HB 1557: bill giving free toll road use to veteran plates

Caption

relating to waiver programs for certain veterans provided by toll project entities.

Summary

Optional discount becomes a required free ride.

The bill requires every toll project entity in Texas to run a discount program for electronic toll customers, where today it is optional. That program must give free toll road use to customers whose vehicles carry the veteran license plates listed in the bill, removing the option to offer only a discount. Starting September 1, 2025, those veterans ride free on toll projects, with entities allowed to cap them at two transponders plus one more for hardship.

Labels

Labels: ZOMBIE BILL. Died 2 times: 88R HB 910 (Died in committee) and this bill (Died in committee). Checked against 88R only.BACK FROM THE DEAD. Same text as a bill filed before that died: 88R HB 910 (Died in committee). Filed in 2 sessions, counting this one. Checked against 88R only.TRY NO. 2. Filed in 2 sessions: 88R and 89R. Checked against 88R only.ACROSS THE AISLE. Joint authors: 1 Republican, 2 Democrats. Party as the Legislative Reference Library lists it for the 89th Legislature.GOT HALFWAY. Passed the House on May 10, 2025. Died in the Senate: never got out of the Transportation committee.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB1557 · 2024-12-10

SOLD BY

Rep. Joe MoodyDHouse 78

Rep. Trey WhartonRHouse 12

Rep. Mihaela PlesaDHouse 70

ITEM

relating to waiver programs for certain veterans provided by toll project entities.

WHAT IT DOES

Optional discount becomes a required free ride.

The bill requires every toll project entity in Texas to run a discount program for electronic toll customers, where today it is optional. That program must give free toll road use to customers whose vehicles carry the veteran license plates listed in the bill, removing the option to offer only a discount. Starting September 1, 2025, those veterans ride free on toll projects, with entities allowed to cap them at two transponders plus one more for hardship.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version I · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version I · April 4, 2025

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

HISTORY

Dec 10, 2024Filed
Mar 12, 2025Read first time
Mar 12, 2025Referred to s/c on Defense & Veterans' Affairs by Speaker
Apr 7, 2025Scheduled for public hearing in s/c on . . .
Apr 7, 2025Considered by s/c in public hearing
Apr 7, 2025Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in subcommittee
Apr 7, 2025Left pending in subcommittee
Apr 24, 2025Recalled from subcommittee
Apr 24, 2025Considered in formal meeting
Apr 24, 2025Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
May 5, 2025Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
May 5, 2025Committee report distributed
May 5, 2025Committee report sent to Calendars
May 6, 2025Considered in Calendars
May 8, 2025Placed on General State Calendar
May 9, 2025Read 2nd time
May 9, 2025Amended 1-Moody
May 9, 2025Passed to engrossment as amended
May 9, 2025Record vote RV#1932
May 9, 2025Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
May 10, 2025Read 3rd time
May 10, 2025Passed
May 10, 2025Record vote RV#2014
May 10, 2025Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
May 10, 2025Reported engrossed
May 12, 2025Received from the House
May 12, 2025Read first time
May 12, 2025Referred to Transportation

FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

SIGNED FOR BY

House · 101 yea · 26 nay

Sources

House: Final passage · May 10, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

All floor motions and other positions below.

No flags

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Joe Moody

Donors

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$85K Texans for Truth and Liberty PAC$25K Texas Sands PAC$14K

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 · Jul 9, 2024 to Jun 29, 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.

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$85,000.00

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$85,000.00

Cash: $85,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $85,000.00

Also funds 137 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 24, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Oct 8, 2024 to Jun 17, 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: 100979067, 101003930, 101054759.

Texans for Truth and Liberty PAC$25,000.00

Texans for Truth and Liberty PAC

$25,000.00

Cash: $25,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $25,000.00

Also funds 44 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jun 24, 2025 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Jun 24, 2025. 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: 101003930.

Texas Sands PAC$14,000.00

Texas Sands PAC

$14,000.00

Cash: $14,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $14,000.00

Also funds 121 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 3, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Oct 1, 2024 to May 18, 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: 100979067, 101024872, 101054759.

