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
24–6
Passed
Total votes 30
Apr 3, 2025
D
Democratic10
60% Nay
R
Republican20
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
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