HB 1490
Swanson Bill’s ‘Criminal Offense’ Is One Texas Already Has
Died in committee
Verdict: Smells
Why it's charged
Already a crime
THE TEXT
…“with knowledge that the ignition or steering system of the boat,”…
Bill text, introduced version (I)
The new tier still requires operating the vehicle without the owner's consent, which the bill's own bracketed text shows is already an offense under Section 31.07. So the bill raises the penalty for conduct already covered rather than creating a new prohibition, despite a caption that says it creates an offense.
Already a crimeInitial review · graded Oct 20, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade
Caption
relating to creating a criminal offense for certain conduct involving the unauthorized use of a vehicle
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Summary
Altered ignition? Unauthorized use goes from state jail felony to third-degree felony.
The bill splits the existing Texas offense of driving someone else's boat, airplane, or vehicle without the owner's consent into two tiers. The basic version stays a state jail felony, but doing it while knowing the ignition or steering system was altered, damaged, or tampered with becomes a third-degree felony. People charged with unauthorized vehicle use where the ignition was tampered with would face a higher penalty for conduct committed on or after September 1, 2025.
Labels
Labels: CREATES AN OFFENSE. The caption of the graded version (introduced) reads: “relating to creating a criminal offense for certain conduct involving the unauthorized use of a vehicle”NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Dec 2, 2024 and referred to the House Criminal Jurisprudence committee. No public hearing. The bill died.
Receipt
The receipt
89R-HB1490 · 2024-12-02
SOLD BY
+ 11 coauthors
ITEM
relating to creating a criminal offense for certain conduct involving the unauthorized use of a vehicle
WHAT IT DOES
Altered ignition? Unauthorized use goes from state jail felony to third-degree felony.
The bill splits the existing Texas offense of driving someone else's boat, airplane, or vehicle without the owner's consent into two tiers. The basic version stays a state jail felony, but doing it while knowing the ignition or steering system was altered, damaged, or tampered with becomes a third-degree felony. People charged with unauthorized vehicle use where the ignition was tampered with would face a higher penalty for conduct committed on or after September 1, 2025.
CHARGES
[x] ALREADY A CRIMEanalysis confidence 50%
THE TEXT
…“with knowledge that the ignition or steering system of the boat,”…
Bill text, introduced version (I)
The new tier still requires operating the vehicle without the owner's consent, which the bill's own bracketed text shows is already an offense under Section 31.07. So the bill raises the penalty for conduct already covered rather than creating a new prohibition, despite a caption that says it creates an offense.
TOTAL
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
HISTORY
- Filed
- Read first time
- Referred to Criminal Jurisprudence
- Referred directly to subcommittee by chair
FILED UNDER
No verified beat found.
THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
Donors
Not tied to this bill.
Sources
The author's campaign account only. Own money and internal transfers are separate on the member page.
Derived itemized flow · Oct 27, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$314,216.50
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC
$314,216.50
- Cash
- $35,000.00
- Paid by others
- $279,216.50
- Total
- $314,216.50
Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Jun 27, 2025 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Report IDs: 101029008, 101031437, 101068777, 101071636.
Texas Conservative Majority PAC$116,200.00
Texas Conservative Majority PAC
$116,200.00
- Cash
- $25,000.00
- Paid by others
- $91,200.00
- Total
- $116,200.00
Also funds 42 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jan 23, 2026 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Sep 18, 2026 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Report IDs: 101068777, 101071636.
Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC
$314,216.50
- Cash
- $35,000.00
- Paid by others
- $279,216.50
- Total
- $314,216.50
Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Jun 27, 2025 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Report IDs: 101029008, 101031437, 101068777, 101071636.
Texas Conservative Majority PAC
$116,200.00
- Cash
- $25,000.00
- Paid by others
- $91,200.00
- Total
- $116,200.00
Also funds 42 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jan 23, 2026 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Sep 18, 2026 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Report IDs: 101068777, 101071636.
Votes
No floor vote loaded for this bill.
Fiscal
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
How this was graded
Analysis of text version I by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 20, 2026, against the published rubric.
Sources
Texas House · Filed Dec 2, 2024
03/25/2025 H Referred directly to subcommittee by chair
Texas Legislature Online · Introduced
Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:19 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.
House committee · Criminal Jurisprudence · Final status: Died in committee
Subjects
Crimes--Miscellaneous
Text
The text as introduced · 252 words
By: Swanson H.B. No. 1490 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to creating a criminal offense for certain conduct involving the unauthorized use of a vehicle BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 31.07, Penal Code, is amended by amending subsection (a) and (b) to read as follows: (a) A person commits an offense if he intentionally or knowingly operates another's boat, airplane, or motor-propelled vehicle : [ without the effective consent of the owner. ] (1) without the effective consent of the owner; or (2) without the effective consent of the owner and with knowledge that the ignition or steering system of the boat, airplane, or motor-propelled vehicle had been altered, damaged, or tampered with. (b) An offense under [ this section is a state jail felony ] section (a)(1) is a state jail felony. An offense under section (a)(2) is a felony of the third degree. SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act. An offense committed before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the offense was committed, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. For purposes of this section, an offense was committed before the effective date of this Act if any element of the offense occurred before that date. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.