Money

Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.

×

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$85,000.00

Cash: $85,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $85,000.00

Also funds 137 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 24, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Oct 8, 2024 to Jun 17, 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: 100979067, 101003930, 101054759.

×

Texans for Truth and Liberty PAC

$25,000.00

Cash: $25,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $25,000.00

Also funds 44 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jun 24, 2025 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Jun 24, 2025. 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: 101003930.

×

Texas Sands PAC

$14,000.00

Cash: $14,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $14,000.00

Also funds 121 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 3, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Oct 1, 2024 to May 18, 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: 100979067, 101024872, 101054759.

Votes2

House May 10, 2025

Yea: 101
Nay: 26
Present, not voting: 1
Absent: 8
Excused: 14

Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 2014

HB 1557 was passed by (Record 2014): 101 Yeas, 26 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

Yea: 101 (published)
Nay: 26 (published)
Present, not voting: 1 (published)
Absent: 8 (derived from named list)
Excused: 14 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

House May 9, 2025

Yea: 113
Nay: 14
Present, not voting: 2
Absent: 11
Excused: 10

Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 1932

HB 1557, as amended, was passed to engrossment by (Record 1932): 113 Yeas, 14 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

Yea: 113 (published)
Nay: 14 (published)
Present, not voting: 2 (published)
Absent: 11 (derived from named list)
Excused: 10 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Witnesses9

For: 8
Against: 0
On: 1

Names

For

El Paso County1 registration
Self3 registrations
Self; Self1 registration
Self; Texas Coalition of Veterans Organizations1 registration
Self; VFW Dept of Texas1 registration
The American Legion, Dept of Texas1 registration

On

TxDOT1 registration

Sources

9 parsed registrations across the loaded witness lists.

Derived stock of witness registrations. Repeated appearances count separately. Organizations and self-representation appear as printed.

House witness list. Source snapshot 2026-10-20, Central time.

Fiscal

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version I · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version I · April 4, 2025

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

How this was graded

Analysis of text version I by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 20, 2026, against the published rubric.

FILED BEFORE

Filed 2 times: 88R and 89R. Checked against 88R only.

88R HB 910

by Rep. Moody, same lead author · Died in committee · same text

Introduced text

Last action, Mar 2, 2023: Referred to Defense & Veterans' Affairs

Relating to waiver programs for certain veterans provided by toll project entities.

Caption, 88R bill history

Sources

Texas House · Filed Dec 10, 2024

05/12/2025 S Referred to Transportation

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced · House Committee Report · Engrossed

Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:20 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

House committee · Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' Affairs · Committee vote 7 aye, 1 nay, 3 absent · Out of committee

Senate committee · Transportation · Final status: Died in committee

Subjects

Highways

Military & Veterans

TOLL ROADS & TOLL BRIDGES

Text

The text as introduced · 196 words

89R4724 GP-D

By: Moody
H.B. No. 1557

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to waiver programs for certain veterans provided by toll

project entities.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Sections 372.053(a), (a-1), and (a-2),

Transportation Code, are amended to read as follows:

(a) A toll project entity shall [ may ] establish a discount

program for electronic toll collection customers.

(a-1) A program established under Subsection (a) must

include free [ or discounted ] use of the entity's toll project by an

electronic toll collection customer whose account relates to a

vehicle registered under Section 504.202 or 504.315(f) or (g).

(a-2) A toll project entity may limit to no more than two the

number of transponders issued to a participant in the entity's

waiver program for which free [ or discounted ] use of the entity's

toll project is provided under Subsection (a-1). A toll project

entity that adopts a limit under this subsection shall allow a

participant to be issued one extra transponder on a demonstration

of hardship by the participant, as determined by the entity.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.

Verdict: No flags

The receipt

SOLD BY

ITEM

WHAT IT DOES

CHARGES

TOTAL

HISTORY

SIGNED FOR BY

Donors

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

Texans for Truth and Liberty PAC

Texas Sands PAC

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

Texans for Truth and Liberty PAC

Texas Sands PAC

House May 10, 2025

House May 9, 2025

For

On

88R HB 910