TX
Texas House Bill HB723

Texas 2025 - 89th Regular

Texas House Bill HB723

Voted on by House
 
Out of Senate Committee
 
Voted on by Senate
 
Governor Action
 
Bill Becomes Law
 

Caption

Relating to school bus monitoring systems and the required reporting of certain offenses recorded by those systems.

Impact

The introduction of HB 723 is designed to enhance state laws pertaining to student safety and traffic enforcement. By requiring the installation of monitoring systems, the bill aims to deter motorists from illegally passing stopped school buses, thereby improving compliance with traffic laws designed to protect children. Local authorities will need to adapt their procedures for reporting and utilizing recorded images, potentially requiring updates to current policies and practices in managing student transportation safety.

Summary

House Bill 723 establishes requirements for local authorities and school districts to install school bus monitoring systems. These systems are defined as cameras on school buses intended to detect violations related to illegal passing of school buses, as outlined in Section 545.066 of the Transportation Code. The bill mandates that recorded images of offenses be reported to local law enforcement agencies and can be utilized as evidence in legal proceedings, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding students during transportation to and from school or related activities.

Contention

While the bill has the potential to improve student safety, there may be concerns regarding privacy and the role of technology in law enforcement. Some stakeholders may raise questions about the implications of using recorded images for enforcement, including the risk of misidentification or unauthorised usage of footage. Additionally, the bill includes provisions for entities that have previously implemented monitoring systems before a specified date, which may lead to discussions about the equity of these regulations among different jurisdictions.

Texas Constitutional Statutes Affected

Transportation Code

  • Chapter 542. General Provisions
    • Section: New Section
  • Chapter 707. Photographic Traffic Signalenforcement System Prohibited
    • Section: 020
    • Section: 021

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

TX HB648

Relating to the enforcement of the prohibition on passing a school bus using images from a school bus monitoring system.

TX SB1518

Relating to the establishment of a terrorist offender registry and to the supervision of those terrorist offenders; creating criminal offenses related to terrorism.

TX HB4968

Relating to the establishment of a terrorist offender registry and to the supervision of those terrorist offenders; creating criminal offenses related to terrorism.

TX HB2870

Relating to the use of automated traffic control systems by certain municipalities.

TX HB2399

Relating to the use of automated traffic control systems.

TX HB4642

Relating to offenses involving the manufacture or delivery of certain controlled substances and the enforcement and prevention of those offenses; creating a criminal offense.

TX SB4

Relating to prohibitions on the illegal entry into or illegal presence in this state by a person who is an alien, the enforcement of those prohibitions and certain related orders, including immunity from liability and indemnification for enforcement actions, and authorizing or requiring under certain circumstances the removal of persons who violate those prohibitions; creating criminal offenses.

TX HB4879

Relating to incident-based reporting of information and statistics concerning offenses committed in this state and the establishment of the Texas crime information system by the Department of Public Safety.

TX HB4543

Relating to an exception to the titling requirement for certain motor vehicles; creating a criminal offense.

TX HB4424

Relating to an exception to the titling requirement for certain motor vehicles; creating a criminal offense.

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.