Monitoring the Session

HB 647

vision surgery? the corrective-lens restriction comes off

Became law, effective Sep 1, 2025

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review
Rep. Jared PattersonRHouse 106

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

Caption

relating to the removal of certain restrictions imposed on driver's licenses; authorizing a fee.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

Send the department a doctor’s statement and the fee. Mail or electronic.

The bill makes the Department of Public Safety remove the corrective-lens restriction from a driver's license when the holder sends in a doctor's written statement that surgery fixed their vision, along with the required fee. It affects drivers who have had vision surgery, and it requires the department to accept the paperwork electronically or by mail. Starting September 1, 2025, those drivers can get a new license without the glasses restriction mailed to them, but not if their record shows they must register under Chapter 62 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

Labels

Labels: FEE INCLUDED. The caption of the graded version (introduced) reads: “relating to the removal of certain restrictions imposed on driver's licenses; authorizing a fee.”

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB647 · 2024-11-12

SOLD BY

Rep. Jared PattersonRHouse 106 Rep. Janis HoltRHouse 18 Rep. Terri Leo WilsonRHouse 23

+ 1 coauthor

ITEM

relating to the removal of certain restrictions imposed on driver's licenses; authorizing a fee.

WHAT IT DOES

Send the department a doctor’s statement and the fee. Mail or electronic.

The bill makes the Department of Public Safety remove the corrective-lens restriction from a driver's license when the holder sends in a doctor's written statement that surgery fixed their vision, along with the required fee. It affects drivers who have had vision surgery, and it requires the department to accept the paperwork electronically or by mail. Starting September 1, 2025, those drivers can get a new license without the glasses restriction mailed to them, but not if their record shows they must register under Chapter 62 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

Net to General Revenue · FY 2026($1,635,000)

LBB estimate, flow · fiscal note version F · ( ) = negative · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version F · May 26, 2025

Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB647, As Passed 2nd House: a negative impact of ($1,716,750) through the biennium ending August 31, 2027. The Department of Public Safety is required to implement a provision of the bill only if the legislature appropriates money specifically for that purpose. If the legislature does not appropriate money specifically for that purpose, the Department of Public Safety may, but is not required to, implement a provision of the bill using other appropriations available for that purpose. The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.

First year · FY 2026 · ($1,635,000)

Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

HISTORY

  1. Filed
  2. Read first time
  3. Referred to Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' Affairs
  4. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  5. Considered in public hearing
  6. Committee substitute considered in committee
  7. Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
  8. Left pending in committee
  9. Considered in public hearing
  10. Committee substitute considered in committee
  11. Reported favorably as substituted
  12. Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
  13. Committee report distributed
  14. Committee report sent to Calendars
  15. Considered in Calendars
  16. Placed on General State Calendar
  17. Read 2nd time
  18. Passed to engrossment
  19. Record vote RV#103
  20. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  21. Read 3rd time
  22. Passed
  23. Record vote RV#110
  24. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  25. Reported engrossed
  26. Received from the House
  27. Read first time
  28. Referred to Transportation
  29. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  30. Considered in public hearing
  31. Vote taken in committee
  32. Reported favorably w/o amendments
  33. Committee report printed and distributed
  34. Placed on intent calendar
  35. Co-sponsor authorized
  36. Co-sponsor authorized
  37. Rules suspended-Regular order of business
  38. Read 2nd time
  39. Amendment(s) offered FA1 Hagenbuch
  40. Amended
  41. Vote recorded in Journal
  42. Passed to 3rd reading as amended
  43. Vote recorded in Journal
  44. Three day rule suspended
  45. Record vote
  46. Read 3rd time
  47. Passed
  48. Record vote
  49. Senate passage as amended reported
  50. Senate Amendments distributed
  51. Senate Amendments Analysis distributed
  52. House concurs in Senate amendment(s)
  53. Record vote RV#3985
  54. Text of Senate Amendment(s)
  55. House concurs in Senate amendment(s)-reported
  56. Reported enrolled
  57. Signed in the House
  58. Signed in the Senate
  59. Sent to the Governor
  60. Signed by the Governor
  61. Effective on 9/1/25
FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

SIGNED FOR BY

House · 145 yea · 1 nay

Senate · 31 yea · 0 nay

Sources

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

Senate: Final passage · May 25, 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

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Jared Patterson

Donors

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$133KTexas Sands PAC$85KTexas Conservative Majority PAC$58K

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 28, 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$132,750.00

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$132,750.00

Cash
$100,000.00
Paid by others
$32,750.00
Total
$132,750.00
polling $32,750.00

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.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jun 25, 2025 to Oct 7, 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: 100996442, 101018590, 101035748, 101067950, 101072483.

Texas Sands PAC$84,800.00

Texas Sands PAC

$84,800.00

Cash
$68,000.00
Paid by others
$16,800.00
Total
$84,800.00
polling $16,800.00

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 · Dec 4, 2024 to Oct 15, 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: 100976997, 101018590, 101035748, 101072483.

Texas Conservative Majority PAC$57,950.00

Texas Conservative Majority PAC

$57,950.00

Cash
$0.00
Paid by others
$57,950.00
Total
$57,950.00
canvassing $35,000.00polling $22,950.00

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.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Feb 12, 2026 to Sep 22, 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: 101035748, 101067950.

