SB 2949 Texas Senate · 89th Legislature (2025)

Relating to the regulation of certain facilities and operators engaged in the motor fuel transport or export business; requiring an occupational license; authorizing a fee; creating criminal offenses; authorizing a civil penalty.

SB 2949 would require businesses transporting motor fuel across state lines to maintain detailed shipping records showing destination states, terminal locations, and operator details. It mandates that transporters carry these documents during transit and present them to officials upon request. The bill also restricts changing delivery destinations without prior approval from the state tax agency and destination states, with violations subject to criminal charges or civil fines. This applies directly to motor fuel transport companies, barge/vessel operators, and fuel depots handling interstate shipments. The proposal aims to improve tracking of fuel exports to prevent tax evasion and ensure compliance with state 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 14, 2025 Last action May 24, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced Engrossed · 6 edits · Apr 22, 2025
MODERATE
This bill updates Texas motor fuel tax regulations to modernize export definitions, strengthen enforcement against tax evasion, and clarify hazardous materials transport requirements. The changes align the law with current transportation practices and close loopholes that could allow untaxed fuel to remain in the state under false export claims.
Scope change
The bill expands the scope of prohibited conduct to explicitly include transporting hazardous materials without proper licensing and clarifies that export exemptions do not authorize in-state diversion, storage, or resale of fuel.
DEFINITION

Updated the definition of 'export' to clarify that fuel delivered to another state or territory within the United States counts as export without altering load content by volume or composition.

REQUIREMENT

Added new requirements for motor fuel transporters to ensure employees and independent contractors hold proper hazardous materials licenses and endorsements.

Added requirements for applicants to list states where they intend to transport fuel and provide license numbers from those states.

ENFORCEMENT

Created new civil penalties of up to $25,000 per occurrence for transporters who fail to verify their employees' hazardous materials credentials.

Added new criminal offenses for transporting fuel without proper documentation and for purchasing fuel with intent to evade taxes.

ELIGIBILITY

Modified tax exemptions for diesel fuel to include additional categories such as renewable diesel, biodiesel, and water mixtures.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
35
Key actions
12
Committee
11
Amendments
3
May 24, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report sent to Calendars
lower
May 24, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report distributed
lower
May 20, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported favorably as substituted
lower
May 12, 2025
Lower · Passed
Left pending in committee
lower
May 12, 2025
Lower · Passed
Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
lower
Apr 29, 2025
Committee
Referred to Energy Resources
lower
Apr 29, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
lower
Apr 23, 2025
Introduced
Received from the Senate
lower
Apr 22, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed
upper
Apr 22, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed to engrossment as amended
upper
Apr 22, 2025
Upper · Passed
Amended
upper
Apr 22, 2025
Introduced
Amendment(s) offered
upper
Apr 14, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee report printed and distributed
upper
Apr 14, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported favorably as substituted
upper
Apr 10, 2025
Upper · Passed
Vote taken in committee
upper
Apr 10, 2025
Upper · Passed
Testimony taken in committee
upper
Mar 27, 2025
Committee
Referred to Border Security
upper
Mar 27, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
upper
7 primary · 5 co-sponsors

Sponsors