Monitoring the Session

SB 1555

TxDOT grant program for railroad grade separation projects

Became law

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review
Sen. Robert NicholsRSenate 3

Initial review · graded Oct 22, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade

Caption

relating to a grant program to fund certain railroad grade separation projects.

Caption from analyzed text · version H.

Summary

pays to split railroads from local roads and pedestrian crossings.

The bill orders the Texas Department of Transportation to set up a grant program that pays for local projects that separate railroads from roads and pedestrian crossings off the state highway system. Cities, counties and other local governments can apply, must put up at least 10 percent of the cost from non-state money, and must let the department manage contracting and construction. The program runs only on money the legislature appropriates plus gifts and federal grants, not the state highway fund, and rules are due by October 1, 2025.

Labels

Labels: INSTANT LAW. Took effect immediately, on May 24, 2025. 833 of the 1,185 graded 89R laws took effect Sep 1, 2025 (derived from the bill histories, snapshot Oct 19, 2026).ACROSS THE AISLE. Joint authors: 1 Republican, 1 Democrat. Party as the Legislative Reference Library lists it for the 89th Legislature.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-SB1555 · 2025-02-21

SOLD BY

Sen. Robert NicholsRSenate 3 Sen. Carol AlvaradoDSenate 6

+ 8 coauthors

ITEM

relating to a grant program to fund certain railroad grade separation projects.

WHAT IT DOES

pays to split railroads from local roads and pedestrian crossings.

The bill orders the Texas Department of Transportation to set up a grant program that pays for local projects that separate railroads from roads and pedestrian crossings off the state highway system. Cities, counties and other local governments can apply, must put up at least 10 percent of the cost from non-state money, and must let the department manage contracting and construction. The program runs only on money the legislature appropriates plus gifts and federal grants, not the state highway fund, and rules are due by October 1, 2025.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version S · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version S · March 14, 2025

The fiscal impact to the state cannot be determined because the amount and timing of legislative appropriations and amounts of gifts and grants that would be received by the Department of Transportation to fund rail-roadway grade separation project grant awards is unknown. The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

HISTORY

  1. Received by the Secretary of the Senate
  2. Filed
  3. Co-author authorized
  4. Read first time
  5. Referred to Transportation
  6. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  7. Considered in public hearing
  8. Testimony taken in committee
  9. Vote taken in committee
  10. Reported favorably as substituted
  11. Committee report printed and distributed
  12. Co-author authorized
  13. Placed on intent calendar
  14. Not again placed on intent calendar
  15. Placed on intent calendar
  16. Co-author authorized
  17. Rules suspended-Regular order of business
  18. Read 2nd time & passed to engrossment
  19. Vote recorded in Journal
  20. Three day rule suspended
  21. Record vote
  22. Read 3rd time
  23. Passed
  24. Record vote
  25. Reported engrossed
  26. Received from the Senate
  27. Read first time
  28. Referred to s/c on Transportation Funding by Speaker
  29. Recalled from subcommittee
  30. Considered in formal meeting
  31. Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
  32. Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
  33. Committee report distributed
  34. Committee report sent to Calendars
  35. Laid out in lieu of companion HB 3727
  36. Read 2nd time
  37. Passed to 3rd reading
  38. Record vote RV#1960
  39. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  40. Read 3rd time
  41. Passed
  42. Record vote RV#2073
  43. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  44. House passage reported
  45. Reported enrolled
  46. Signed in the Senate
  47. Signed in the House
  48. Sent to the Governor
  49. Signed by the Governor
  50. Effective immediately
FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

SIGNED FOR BY

House · 101 yea · 16 nay

Senate · 31 yea · 0 nay

Sources

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

Senate: Final passage · Mar 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

Robert Nichols

Donors

James I Perkins$25,000Advanced Drainage Systems Inc. PAC$10KTexas REALTORS Political Action Committee$10K

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 2, 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.

James I Perkins$25,000.00
Advanced Drainage Systems Inc. PAC$10,000.00

Advanced Drainage Systems Inc. PAC

$10,000.00

Cash
$10,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$10,000.00

Also funds 2 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Dec 5, 2024 to Oct 22, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.

Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Dec 5, 2024. 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: 100965387.

Texas REALTORS Political Action Committee$10,000.00

Texas REALTORS Political Action Committee

$10,000.00

Cash
$10,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$10,000.00

Also funds 140 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 2, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Dec 5, 2024. 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: 100965387.

Money

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

×

Advanced Drainage Systems Inc. PAC

$10,000.00

Cash
$10,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$10,000.00

Also funds 2 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Dec 5, 2024 to Oct 22, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.

Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Dec 5, 2024. 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: 100965387.

×

Texas REALTORS Political Action Committee

$10,000.00

Cash
$10,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$10,000.00

Also funds 140 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 2, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Dec 5, 2024. 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: 100965387.

Votes5

House May 10, 2025

Yea
101
Nay
16
Present, not voting
2
Absent
5
Excused
26
Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 2073

SB 1555 was passed by (Record 2073): 101 Yeas, 16 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.

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

  • Yea: 101 (published)
  • Nay: 16 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 2 (published)
  • Absent: 5 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 26 (derived from named list)

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

House May 9, 2025

Yea
114
Nay
23
Present, not voting
2
Absent
5
Excused
6
Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 1960

SB 1555 was passed to third reading by (Record 1960): 114 Yeas, 23 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.

