BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	S.B. 305
	By: Perry
	Transportation
	6/5/2025
	Enrolled

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Texas law requires drivers to slow down 20 miles per hour less than the posted speed limit or move over an entire lane if a driver is approaching certain vehicles that are parked on the side of the highway. Currently, this law applies to emergency vehicles, tow trucks, TxDOT trucks, utility vehicles, municipal waste trucks, and toll operator vehicles.

Tragically, on October 13, 2022, two City of Levelland Animal Control Officers were parked on the side of US Highway 385 when they were struck by another vehicle. Crystal Goforth, 38, died at the scene and Jon Corder, 41, was transported to the hospital and died of his injuries several days later.

This legislation adds animal control officers and parking enforcement employees to the slow down or move over law. Adding these types of vehicles to this statute will help ensure that drivers stay clear of both animal control officers and parking enforcement employees when they are working on the side of our roadways.

S.B. 305 amends current law relating to the criminal offense of passing certain vehicles on a highway.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 545.157(a), Transportation Code, as follows:

(a) Provides that Section 545.157 (Passing Certain Vehicles) applies only to the following vehicles:

(1)-(4) makes no changes to these subdivisions;

(5)-(6) makes nonsubstantive changes to these subdivisions;

(7) a vehicle operated by an animal control officer, as defined by Section 829.001 (Definitions), Health and Safety Code, for the purpose of removing an animal or animal carcass from a roadway, or an individual authorized to dispose of a carcass of an animal under Section 361.117 (Disposal of Carcasses of Animals Killed on Roadways), Health and Safety Code, for the purpose of removing an animal carcass from a roadway, and using visual signals that comply with the standards and specifications adopted under Section 547.105 (Lighting Standards for Certain Vehicles); and

(8) a vehicle operated by an employee of a local authority for the purpose of issuing a parking citation and using visual signals that comply with the standards and specifications adopted under Section 547.105.

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2025.