HB 3966 Texas House · 89th Legislature (2025)

Relating to requiring owners or operators of commercial passenger bus services to provide certain notifications to residents concerning operations.

This bill requires commercial bus service operators to notify residents living within one mile of a new bus stop, terminal, or installation at least 90 days before operations begin. The notice must be delivered by mail and include the location's address or description. It applies to all new facilities operated by commercial passenger bus services in Texas and takes effect on September 1, 2025. The law does not restrict bus operations but mandates advance community notification.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2025

Committee Review

May 2025

House Passage

May 2025

Senate Passage

Jun 2025

Signed into Law

Jun 2025

Introduced Mar 27, 2025 Signed Jun 20, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Engrossed → Enrolled · 6 edits · Jun 20, 2025

MODERATE

The bill was finalized in its enrolled version with significant changes to notification requirements for commercial passenger bus services. The notification method changed from mailing notices to residents to publishing notices in local newspapers. The definition of 'commercial passenger bus service' was expanded to include buses with at least 35 seats and now explicitly excludes public transit services. The notification requirement was narrowed from covering new bus stops, terminals, and other installations to only covering new terminals.

Scope change

The bill's scope was narrowed from requiring notifications for new bus stops, terminals, and other installations to only requiring notifications for new terminals. The definition of covered services was expanded to include buses with at least 35 seats.

REQUIREMENT

Changed notification method from mailing notices to residents to publishing notices in local newspapers of general circulation.

Added bilingual publication requirements for notices if the nearest school offers bilingual education programs.

Added emergency exception allowing operators to skip notification requirements for temporary terminals opened due to unforeseen emergencies like natural disasters.

DEFINITION

Added requirement that buses must have at least 35 seats to be covered under the definition of commercial passenger bus service.

Added explicit exclusion of public transit services provided by governmental entities from the definition of commercial passenger bus service.

SCOPE

Narrowed notification requirements from covering new bus stops, terminals, and other installations to only covering new terminals.

Floor votes · Senate May 26, 2025 · House May 15, 2025

How they voted

25–5

Passed

Total votes 30

May 26, 2025

D Democratic10

10 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican20

15 Yea 5 Nay

75% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Jun 20, 2025

Signed into law

Signed by the Governor

executive

Jun 1, 2025

Upper · Passed

Signed in the Senate

upper

May 31, 2025

Lower · Passed

Signed in the House

lower

May 29, 2025

Introduced

House concurs in Senate amendment(s)-reported

upper

May 29, 2025

Introduced

Text of Senate Amendment(s)

lower

May 29, 2025

Introduced

House concurs in Senate amendment(s)

lower

May 27, 2025

Introduced

Senate Amendments Analysis distributed

lower

May 27, 2025

Introduced

Senate Amendments distributed

lower

May 26, 2025

Lower · Passed

Senate passage as amended reported

lower

May 26, 2025

Upper · Passed

Passed

upper

May 26, 2025

Upper · Passed

Passed to 3rd reading as amended

upper

May 26, 2025

Upper · Passed

Amended

upper

May 26, 2025

Introduced

Amendment(s) offered

upper

May 21, 2025

Upper · Passed

Committee report printed and distributed

upper

May 21, 2025

Upper · Passed

Reported favorably w/o amendments

upper

May 21, 2025

Upper · Passed

Vote taken in committee

upper

May 21, 2025

Upper · Passed

Testimony taken in committee

upper

May 16, 2025

Committee

Referred to Transportation

upper

May 16, 2025

Introduced

Read first time

upper

May 15, 2025

Introduced

Received from the House

upper

May 15, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed

lower

May 14, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed to engrossment as amended

lower

May 14, 2025

Lower · Passed

Amended

lower

May 8, 2025

Lower · Passed

Committee report sent to Calendars

lower

May 8, 2025

Lower · Passed

Committee report distributed

lower

May 1, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)

lower

Apr 29, 2025

Lower · Passed

Left pending in committee

lower

Apr 29, 2025

Lower · Passed

Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee

lower

Mar 27, 2025

Committee

Referred to Transportation

lower

Mar 27, 2025

Introduced

Read first time

lower

3 primary · 1 co-sponsor