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

  • Yea: 114 (published)
  • Nay: 23 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 2 (published)
  • Absent: 5 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 6 (derived from named list)

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

Senate Mar 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 Nichols moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that CSSB 1555 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 Mar 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 Nichols moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that CSSB 1555 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 Mar 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

The bill was read second time and was passed to engrossment 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.

Witnesses38
For
37
Against
0
On
1
Names

For

  • AAA Texas1 registration
  • AGC of Texas1 registration
  • American Council of Engineering Companies of Texas1 registration
  • American Planning Association (APATX) + Transportation Advocacy Group (TAG) Houston1 registration
  • BNSF Railway1 registration
  • Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen1 registration
  • City of Fort Worth1 registration
  • City of Houston1 registration
  • City of San Antonio1 registration
  • Conference of Urban Counties1 registration
  • County Judges & Commissioners Association of Texas1 registration
  • CPKC Canadian Pacific Kansas City RR1 registration
  • Dallas Regional Mobility Coalition1 registration
  • Denton County Transportation Authority1 registration
  • Farm & City1 registration
  • Gulf Coast Rail District1 registration
  • Harris County Commissioners Court1 registration
  • Houston Police Department1 registration
  • Johnson County1 registration
  • Metro (Houston)1 registration
  • NFIB1 registration
  • North Texas Commission1 registration
  • San Antonio Mobility Coalition (SAMC)1 registration
  • Self; Houston Police Officers Union (HPOU)1 registration
  • Sheriffs' Association of Texas1 registration
  • TAG Houston1 registration
  • Taylor County1 registration
  • Texas AFL-CIO1 registration
  • Texas Association of Business1 registration
  • Texas Association of School Administrations1 registration
  • Texas Municipal League1 registration
  • Texas Police Chiefs Association1 registration
  • Texas Rail Advocates1 registration
  • Texas Railroad Association1 registration
  • Transportation Advocates of Texas (TAoT)1 registration
  • Travis County Commissioners Court1 registration
  • Vision Zero Texas1 registration

On

  • Texas Department of Transportation1 registration
Sources

38 parsed registrations across the loaded witness lists.

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

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

Fiscal

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version S · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version S · March 14, 2025

The fiscal impact to the state cannot be determined because the amount and timing of legislative appropriations and amounts of gifts and grants that would be received by the Department of Transportation to fund rail-roadway grade separation project grant awards is unknown. The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

How this was graded

Analysis of text version H by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 22, 2026, against the published rubric.

Sources

Texas Senate · Filed Feb 21, 2025

05/24/2025 E Effective immediately

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

Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 6:51 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

Coauthors
Sarah EckhardtDSenate 14 Brent HagenbuchRSenate 30 Nathan JohnsonDSenate 16 Lois KolkhorstRSenate 18 José MenéndezDSenate 26 Borris MilesDSenate 13 Royce WestDSenate 23 Judith ZaffiriniDSenate 21
Sponsors
Jared PattersonRHouse 106 Ana HernandezDHouse 143 Mary Ann PerezDHouse 144 Caroline Harris DavilaRHouse 52 Trey Martinez FischerDHouse 116
Cosponsors
Nicole CollierDHouse 95 Christina MoralesDHouse 145

House committee · Transportation · Committee vote 12 aye, 0 nay, 1 absent · Out of committee

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

Companion

HB 3727 by Patterson (identical)

Subjects

Political Subdivisions

State Finances--Appropriations

State Finances--Management & Control

Transportation--Railroads

TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION, TEXAS

TRANSPORTATION, TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF

Text

The text as introduced · 417 words

89R13159 MZM-F

By: Nichols, Alvarado
S.B. No. 1555

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to a grant program to fund certain railroad grade

separation projects.

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

SECTION 1. Chapter 471, Transportation Code, is amended by

adding Section 471.010 to read as follows:

Sec. 471.010. GRANT PROGRAM FOR CERTAIN RAILROAD GRADE

SEPARATION PROJECTS. (a) For the purpose of increasing public

safety, enhancing economic development, and reducing traffic, the

department shall establish and administer a program to award grants

to political subdivisions of this state or railroad companies to

fund:

(1) rail-roadway grade separation projects that are

located at intersections of railroads and roadways that are not

part of the state highway system; and

(2) rail-pedestrian grade separation projects that

are located at intersections of railroads and pedestrian crossings.

(b) A political subdivision or railroad company may use

money awarded by the department under this section as matching

funds to secure additional funding for a grade separation project

described by Subsection (a).

(c) Each grant awarded under this section must be approved

by the commission. The commission may not approve a grant under

this section unless the commission determines that:

(1) at least 10 percent of the total project costs will

be provided by a source other than the state; or

(2) if the grant money is being used as matching funds

under Subsection (b), at least 10 percent of the amount used as

matching funds will be provided by a source other than the state.

(d) The department may fund the grant program under this

section only from money appropriated by the legislature for that

purpose and from gifts and grants, including grants from the

federal government. The department may solicit and accept gifts

and grants from any source for the purposes of this section. Money

deposited to the credit of the state highway fund may not be used to

fund a grant awarded under this section.

(e) The commission shall adopt rules as necessary to

implement this section.

SECTION 2. Not later than October 1, 2025, the Texas

Transportation Commission shall adopt the rules required by Section

471.010, Transportation Code, as added by this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives

a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as

provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this

Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this

Act takes effect September 1, 2025.