SB 1799
Middleton Bill Limits Emissions Checks To Title Changes
Died in committee
Verdict: Smells
Why it's charged
Delayed start
THE TEXT
…“described by this subsection, Section 2 of this Act has no effect.”
Bill text, introduced version (I)
The elimination half of the caption only takes effect if Congress repeals or rewrites the Clean Air Act, and otherwise never takes effect. The revision half still starts September 1, 2025, so the bill does something real now.
Delayed startInitial 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 revision or elimination of the motor vehicle emissions inspection and maintenance program.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Summary
Needs EPA approval. Full elimination waits on Congress repealing or changing the Clean Air Act.
The bill orders the state environmental agency to cut the vehicle emissions inspection program down to the bare minimum federal law requires, with inspections only when a vehicle title changes hands, and to seek federal approval for that plan. It touches drivers in areas that now need emissions inspections, the state environmental agency, the Department of Public Safety and counties that help run the program. The trimmed program starts only if the federal EPA approves it, and full elimination of inspections happens only if Congress repeals or changes the federal Clean Air Act.
Labels
Labels: NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Mar 3, 2025 and referred to the Senate Natural Resources committee. No public hearing. The bill died.
Receipt
The receipt
89R-SB1799 · 2025-03-03
SOLD BY
ITEM
relating to revision or elimination of the motor vehicle emissions inspection and maintenance program.
WHAT IT DOES
Needs EPA approval. Full elimination waits on Congress repealing or changing the Clean Air Act.
The bill orders the state environmental agency to cut the vehicle emissions inspection program down to the bare minimum federal law requires, with inspections only when a vehicle title changes hands, and to seek federal approval for that plan. It touches drivers in areas that now need emissions inspections, the state environmental agency, the Department of Public Safety and counties that help run the program. The trimmed program starts only if the federal EPA approves it, and full elimination of inspections happens only if Congress repeals or changes the federal Clean Air Act.
CHARGES
[x] DELAYED STARTanalysis confidence 50%
THE TEXT
…“described by this subsection, Section 2 of this Act has no effect.”
Bill text, introduced version (I)
The elimination half of the caption only takes effect if Congress repeals or rewrites the Clean Air Act, and otherwise never takes effect. The revision half still starts September 1, 2025, so the bill does something real now.
TOTAL
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
HISTORY
- Received by the Secretary of the Senate
- Filed
- Read first time
- Referred to Natural Resources
FILED UNDER
No verified beat found.
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 6, 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.
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$1,140,000.00
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC
$1,140,000.00
- Cash
- $1,140,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $1,140,000.00
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 · Dec 12, 2024 to Oct 21, 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: 101009502, 101012383, 101061137, 101072395, 101072779.
Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC
$1,140,000.00
- Cash
- $1,140,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $1,140,000.00
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 · Dec 12, 2024 to Oct 21, 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: 101009502, 101012383, 101061137, 101072395, 101072779.
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 Mar 3, 2025
03/13/2025 S Referred to Natural Resources
Texas Legislature Online · Introduced
Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:20 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.
Senate committee · Natural Resources · Final status: Died in committee
Subjects
Vehicles & Traffic--Rules of Road
VEHICLE EMISSIONS
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY, TEXAS COMMISSION ON
PUBLIC SAFETY, DEPARTMENT OF
Text
The text as introduced · 417 words
By: Middleton S.B. No. 1799 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to revision or elimination of the motor vehicle emissions inspection and maintenance program. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter G, Chapter 382, Health and Safety Code, is amended by adding Section 382.2015 to read as follows: Sec. 382.2015. REVIEW OF PROGRAM. (a) The commission shall: (1) identify the minimum program required by the federal Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. Section 7401 et seq.) for the motor vehicle emissions inspection and maintenance program; and (2) develop a state implementation plan revision and necessary rules to revise the motor vehicle emissions inspection and maintenance program to include only the minimum program. (b) The commission shall submit the state implementation plan revision and any rules to the United States Environmental Protection Agency for approval. (c) A state implementation plan submitted to the United States Environmental Protection Agency under this Section shall require a motor vehicle emissions inspection only at the transfer of a vehicle title. (d) If the United States Environmental Protection Agency approves the plan, the commission shall: (1) implement the revised program; and (2) submit to the legislature a list of recommended statutory changes to facilitate implementing the minimum program, if any. (e) Notwithstanding another provision of this chapter or Chapter 548, Transportation Code, the commission and the Department of Public Safety may implement a program developed and approved under this section, and counties may participate in implementing the program. SECTION 2. Subchapter G, Chapter 382, Health and Safety Code, is amended by adding Section 382.2025 to read as follows: Sec. 382.2025. ELIMINATION OF PROGRAM. Notwithstanding any other law, the commission and the Department of Public Safety may not implement or enforce any other provision of this subchapter or a requirement under Chapter 548, Transportation Code, related to emissions inspections. SECTION 3. (a) Except as otherwise provided by this section, this Act takes effect September 1, 2025. (b) Section 2 of this Act takes effect on the 30th day after the date the United States Congress enacts legislation that becomes law that repeals the federal Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. Section 7401 et seq.) or amends it in a way that the motor vehicle emissions inspection and maintenance program established under Subchapter G, Chapter 382, Health and Safety Code, is no longer required. If the United States Congress does not enact legislation that becomes law described by this subsection, Section 2 of this Act has no effect.