Monitoring the Session

SB 2238

cities and counties can’t ban ways of getting around

Died in committee

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review
Sen. Paul BettencourtRSenate 7

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 authority of a county or municipality to prohibit or restrict the use of a certain mode of transportation on a roadway.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

Unless state law already bans it. No fines either.

The bill bars Texas counties and cities from banning any mode of transportation on a road unless state law already bans it there. It also bars counties and cities from fining anyone for using a mode of transportation on a road. Local governments lose the power to ban things like certain vehicles or devices on their roads starting September 1, 2025.

Labels

Labels: PENDING FOREVER. Heard by the Senate Local Government committee on Mar 31, 2025 and left pending. Never voted out. The bill died.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-SB2238 · 2025-03-11

SOLD BY

Sen. Paul BettencourtRSenate 7

ITEM

relating to the authority of a county or municipality to prohibit or restrict the use of a certain mode of transportation on a roadway.

WHAT IT DOES

Unless state law already bans it. No fines either.

The bill bars Texas counties and cities from banning any mode of transportation on a road unless state law already bans it there. It also bars counties and cities from fining anyone for using a mode of transportation on a road. Local governments lose the power to ban things like certain vehicles or devices on their roads starting September 1, 2025.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version I · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version I · March 30, 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

  1. Received by the Secretary of the Senate
  2. Filed
  3. Read first time
  4. Referred to Local Government
  5. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  6. Considered in public hearing
  7. Testimony taken in committee
  8. 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

Paul Bettencourt

Donors

Donors report through Friends of Paul Bettencourt.

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 27, 2024 to Jun 30, 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.

Money

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

Votes

No floor vote loaded for this bill.

Fiscal

No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version I · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version I · March 30, 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.

Sources

Texas Senate · Filed Mar 11, 2025

03/31/2025 S 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.

Senate committee · Local Government · Final status: Died in committee

Companion

HB 4316 by Bell, Cecil (identical)

Subjects

City Government--Roads

County Government--Roads

Political Subdivisions

Vehicles & Traffic--Rules of Road

Text

The text as introduced · 222 words

89R8372 MZM-D

By: Bettencourt
S.B. No. 2238

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the authority of a county or municipality to prohibit or

restrict the use of a certain mode of transportation on a roadway.

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

SECTION 1. Subchapter E, Chapter 251, Transportation Code,

is amended by adding Section 251.162 to read as follows:

Sec. 251.162. PROHIBITION OR RESTRICTION OF CERTAIN MODES

OF TRANSPORTATION PROHIBITED. The commissioners court of a county

may not:

(1) prohibit the use of a certain mode of

transportation on a roadway that is not otherwise prohibited on

that roadway under or as required by state law; or

(2) impose a fine for the use of a certain mode of

transportation on a roadway.

SECTION 2. Subchapter Z, Chapter 311, Transportation Code,

is amended by adding Section 311.905 to read as follows:

Sec. 311.905. PROHIBITION OR RESTRICTION OF CERTAIN MODES

OF TRANSPORTATION PROHIBITED. The governing body of a municipality

may not:

(1) prohibit the use of a certain mode of

transportation on a roadway that is not otherwise prohibited on

that roadway under or as required by state law; or

(2) impose a fine for the use of a certain mode of

transportation on a roadway.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.