HB 4176 Texas House · 89th Legislature (2025)

Relating to the investigation of certain motor vehicle collisions by former peace officers.

HB 4176 allows certain non-peace officer employees of law enforcement agencies (who complete approved training) to investigate minor motor vehicle collisions under specific conditions. It applies to collisions with no injuries/death, property damage under $5,000, and no offenses beyond minor fines. These employees must file a written summary report electronically within 10 days, similar to officers handling more serious incidents. The bill updates Texas Transportation Code sections to clarify this expanded authority and reporting requirement, effective September 1, 2025. It directly affects law enforcement agencies' non-sworn staff conducting preliminary collision investigations.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Mar 2025
Committee Review
May 2025
House Passage
May 2025
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Mar 31, 2025 Last action May 13, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced Engrossed · 5 edits · May 10, 2025
MODERATE
This bill updates the Texas Transportation Code to modernize language regarding motor vehicle collision investigations, replacing references to 'peace officer' with 'peace officer or designee' to include former peace officers. It also updates the threshold for property damage from $5,000 to $1,000 in certain contexts and clarifies reporting requirements for former peace officers designated by law enforcement agencies.
Scope change
The bill expands eligibility to include former peace officers who are designated by law enforcement agencies, allowing them to investigate collisions and file reports under the same conditions as current peace officers.
ELIGIBILITY

Changed eligibility criteria to include former peace officers designated by law enforcement agencies who have completed approved training programs.

REQUIREMENT

Updated Section 550.041 to replace 'peace officer' with 'peace officer or designee' and modified Section 550.062 to include former peace officers in reporting requirements.

Amended Section 550.068 to recognize former peace officers as authorized to prepare and modify collision reports.

TECHNICAL

Updated property damage threshold references from $5,000 to $1,000 in certain contexts within the bill text.

TIMELINE

Maintained the effective date of September 1, 2025 for the act's provisions.

Floor votes · House May 9, 2025

How they voted

1390
Passed · 7 other
Total votes 146
May 9, 2025
D Democratic60
57 Yea 3
95% Yea
R Republican86
82 Yea 4
95% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
26
Key actions
7
Committee
7
May 13, 2025
Committee
Referred to Criminal Justice
upper
May 13, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
upper
May 12, 2025
Introduced
Received from the House
upper
May 10, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed
lower
May 9, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed to engrossment
lower
Apr 28, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report sent to Calendars
lower
Apr 25, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report distributed
lower
Apr 15, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported favorably as substituted
lower
Apr 9, 2025
Lower · Passed
Left pending in committee
lower
Apr 9, 2025
Lower · Passed
Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
lower
Mar 31, 2025
Committee
Referred to Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' Affairs
lower
Mar 31, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
lower
5 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors