SB 2230 Texas Senate · 89th Legislature (2025)

Relating to the evacuation of unauthorized persons from a hazard area in connection with space flight activities; creating a criminal offense.

SB 2230 requires Texas municipalities and county commissioners courts to mandate evacuations of unauthorized people from hazard zones calculated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) during space flight activities. Violating these evacuation orders would be a Class B misdemeanor (Class A for repeat offenses). The bill’s effective date depends on another related bill (S.B. 2188) also passing into law. It creates a legal mechanism to enforce safety zones around space launch sites without specifying new safety protocols or altering FAA regulations.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Mar 2025
Committee Review
May 2025
Senate Passage
Apr 2025
House Passage
Governor
Introduced Mar 11, 2025 Last action May 14, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced Engrossed · 4 edits · Apr 3, 2025
MODERATE
The bill was significantly rewritten from its original version, changing the subject matter from beach closures for space flight activities to evacuation orders for unauthorized persons from hazard areas during space flight activities. The bill now creates criminal offenses for violating evacuation orders issued by municipalities or commissioners courts, with penalties ranging from Class B to Class A misdemeanors depending on prior convictions.
Scope change
The bill's scope shifted from regulating beach closures to establishing evacuation authority and penalties for unauthorized presence in hazard areas during space flight activities.
SCOPE

Changed from beach closure regulations to evacuation order enforcement for space flight hazard areas

REQUIREMENT

Added requirements for municipalities and commissioners courts to issue evacuation orders based on FAA calculations

ENFORCEMENT

Created new criminal offenses for violating evacuation orders with misdemeanor penalties

TIMELINE

Added conditional effectiveness clause requiring S.B. 2188 or similar legislation to be enacted first

Floor votes · Senate Apr 3, 2025

How they voted

246
Passed
Total votes 30
Apr 3, 2025
D Democratic10
4 Yea 6 Nay
60% Nay
R Republican20
20 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
29
Key actions
10
Committee
11
May 14, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report sent to Calendars
lower
May 14, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report distributed
lower
May 10, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
lower
May 10, 2025
Lower · Passed
Recalled from subcommittee
lower
Apr 17, 2025
Committee
Referred to s/c on County & Regional Government by Speaker
lower
Apr 17, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
lower
Apr 7, 2025
Introduced
Received from the Senate
lower
Apr 3, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed
upper
Mar 31, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee report printed and distributed
upper
Mar 31, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported favorably as substituted
upper
Mar 26, 2025
Upper · Passed
Vote taken in committee
upper
Mar 19, 2025
Upper · Passed
Left pending in committee
upper
Mar 19, 2025
Upper · Passed
Testimony taken in committee
upper
Mar 13, 2025
Committee
Referred to Natural Resources
upper
Mar 13, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
upper
6 primary · 4 co-sponsors

Sponsors