SB 159

Transit Training Bill Applies Only To Authorities Created Before 1980

Died in committee

Verdict: Smells

SmellsInitial review

Sen. José MenéndezDSenate 26

Why it's charged

Bracket bill

THE TEXT

“This section applies only to an authority created before 1980 in which the principal municipality has a population of less than 1.9 million.”

Bill text, introduced version (I)

A creation-date cutoff combined with a population ceiling narrows a general-looking Transportation Code section to a very small number of transit authorities. The caption's word 'certain' signals some narrowness but does not say how tight the aim is.

Bracket bill

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 an education and training program for certain public transportation vehicle operators on interacting with and supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

Plus a main city under 1.9M people. The caption’s “certain” does heavy lifting.

The bill requires certain Texas transit authorities to set up a training program for their bus and transit vehicle drivers on how to identify, talk with, and help riders with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including autism, get on and off vehicles safely. It applies only to a transit authority created before 1980 whose main city has fewer than 1.9 million people, along with that authority's drivers and contractors. The program must exist by March 1, 2026, and starting September 1, 2026, no driver may operate a transit vehicle for that authority without completing it.

Labels

Labels: NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Nov 12, 2024 and referred to the Senate Transportation committee. No public hearing. The bill died.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-SB159 · 2024-11-12

SOLD BY

Sen. José MenéndezDSenate 26

ITEM

relating to an education and training program for certain public transportation vehicle operators on interacting with and supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

WHAT IT DOES

Plus a main city under 1.9M people. The caption’s “certain” does heavy lifting.

CHARGES

[x] BRACKET BILLanalysis confidence 50%

THE TEXT

“This section applies only to an authority created before 1980 in which the principal municipality has a population of less than 1.9 million.”

Bill text, introduced version (I)

TOTAL

No fiscal note in the loaded record.

HISTORY

Nov 12, 2024Received by the Secretary of the Senate
Nov 12, 2024Filed
Feb 3, 2025Read first time
Feb 3, 2025Referred to Transportation

FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

Smells

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

José Menéndez

Donors

Kickapoo Traditional Tribes of Texas$25K Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$20K Texas 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 Oct 5, 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.

Kickapoo Traditional Tribes of Texas$25,000.00

Kickapoo Traditional Tribes of Texas

$25,000.00

Cash: $25,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $25,000.00

Also funds 0 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · on Jan 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 Jan 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: 101065471.

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$20,000.00

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$20,000.00

Cash: $20,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $20,000.00

Also funds 137 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 24, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 12, 2024 to Oct 5, 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: 101012370, 101032316, 101072614.

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 2, 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: 101032316.

Money

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

Kickapoo Traditional Tribes of Texas

$25,000.00

Cash: $25,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $25,000.00

Also funds 0 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · on Jan 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 Jan 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: 101065471.

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$20,000.00

Cash: $20,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $20,000.00

Also funds 137 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 24, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 12, 2024 to Oct 5, 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: 101012370, 101032316, 101072614.

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 2, 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: 101032316.

Votes

No floor vote loaded for this bill.

Fiscal

No fiscal note in the loaded record.

How this was graded

Analysis of text version I by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 20, 2026, against the published rubric.

Sources

Texas Senate · Filed Nov 12, 2024

02/03/2025 S Referred to Transportation

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced

Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:19 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

Senate committee · Transportation · Final status: Died in committee

Subjects

Disabilities, Persons with

Mental Health & Substance Abuse

Transportation--Mass Transit

STAFF DEVELOPMENT & TRAINING

Text

The text as introduced · 313 words

89R2400 BEE-D

By: Menéndez
S.B. No. 159

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to an education and training program for certain public

transportation vehicle operators on interacting with and

supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental

disabilities.

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

SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 451, Transportation Code,

is amended by adding Section 451.114 to read as follows:

Sec. 451.114. REQUIRED EDUCATION AND TRAINING PROGRAM ON

INDIVIDUALS WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES:

CERTAIN AUTHORITIES. (a) This section applies only to an authority

created before 1980 in which the principal municipality has a

population of less than 1.9 million.

(b) An authority shall establish an education and training

program on interacting with and supporting individuals with

intellectual and developmental disabilities, including individuals

with autism spectrum disorder, for employees of the authority who

operate vehicles used to provide public transportation services for

the authority. The program must include instruction relating to:

(1) identifying and communicating with individuals

with intellectual or developmental disabilities, including

individuals with autism spectrum disorder; and

(2) assisting an individual with an intellectual or

developmental disability, including an individual with an autism

spectrum disorder, to safely enter and exit a vehicle used to

provide public transportation services.

(c) An authority, or a person with whom the authority

contracts, may not allow an employee to operate a vehicle used to

provide public transportation services for the authority unless the

employee has completed the training program established by the

authority under this section.

SECTION 2. Not later than March 1, 2026, a rapid transit

authority shall establish the training program required by Section

451.114, Transportation Code, as added by this Act.

SECTION 3. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b) of this

section, this Act takes effect September 1, 2025.

(b) Section 451.114(c), Transportation Code, as added by

this Act, takes effect September 1, 2026.