BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 3125

By: Gamez

Transportation

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

State law prohibits the use of a red, white, or blue beacon, flashing, or alternating light by a vehicle unless the equipment is used by authorized emergency vehicles. While many authorized emergency vehicles utilize flashing white lights, the law does not specifically authorize this use, despite almost universal acceptance of the legality of an emergency vehicle flashing a white light while in emergency response. H.B. 3125 seeks to permit the use of flashing white lights by authorized emergency vehicles.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 3125 amends the Transportation Code to establish that an authorized emergency vehicle may be equipped with signal lamps that display alternating or flashing white lights that are mounted as high and as widely spaced laterally as practicable and emit a light visible at a distance of 500 feet in normal sunlight.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2023.