Still liable for gross negligence, recklessness or intentional misconduct. Everything else, covered.
The bill says a property owner is not liable for any act or omission that happens during motorcycle safety instruction or instructor training held on their land. It touches landowners who host these courses and people who might want to sue them over something that happens during a class. Owners can still be sued for gross negligence, recklessness, or intentional misconduct, and the shield covers only claims that arise on or after September 1, 2025.
Labels
Labels: CROSS-PARTY HANDOFF. Lead author Ryan Guillen (R) in the House. Lead sponsor Judith Zaffirini (D) in the Senate. Party as the Legislative Reference Library lists it for the 89th Legislature.
relating to civil liability of property owners relating to
motorcycle instruction and training courses.
WHAT IT DOES
Still liable for gross negligence, recklessness or intentional misconduct. Everything else, covered.
The bill says a property owner is not liable for any act or omission that happens during motorcycle safety instruction or instructor training held on their land. It touches landowners who host these courses and people who might want to sue them over something that happens during a class. Owners can still be sued for gross negligence, recklessness, or intentional misconduct, and the shield covers only claims that arise on or after September 1, 2025.
CHARGES
[ ] NONE FOUND
TOTAL
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill gives property owners who host motorcycle training a shield from ordinary negligence lawsuits, while keeping them open to suits for gross negligence, recklessness, or intentional misconduct.
SIGNED FOR BY
House · 116 yea · 12 nay
Senate · 29 yea · 2 nay
Sources
House: Final passage · May 10, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.
Senate: Final passage · May 28, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.
Names were not printed for yea. Only the named positions are included in member records.
The journal row lists three votes in order: passage to third reading, suspension of the three-day rule, and final passage. This entry records final passage. Repeated tallies belong to separate votes.
Sources
HB 4904 (Zaffirini) Relating to civil liability of property owners relating to motorcycle instruction and training courses. (viva voce vote) (29-2) "Nays" Hancock, Hughes (29-2) "Nays" Hancock, Hughes
Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.
Yea: 29 (published)
Nay: 2 (published)
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: Not printed
Excused: Not printed
Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.
Names were not printed for yea. Only the named positions are included in member records.
The journal row lists three votes in order: passage to third reading, suspension of the three-day rule, and final passage. This entry records suspension of the three-day rule. Repeated tallies belong to separate votes.
Sources
HB 4904 (Zaffirini) Relating to civil liability of property owners relating to motorcycle instruction and training courses. (viva voce vote) (29-2) "Nays" Hancock, Hughes (29-2) "Nays" Hancock, Hughes
Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.
Yea: 29 (published)
Nay: 2 (published)
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: Not printed
Excused: Not printed
Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.
Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.
The journal row lists three votes in order: passage to third reading, suspension of the three-day rule, and final passage. This entry records passage to third reading. Repeated tallies belong to separate votes.
Voice vote. No numeric tally or individual yeas are inferred.
Sources
HB 4904 (Zaffirini) Relating to civil liability of property owners relating to motorcycle instruction and training courses. (viva voce vote) (29-2) "Nays" Hancock, Hughes (29-2) "Nays" Hancock, Hughes
Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.
Yea: Not printed
Nay: Not printed
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: Not printed
Excused: Not printed
Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.
The following bills which were considered on second reading on the previous legislative day on the local, consent, and resolutions calendar were laid before the house, read third time, and passed by the following record vote (members registering votes and the results of the vote are shown following the bill number). (Record 1985): 128 Yeas, 0 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.
Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.
Yea: 116 (published)
Nay: 12 (published)
Present, not voting: 2 (published)
Absent: 7 (derived from named list)
Excused: 12 (derived from named list)
House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.
House committee · Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence · Committee vote 9 aye, 0 nay, 2 absent · Out of committee
Senate committee · State Affairs · Committee vote 10 aye, 0 nay, 1 absent · Out of committee
Subjects
Civil Remedies & Liabilities
Education--Driver Education & Training
MOTORCYCLES
Text
The text as introduced · 157 words
By: Guillen
H.B. No. 4904
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to civil liability of property owners relating to
motorcycle training courses.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 662, Transportation Code, is amended by
adding Section 662.014 to read as follows:
Sec. 662.014. LIMITATION ON LIABILITY FOR PROPERTY OWNERS.
(a) An owner of property on which instruction on motorcycle
operation and safety by an instructor or an instructor training
course takes place is not liable for any act or omission that occurs
during the course.
(b) Subsection (a) does not apply to a cause of action
arising from an act or omission constituting gross negligence,
recklessness, or intentional misconduct.
SECTION 2. Section 662.014, Transportation Code, as added
by this Act, applies only to a cause of action that accrues on or
after the effective date of this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.
Monitoring 