the Transportation Code
Published: 2026-05-18
Multiple short modifications
HB 842 - 4 pages
A driver's license cannot be suspended if the offense was committed before September 1, 2019 and the conviction was after August 31, 2023 and the required fee is paid. This does not apply for commercial driver's licenses or those transporting hazardous materials. I think hazardous materials drivers would have commercial licenses - at least I would hope so.
HB 898 - 3 pages
Passing certain vehicles is a crime - that has not changed. What has changed is the penalty. These are considered a misdemeanor with a fine of at least $500 nor more than $1,250. If it is a second or subsequent offense than the fine is at least $1,000 but not more than $2,000. These are for subsequent offenses occurring within 5 years.
If the passing results in bodily injury to another than it is a Class A misdemeanor, and state jail felony for second or subsequent offenses.
HB 923 - 2 pages
Renames the interchange in La Porte that is between eastbound State Highway 225 and southbound State Highway 146. It is now known as Aaron M. Hicks Memorial Interchange.
HB 975 - 2 pages
Portion of Interstate Highway 635 within Mesquite is designated as Officer Richard Houston II Memorial Highway.
HB 1198 - 2 pages
The department is to create a campaign of public awareness to promote proper attachment of a trailer to a passenger car. They can use gifts, grants, or donations; along with matching funds, or other funds to pay for this.
Across the US, there are approximately 50,000 to 69,000 accidents related to trailer issues. Some of these are due to improper connections and some are due to unsecured cargo. Seems there are not specifically tracked in Texas, but commercial trucking issues are. But those wouldn't be what this bill addresses. Seems we are addressing an odd issue. I'm not saying there are not some accidents involving trailers attached to passenger cars, but I most often see trailers attacked to trucks and most of those are businesses. I know that trailers can be rented, but would believe that anyone renting them would go over proper attachment procedures.
HB 1199 - 3 pages
Now the bill that requires accident reports to include if there is a trailer involved, and the fatalities related to those accidents. Now as long as it isn't just a check the box procedure so that any vehicle that has a trailer and is involved in an accident don't become included in accidents caused due to trailer issues. I mean the number of miles businesses that are pulling trailers make increases their probability for being involved in an accident. But let's now blame the trailer being attached as the reason for the accident. I mean the mowing company that mows the lawn across the street from me has struck my mailbox on at least 3 occasions, one so bad that they bought a new mailbox but didn't bother to straighten the pole or replace it. I don't blame that they were pulling a trailer. I do blame the stupidity of the driver in thinking it would be faster to flip a u-turn rather than driving to the end of the block and around. I've watched others do u-turns, and it does require backing up, but they managed it when necessary. However this driver just made the u-turn without backing, and a truck of that size cannot make the u-turn without a trailer attached.
HB 1263 - 3 pages
School cross walks or school crossing zones must be designated for high schools if the population is 2 million or more.
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