HB 4688 Texas House · 89th Legislature (2025)

Relating to civil liability of a commercial motor vehicle owner or operator.

HB 4688 modifies Texas law for civil liability cases involving commercial motor vehicle accidents. It restricts when evidence of regulatory violations (like safety rules) can be used in court, requiring such evidence to directly link the violation to the injury and show the rule specifically applied to the situation. The bill also limits claims against employers for driver negligence unless the employer first admits the driver was acting within their job duties at the time of the accident. These changes apply only to cases filed or tried after the bill becomes law.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Apr 2025
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Apr 3, 2025 Last action May 12, 2025
Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
13
Key actions
5
Committee
6
May 12, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report sent to Calendars
lower
May 12, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report distributed
lower
Apr 16, 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
Apr 3, 2025
Committee
Referred to Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence
lower
Apr 3, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
lower
2 primary · 59 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Janie Lopez
Janie Lopez
RRepublican
TX
37
P
Photo of Jeff Leach
Jeff Leach
RRepublican
TX
67
Co
Photo of Alan Schoolcraft
Alan Schoolcraft
RRepublican
TX
44
Co
Photo of Angelia Orr
Angelia Orr
RRepublican
TX
13
Co
Photo of Angie Button
Angie Button
RRepublican
TX
112
Co
Photo of Ben Bumgarner
Ben Bumgarner
RRepublican
TX
63
Co
Photo of Briscoe Cain
Briscoe Cain
RRepublican
TX
128
Co
Photo of Brooks Landgraf
Brooks Landgraf
RRepublican
TX
81
Co
Photo of Candy Noble
Candy Noble
RRepublican
TX
89
Co
Photo of Carl Tepper
Carl Tepper
RRepublican
TX
84
Co
Photo of Caroline Fairly
Caroline Fairly
RRepublican
TX
87
Co
Photo of Caroline Harris Davila
Caroline Harris Davila
RRepublican
TX
52