Monitoring the SessionHB 597
Died in committee
Initial review · graded Oct 20, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade
relating to the issuance of an excess gross weight permit for certain farm tractors on county, farm-to-market, and ranch-to-market roads; authorizing a fee.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Over the normal maximum gross weight, on county and farm-to-market roads.
The bill orders the state to issue a yearly permit that lets a registered farm tractor, with its farm attachments, run on county, farm-to-market and ranch-to-market roads at up to 10 percent over its normal maximum gross weight. Farmers pay $90 a year, name each county where they will drive, and must carry the permit in the tractor, but the permit does not cover posted weight-limited bridges. The fee is split among the named counties' road and bridge funds, and counties may not stack their own extra permit, fee or license on these tractors unless other law allows it.
Labels: ZOMBIE BILL. Died 2 times: 88R HB 5225 (Died in committee) and this bill (Died in committee). Checked against 88R only.DO-OVER. Reworked text of a bill filed before that died: 88R HB 5225 (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.FEE INCLUDED. The caption of the graded version (introduced) reads: “relating to the issuance of an excess gross weight permit for certain farm tractors on county, farm-to-market, and ranch-to-market roads; authorizing a fee.”NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Nov 12, 2024 and referred to the House Agriculture & Livestock committee. No public hearing. The bill died.
89R-HB597 · 2024-11-12
relating to the issuance of an excess gross weight permit for certain farm tractors on county, farm-to-market, and ranch-to-market roads; authorizing a fee.
Over the normal maximum gross weight, on county and farm-to-market roads.
The bill orders the state to issue a yearly permit that lets a registered farm tractor, with its farm attachments, run on county, farm-to-market and ranch-to-market roads at up to 10 percent over its normal maximum gross weight. Farmers pay $90 a year, name each county where they will drive, and must carry the permit in the tractor, but the permit does not cover posted weight-limited bridges. The fee is split among the named counties' road and bridge funds, and counties may not stack their own extra permit, fee or license on these tractors unless other law allows it.
[ ] NONE FOUND
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
NEW FEE, FUND, BOARD OR APPOINTEES · analysis confidence 40%
The bill creates a new $90 yearly fee. The caption openly says it is authorizing a fee, and the money goes to existing county road funds, so this is a disclosed and minor instance.
No verified beat found.
THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
Not tied to this bill.
The author's campaign account only. Own money and internal transfers are separate on the member page.
Derived itemized flow · Jul 1, 2024 to Oct 24, 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.
$160,007.97
Also funds 3 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Nov 5, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
Derived itemized flow · Dec 30, 2025 to Oct 24, 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: 101033369, 101062168, 101070155, 101073001.
$120,875.00
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.
TeamDerived itemized flow · Dec 14, 2024 to Sep 25, 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: 100989191, 101033369, 101062168, 101073001.
$22,795.90
Also funds 20 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Nov 4, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamDerived itemized flow · Dec 15, 2025 to Sep 10, 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: 101033369, 101070155.
Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
$160,007.97
Also funds 3 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Nov 5, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
Derived itemized flow · Dec 30, 2025 to Oct 24, 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: 101033369, 101062168, 101070155, 101073001.
$120,875.00
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.
TeamDerived itemized flow · Dec 14, 2024 to Sep 25, 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: 100989191, 101033369, 101062168, 101073001.
$22,795.90
Also funds 20 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Nov 4, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamDerived itemized flow · Dec 15, 2025 to Sep 10, 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: 101033369, 101070155.
No floor vote loaded for this bill.
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
Analysis of text version I by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 20, 2026, against the published rubric.
Filed 2 times: 88R and 89R. Checked against 88R only.
by Rep. Guillen, same lead author · Died in committee · reworked
Introduced textLast action, May 11, 2023: Referred to Transportation
Relating to the issuance of an excess gross weight permit for certain farm tractors on county and FM roads; authorizing a fee.
Caption, 88R bill history
Texas House · Filed Nov 12, 2024
03/03/2025 H Referred to Agriculture & Livestock: Mar 3 2025 2:24PM
Texas Legislature Online · Introduced
Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:20 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.
House committee · Agriculture & Livestock · Final status: Died in committee
Agriculture
Fees & Other Nontax Revenue--Local
Vehicles & Traffic--Rules of Road
PERMITS
VEHICLE WEIGHT LIMITS & ENFORCEMENT
MOTOR VEHICLES, TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF
The text as introduced · 430 words
89R44 JRR-F By: Guillen H.B. No. 597 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the issuance of an excess gross weight permit for certain farm tractors on county, farm-to-market, and ranch-to-market roads; authorizing a fee. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 623, Transportation Code, is amended by adding Section 623.0173 to read as follows: Sec. 623.0173. EXCESS GROSS WEIGHT PERMIT FOR CERTAIN FARM TRACTORS. (a) In this section: (1) "Accessory" means any additional attachment being pulled or carried by a farm tractor that contributes to the farm tractor's gross weight. (2) "Farm tractor" has the meaning assigned by Section 541.201. (b) The department shall issue an annual permit that authorizes the operation of a farm tractor, including any accessories that are used for agricultural production, on county, farm-to-market, and ranch-to-market roads at a gross weight that is not heavier than the weight equal to the maximum allowable gross weight for the tractor plus a tolerance allowance of 10 percent. (c) To qualify for a permit under this section: (1) the farm tractor must be registered as a farm vehicle under Chapter 502; and (2) the applicant must: (A) designate in the permit application each county in which the farm tractor will be operated; and (B) pay an annual permit fee of $90. (d) A permit issued under this section must be carried in the farm tractor for which it is issued. (e) A permit issued under this section does not authorize the operation of a farm tractor on a bridge for which a maximum weight and load limit has been established and posted by the Texas Department of Transportation under Section 621.102 or the commissioners court of a county under Section 621.301, if the gross weight of the farm tractor and load or the axles and wheel loads are greater than the limits established and posted under those sections. (f) Unless otherwise provided by state or federal law, a county may not require a permit, fee, or license for the operation of a farm tractor in addition to a permit, fee, or license required by state law. (g) The fee collected for a permit under this section shall be divided equally among and distributed to the counties designated in the permit application for deposit to the credit of the county road and bridge fund of those counties. (h) The department may adopt rules necessary to administer this section, including rules governing the application for a permit under this section. SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.