May 11, 2025 - TRA Austin -

The Good: A few bills dealing with grant programs for at-grade rail crossing separations and short line railroad development are moving through the legislature in the final weeks of the current session.

The Bad: Cody Harris' House Bill 2003 that would require a private high-speed rail company to divulge proprietary financial information before deals are finalized passed the House and was sent to the Senate and referred to Transportation. Another bill to redirect 25% of sales tax collected for Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) to non-rail, non-bus services is waiting in the House. 

The Ugly: it looks like lawmakers are turning their back, again this session, on moving forward any type of legislation to create either an I-35 high-speed rail Comprehensive Development Agreement (CDA) or to recognize the need for conventional intercity or regional passenger rail service as a mode of transportation that Texans want. 

If bills are not heard and moved out of House or Senate committees in the next day or two and toward a floor vote, chances are those bills are DOA. A number of rail bills did not even receive a public hearing.

A grant program to fund railroad grade crossing separations (SB 1555), authored by Senators Robert Nichols and Carol Alvarado. passed the Senate March 25th and was voted on in the House on May 10th. The legislation will now go to Governor Abbott for his signature. According to sources, the grant program is destined to get a $350 million kickstart appropriation and will allow the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT)  to proceed with statewide plans to fund overpasses and underpasses at critical rail-roadway crossings. Texas would be able to participate in competitive federal grant programs for the first time ever.

Another grant program, this one for the numerous Texas short line railroads that mainly operate in rural areas, was Senate Bill 2366. Companion House Bill 4662. It passed the Senate April 30th, heard by the House Subcommittee on Transportation Funding and has been reported favorably with the next stop the Texas House for a floor vote. The short lines are the first-mile, last-mile rail carriers that serve hundreds of businesses and industries in the state with their branch line rail services. The grant program will help generate economic development in many small to medium size towns that are served by short line railroads.  

Texas Rail Advocates had been pushing for both grant programs in previous sessions and "we were pleased that TxDOT and the Texas Transportation Commission advanced them forward in Exceptional Item Requests in their legislative budget", according to TRA President Peter LeCody. "Texas Rail Advocates prepared informational cards that supported why we need both programs and they were distributed to all Texas Senators and Representatives before and during the session. We hoped they helped form their decision in these important grant programs."

Senate Bill 2129 would increase fines for vehicles that ignore warnings at railroad grade crossings. It passed the Senate April 22nd, was heard in House Transportation May 1 and is to be scheduled for a House vote. Passage is likely. 

HB 2011 - Cecil Bell - This bill is aimed at repurchasing land when taxes are delinquent. Texas Central Railway had a period where property taxes were paid late and this bill could revert land back to the original property owner. It's a kill high-speed rail effort bill in disguise. Scheduled for a House vote. 

SB 2129 - Nathan Johnson - If you disregard a flagger at a railroad crossing, it increases a criminal penalty. Senate passed, House Transportation agreed. Waiting to House floor vote. 

SB 2323 - Nathan Johnson (HB 2270 - Chris Turner) - Passed Senate and referred to House Transportation. Protects disclosure of personal information of train personnel involved in a rail grade crossing accident. Left pending in House Transportation March 27th.

HB 3187 - Matt Shaheen - House Transportation advanced this bill but it hasn't been set for a House Vote, yet. It would redirect 25% of the penny collected for Dallas Area Rapid Transit to non-rail, non-bus projects in neighboring cities. A bad idea. It hasn't gained traction in the Senate with SB 1557. 

HB 3879 - Ellen Troxclair (and SB 2519 - Paul Bettencourt) - This effectively could shut down the $7 billion Project Connect Austin light rail project if it became law. House Ways and Means passed it and waiting for House action. Senate Local Government Committee passed and put on Senate intent calendar. 

HB 4207 - Ken King - Calls for fines for blocking a railroad crossing for over 30 minutes. Federal law may supersede this bill if it is passed. Approved by House Transportation, awaiting a House vote. 

The following bills received a hearing but have not yet advanced:

HB 483 - John Bucy  A Comprehensive Development Agreement for high-speed rail in the I-35 Corridor. Companion Senate bill 424 was referred to Finance where it still sits.

HB 548 - Carl Tepper - Increase in penalties for burglary of rail cars 

HB 1402 - Cody Harris - Prohibiting public money to pay to alter a roadway for a high-speed rail project 

HB 4888 - Terry Canales - A regional mobility authority could offer financial assistance to another nearby government entity. Companion Senate Bill 1384 from Sarah Eckhardt never got a hearing

HJR 58 - John Bucy - A constitutional amendment authorizing the use of money in the state highway fund for transit-oriented projects

HJR 63 - Armando Walle - A constitutional amendment to permit additional uses of certain dedicated general revenue transferred each fiscal year to the state highway fund (purchase right of way for transit projects)

The following bill were assigned to a committee but did not receive a hearing:

HB 663 - Brian Harrison - A kill high-speed rail bill

HB 1564 - Ana Hernandez - Limiting the length of a freight train to 8,500 foot long

HB 2719 - Rafael Anchia (and SB 2635 - Nathan Johnson) - Change the name of the Railroad Commission. The RR Commission gave up rail duties to TxDOT years ago. The commission is responsible for gas, oil and energy. This should be a no-brainer but it has been session after session and this change never advances.  

HB 2979 - Cody Harris - Another in the series of bills trying to kill high-speed rail, specifically the Texas Central Dallas-Houston project

HB 3019 - Briscoe Cain -   The Governor would have to approve light rail projects for Texas cities

HB 5413 - Gina Hinojosa - An municipal planning organization could dedicate 10% of lane miles for potential transit-oriented use

SB 1769 - Molly Cook - High speed rail from Houston to Austin. A lot of state lawmakers should have liked this because the trek between the cities is terrible. Referred to Senate Finance where it sat since March 13th.