88R HB 805
by Rep. Toth, same lead author · Died in committee · same text
Introduced textLast action, May 3, 2023: Left pending in committee
Relating to the use of a high occupancy vehicle lane to pass certain vehicles.
Caption, 88R bill history
HB 971
bill letting any driver use HOV lanes to pass
Died in committee
Verdict: No flags
No flagsInitial review
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 use of a high occupancy vehicle lane to pass certain vehicles.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Summary
Passengers optional, if the other car is under the speed limit.
The bill lets any driver, no matter how many people are in the car, use a high occupancy vehicle lane to pass a vehicle going slower than the posted speed limit. It touches every driver on Texas roads with HOV lanes and the agencies that run those lanes. On the ground, solo drivers could legally enter an HOV lane at designated entry points to get around a slow car and leave at designated exit points, starting September 1, 2025.
Labels
Labels: ZOMBIE BILL. Died 2 times: 88R HB 805 (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 805 (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.QUICK READ: 147 WORDS. The bill as filed runs 147 words, counting the existing law it amends and the text it strikes. The median 89R bill as filed runs 441 words (derived, 8,702 graded bills, snapshot Oct 19, 2026).PENDING FOREVER. Heard by the House Transportation committee on Apr 29, 2025 and left pending. Never voted out. The bill died.
Receipt
The receipt
89R-HB971 · 2024-11-12
SOLD BY
ITEM
relating to the use of a high occupancy vehicle lane to pass certain vehicles.
WHAT IT DOES
Passengers optional, if the other car is under the speed limit.
The bill lets any driver, no matter how many people are in the car, use a high occupancy vehicle lane to pass a vehicle going slower than the posted speed limit. It touches every driver on Texas roads with HOV lanes and the agencies that run those lanes. On the ground, solo drivers could legally enter an HOV lane at designated entry points to get around a slow car and leave at designated exit points, starting September 1, 2025.
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 28, 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
- Filed
- Read first time
- Referred to Transportation
- Posting rule suspended
- Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
- Considered in public hearing
- Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
- Left pending in committee
FILED UNDER
No verified beat found.
No flags
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 · Jul 1, 2024 to Mar 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.
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$32,500.00
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC
$32,500.00
- Cash
- $32,500.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $32,500.00
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.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Jul 10, 2024 to Jun 27, 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: 101005773, 101012329.
Michael Till$20,000.00
Don Dyer$10,000.00
MoneyMissing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC
$32,500.00
- Cash
- $32,500.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $32,500.00
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.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Jul 10, 2024 to Jun 27, 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: 101005773, 101012329.
Votes
No floor vote loaded for this bill.
Fiscal
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
LBB estimate · fiscal note version I · source
Sources
Fiscal note · version I · April 28, 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.
Sources
Texas House · Filed Nov 12, 2024
04/29/2025 H Left pending in committee
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 · Transportation · Final status: Died in committee
Subjects
Vehicles & Traffic--Rules of Road
Text
The text as introduced · 147 words
By: Toth H.B. No. 971 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the use of a high occupancy vehicle lane to pass certain vehicles. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter I, Chapter 545, Transportation Code, is amended by adding Section 545.429 to read as follows: Sec. 545.429. USE OF HIGH OCCUPANCY VEHICLE LANE TO PASS CERTAIN VEHICLES. Regardless of the number of occupants in a motor vehicle, an operator of a motor vehicle is entitled to use any high occupancy vehicle lane in this state for the sole purpose of passing another vehicle that is being operated at a speed that is less than the posted speed limit for the roadway if the operator enters and exits the high occupancy vehicle lane at designated entry and exit points. SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.