Texas 2025 - 89th Regular

Texas House Bill HB4706 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	89R13640 AJZ-F
2	2	By: Paul H.B. No. 4706
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7	7	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
8	8	AN ACT
9	9	relating to the applicability of certain pedestrian laws to certain
10	10	sidewalk users.
11	11	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
12	12	SECTION 1. Section 541.001, Transportation Code, is amended
13	13	by adding Subdivision (6) to read as follows:
14	14	(6) "Sidewalk user" means an individual lawfully
15	15	operating one of the following on a sidewalk:
16	16	(A) a bicycle;
17	17	(B) a motor-assisted scooter, as defined by
18	18	Section 551.351;
19	19	(C) an electric personal assistive mobility
20	20	device, as defined by Section 551.201;
21	21	(D) a skateboard;
22	22	(E) roller skates; or
23	23	(F) a similar device.
24	24	SECTION 2. Sections 544.007(b), (c), and (d),
25	25	Transportation Code, are amended to read as follows:
26	26	(b) An operator of a vehicle facing a circular green signal
27	27	may proceed straight or turn right or left unless a sign prohibits
28	28	the turn. The operator shall, while the signal is exhibited:
29	29	(1) yield the right-of-way to other vehicles lawfully
30	30	in the intersection when the signal is exhibited; and
31	31	(2) stop and yield the right-of-way to pedestrians or
32	32	sidewalk users lawfully in the intersection or an adjacent
33	33	crosswalk.
34	34	(c) An operator of a vehicle facing a green arrow signal,
35	35	displayed alone or with another signal, may cautiously enter the
36	36	intersection to move in the direction permitted by the arrow or
37	37	other indication shown simultaneously. The operator shall stop and
38	38	yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian or sidewalk user lawfully in
39	39	an adjacent crosswalk and shall yield the right-of-way to other
40	40	traffic lawfully using the intersection.
41	41	(d) An operator of a vehicle facing only a steady red signal
42	42	shall stop at a clearly marked stop line. In the absence of a stop
43	43	line, the operator shall stop before entering the crosswalk on the
44	44	near side of the intersection. A vehicle that is not turning shall
45	45	remain standing until an indication to proceed is shown. After
46	46	stopping, standing until the intersection may be entered safely,
47	47	and yielding right-of-way to pedestrians and sidewalk users
48	48	lawfully in an adjacent crosswalk and other traffic lawfully using
49	49	the intersection, the operator may:
50	50	(1) turn right; or
51	51	(2) turn left, if the intersecting streets are both
52	52	one-way streets and a left turn is permissible.
53	53	SECTION 3. Section 545.256, Transportation Code, is amended
54	54	to read as follows:
55	55	Sec. 545.256. EMERGING FROM AN ALLEY, DRIVEWAY, OR
56	56	BUILDING. An operator emerging from an alley, driveway, or
57	57	building in a business or residence district shall:
58	58	(1) stop the vehicle before moving on a sidewalk or the
59	59	sidewalk area extending across an alley or driveway;
60	60	(2) yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian or sidewalk
61	61	user to avoid collision; and
62	62	(3) on entering the roadway, yield the right-of-way to
63	63	an approaching vehicle.
64	64	SECTION 4. The heading to Chapter 552, Transportation Code,
65	65	is amended to read as follows:
66	66	CHAPTER 552. PEDESTRIANS AND OTHER SIDEWALK USERS
67	67	SECTION 5. Sections 552.001 and 552.002, Transportation
68	68	Code, are amended to read as follows:
69	69	Sec. 552.001. TRAFFIC CONTROL SIGNALS. (a) A traffic
70	70	control signal displaying green, red, and yellow lights or lighted
71	71	arrows applies to a pedestrian and a sidewalk user as provided by
72	72	this section unless the pedestrian or sidewalk user is otherwise
73	73	directed by a special pedestrian control signal.
74	74	(b) A pedestrian or sidewalk user facing a green signal may
75	75	proceed across a roadway within a marked or unmarked crosswalk
76	76	unless the sole green signal is a turn arrow.
77	77	(c) A pedestrian or sidewalk user facing a steady red signal
78	78	alone or a steady yellow signal may not enter a roadway.
79	79	Sec. 552.002. PEDESTRIAN OR SIDEWALK USER RIGHT-OF-WAY IF
80	80	CONTROL SIGNAL PRESENT. (a) A pedestrian control signal
81	81	displaying "Walk," "Don't Walk," or "Wait" applies to a pedestrian
82	82	and a sidewalk user as provided by this section.
83	83	(b) A pedestrian or sidewalk user facing a "Walk" signal may
84	84	proceed across a roadway in the direction of the signal, and the
85	85	operator of a vehicle shall stop and yield the right-of-way to the
86	86	pedestrian or sidewalk user.
87	87	(c) A pedestrian or sidewalk user may not start to cross a
88	88	roadway in the direction of a "Don't Walk" signal or a "Wait"
89	89	signal. A pedestrian or sidewalk user who has partially crossed
90	90	while the "Walk" signal is displayed shall proceed to a sidewalk or
91	91	safety island while the "Don't Walk" signal or "Wait" signal is
92	92	displayed.
93	93	SECTION 6. Chapter 552, Transportation Code, is amended by
94	94	adding Sections 552.0035 and 552.0036 to read as follows:
95	95	Sec. 552.0035. SIDEWALK USER RIGHT-OF-WAY AT
96	96	CROSSWALK. (a) The operator of a vehicle shall stop and yield the
97	97	right-of-way to a sidewalk user crossing a roadway in a crosswalk
98	98	if:
99	99	(1) no traffic control signal is in place or in
100	100	operation; and
101	101	(2) the sidewalk user is:
102	102	(A) on the half of the roadway in which the
103	103	vehicle is traveling; or
104	104	(B) approaching so closely from the opposite half
105	105	of the roadway as to be in danger.
106	106	(b) Notwithstanding Subsection (a), a sidewalk user may not
107	107	suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and proceed into a
108	108	crosswalk in the path of a vehicle so close that it is impossible
109	109	for the vehicle operator to stop and yield.
110	110	(c) Notwithstanding Subsection (a), a sidewalk user may not
111	111	approach or enter a crosswalk at a speed greater than is reasonable
112	112	and prudent under the existing conditions and having regard for
113	113	actual and potential existing hazards. For the purposes of this
114	114	subsection, a speed greater than eight miles per hour is prima facie
115	115	evidence that the speed is not reasonable and prudent.
116	116	(d) The operator of a vehicle approaching from the rear of a
117	117	vehicle that is stopped at a crosswalk to permit a sidewalk user to
118	118	cross a roadway may not pass the stopped vehicle.
119	119	Sec. 552.0036. SIDEWALK USER RIGHT-OF-WAY AT STOP SIGN. A
120	120	sidewalk user approaching an intersection with a stop sign shall:
121	121	(1) stop before entering the crosswalk; and
122	122	(2) after stopping, yield the right-of-way to a
123	123	vehicle that:
124	124	(A) has entered the intersection; or
125	125	(B) is approaching the intersection so closely as
126	126	to be an immediate hazard to the sidewalk user entering or moving
127	127	across the crosswalk.
128	128	SECTION 7. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to
129	129	an offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act. An
130	130	offense committed before the effective date of this Act is governed
131	131	by the law in effect on the date the offense was committed, and the
132	132	former law is continued in effect for that purpose. For purposes of
133	133	this section, an offense was committed before the effective date of
134	134	this Act if any element of the offense occurred before that date.
135	135	SECTION 8. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.