Money

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

×

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$132,750.00

Cash
$100,000.00
Paid by others
$32,750.00
Total
$132,750.00
polling $32,750.00

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.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jun 25, 2025 to Oct 7, 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: 100996442, 101018590, 101035748, 101067950, 101072483.

×

Texas Sands PAC

$84,800.00

Cash
$68,000.00
Paid by others
$16,800.00
Total
$84,800.00
polling $16,800.00

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 · Dec 4, 2024 to Oct 15, 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: 100976997, 101018590, 101035748, 101072483.

×

Texas Conservative Majority PAC

$57,950.00

Cash
$0.00
Paid by others
$57,950.00
Total
$57,950.00
canvassing $35,000.00polling $22,950.00

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.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Feb 12, 2026 to Sep 22, 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: 101035748, 101067950.

Votes6

House May 28, 2025

Yea
115
Nay
23
Present, not voting
1
Absent
1
Excused
10
Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 3985

Representative Patterson moved to concur in the senate amendments to HB 647. The motion to concur in the senate amendments to HB 647 prevailed by (Record 3985): 115 Yeas, 23 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

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

  • Yea: 115 (published)
  • Nay: 23 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 1 (published)
  • Absent: 1 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 10 (derived from named list)

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

Senate May 25, 2025

Yea
31
Nay
0
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

Senate journal

Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.

Sources

Senator Hagenbuch moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that HB 647 be placed on its third reading and final passage. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.

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

  • Yea: 31 (published)
  • Nay: 0 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

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

Senate May 25, 2025

Yea
31
Nay
0
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

Senate journal

Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.

Sources

Senator Hagenbuch moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that HB 647 be placed on its third reading and final passage. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.

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

  • Yea: 31 (published)
  • Nay: 0 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

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

Senate May 25, 2025

Yea
Not printed
Nay
Not printed
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

Senate journal

Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.

Voice vote. No numeric tally or individual yeas are inferred.

Sources

HB 647 as amended was passed to third reading by a viva voce vote.

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.

House Apr 10, 2025

Yea
145
Nay
1
Present, not voting
1
Absent
2
Excused
1
Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 110

HB 647 was passed by (Record 110): 145 Yeas, 1 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

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

  • Yea: 145 (published)
  • Nay: 1 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 1 (published)
  • Absent: 2 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 1 (derived from named list)

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

House Apr 9, 2025

Yea
146
Nay
1
Present, not voting
1
Absent
1
Excused
1
Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 103

CSHB 647 was passed to engrossment by (Record 103): 146 Yeas, 1 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

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

  • Yea: 146 (published)
  • Nay: 1 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 1 (published)
  • Absent: 1 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 1 (derived from named list)

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

Witnesses12
For
9
Against
2
On
1
Names

For

  • Harris County Deputies’ Organization FOP #391 registration
  • Houston Police Officers Union (HPOU)1 registration
  • Self1 registration
  • Self; Houston Police Officers’ Union1 registration
  • Self; Lead Through Fire1 registration
  • Self; Texas Optometric Association2 registrations
  • Texas Municipal Police Association (TMPA)1 registration
  • Texas Ophthalmological Assn1 registration

Against

  • Self2 registrations

On

  • TXDPS1 registration
Sources

12 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.

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

Fiscal
Net to General Revenue · FY 2026($1,635,000)

LBB estimate, flow · fiscal note version F · ( ) = negative · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version F · May 26, 2025

Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB647, As Passed 2nd House: a negative impact of ($1,716,750) through the biennium ending August 31, 2027. The Department of Public Safety is required to implement a provision of the bill only if the legislature appropriates money specifically for that purpose. If the legislature does not appropriate money specifically for that purpose, the Department of Public Safety may, but is not required to, implement a provision of the bill using other appropriations available for that purpose. The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.

First year · FY 2026 · ($1,635,000)

Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds

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.

Sources

Texas House · Filed Nov 12, 2024

06/20/2025 E Effective on 9/1/25

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced · House Committee Report · Engrossed · Senate Committee Report · Enrolled

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

Coauthors
Lulu FloresDHouse 51
Sponsors
Brent HagenbuchRSenate 30
Cosponsors
César BlancoDSenate 29 Royce WestDSenate 23

House committee · Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' Affairs · Committee vote 10 aye, 0 nay, 1 absent · Out of committee

Senate committee · Transportation · Committee vote 9 aye, 0 nay · Out of committee

Subjects

Health Care Providers

Vehicles & Traffic--Driver's Licenses

EYECARE & VISION

PUBLIC SAFETY, DEPARTMENT OF

Text

The text as introduced · 203 words

89R1479 MZM-D

By: Patterson
H.B. No. 647

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the removal of certain restrictions imposed on driver's

licenses; authorizing a fee.

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

SECTION 1. Section 521.221, Transportation Code, is amended

by adding Subsection (e) to read as follows:

(e) The department:

(1) shall remove a restriction that requires the

license holder to wear corrective lenses for vision and mail to the

license holder a new driver's license that does not include the

restriction if the license holder submits to the department:

(A) a written statement from a licensed physician

verifying that the license holder's vision has been surgically

corrected and the license holder no longer requires corrective

lenses for vision; and

(B) the required fee;

(2) shall establish a process by which a person may

submit to the department electronically or by mail the form and fee

described by Subdivision (1); and

(3) may not mail a new driver's license under this

subsection to a person whose driver's license record indicates that

the person is subject to the registration requirements of Chapter

62, Code of Criminal Procedure.

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