Monitoring the Session

SB 2366

bill creating a short line railroad grant program

Became law

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review
Sen. Bryan HughesRSenate 1

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 short line railroad projects.

Caption from analyzed text · version H.

Summary

Track, bridges, capacity and old lines restored.

The bill orders the Texas Department of Transportation to set up a grant program for short line railroad projects that replace track or bridges, add capacity, or restore old lines. Only rail districts that own or operate short line railroads can get the grants, and each grant needs Transportation Commission approval plus at least 10 percent of the money from a non-state source. The program can be paid for only with money the Legislature sets aside for it and with gifts and grants, not with state highway fund money, and the rules must be adopted by October 1, 2025.

Labels

Labels: INSTANT LAW. Took effect immediately, on Jun 20, 2025. 833 of the 1,185 graded 89R laws took effect Sep 1, 2025 (derived from the bill histories, snapshot Oct 19, 2026).

Receipt

The receipt

89R-SB2366 · 2025-03-12

SOLD BY

Sen. Bryan HughesRSenate 1 Sen. Angela PaxtonRSenate 8

+ 1 coauthor

ITEM

relating to a grant program to fund certain short line railroad projects.

WHAT IT DOES

Track, bridges, capacity and old lines restored.

The bill orders the Texas Department of Transportation to set up a grant program for short line railroad projects that replace track or bridges, add capacity, or restore old lines. Only rail districts that own or operate short line railroads can get the grants, and each grant needs Transportation Commission approval plus at least 10 percent of the money from a non-state source. The program can be paid for only with money the Legislature sets aside for it and with gifts and grants, not with state highway fund money, and the rules must be adopted by October 1, 2025.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version I · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version I · April 14, 2025

The fiscal impact to the state cannot be determined because the amount and timing of legislative appropriations to the Department of Transportation to provide financial assistance grants for rail facilities 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. Read first time
  4. Referred to Transportation
  5. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  6. Considered in public hearing
  7. Testimony taken in committee
  8. Vote taken in committee
  9. Reported favorably w/o amendments
  10. Committee report printed and distributed
  11. Placed on intent calendar
  12. Co-author authorized
  13. Rules suspended-Regular order of business
  14. Record vote
  15. Read 2nd time
  16. Amendment(s) offered FA1 Hughes
  17. Amended
  18. Vote recorded in Journal
  19. Passed to engrossment as amended
  20. Record vote
  21. Three day rule suspended
  22. Record vote
  23. Read 3rd time
  24. Passed
  25. Record vote
  26. Reported engrossed
  27. Received from the Senate
  28. Read first time
  29. Referred to s/c on Transportation Funding by Speaker
  30. Recalled from subcommittee
  31. Considered in formal meeting
  32. Recommended to be sent to Local & Consent
  33. Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
  34. Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
  35. Committee report distributed
  36. Comm. report sent to Local & Consent Calendar
  37. Considered in Local & Consent Calendars
  38. Placed on Local, Consent, and Res. Calendar
  39. Read 2nd time
  40. Passed to 3rd reading
  41. Nonrecord vote recorded in Journal
  42. Read 3rd time
  43. Passed
  44. Record vote RV#3832
  45. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  46. Nonrecord vote recorded in Journal
  47. House passage reported
  48. Reported enrolled
  49. Signed in the Senate
  50. Signed in the House
  51. Sent to the Governor
  52. Signed by the Governor
  53. Effective immediately
FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

SIGNED FOR BY

House · 112 yea · 29 nay

Senate · 25 yea · 6 nay

Sources

House: Final passage · May 28, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate: Final passage · Apr 30, 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

Bryan Hughes

Donors

GOPAC Election Fund$250KCRAFTPAC (Court Reform Action for Texas Families)$100KCourt Reform Action for Families Texas PAC$100K

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 Oct 23, 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.

GOPAC Election Fund$250,000.00

GOPAC Election Fund

$250,000.00

Cash
$250,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$250,000.00

Also funds 2 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 17, 2025 to Oct 15, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

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

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jul 17, 2025 to Oct 15, 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: 101028838, 101071548.

CRAFTPAC (Court Reform Action for Texas Families)$100,000.00

CRAFTPAC (Court Reform Action for Texas Families)

$100,000.00

Cash
$100,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$100,000.00

Also funds 0 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · on Sep 4, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

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

Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Sep 4, 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: 101067724.

Court Reform Action for Families Texas PAC$100,000.00

Court Reform Action for Families Texas PAC

$100,000.00

Cash
$100,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$100,000.00

Also funds 32 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Feb 20, 2026 to Oct 14, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Oct 13, 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: 101071548.

Money

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

×

GOPAC Election Fund

$250,000.00

Cash
$250,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$250,000.00

Also funds 2 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 17, 2025 to Oct 15, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

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

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jul 17, 2025 to Oct 15, 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: 101028838, 101071548.

×

CRAFTPAC (Court Reform Action for Texas Families)

$100,000.00

Cash
$100,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$100,000.00

Also funds 0 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · on Sep 4, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

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

Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Sep 4, 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: 101067724.

×

Court Reform Action for Families Texas PAC

$100,000.00

Cash
$100,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$100,000.00

Also funds 32 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Feb 20, 2026 to Oct 14, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Oct 13, 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: 101071548.

Votes5

House May 28, 2025

Yea
112
Nay
29
Present, not voting
2
Absent
1
Excused
5
Names

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

House journal

The shared roll contains conflicting member evidence. Those positions remain conflicting.

Cunningham is listed as absent in the shared roll and nay in this bill's list. That position remains conflicting.

Sources

Record 3832

SB 2366 (Bonnen, Bumgarner, Cain, Capriglione, Cook, Cunningham, Dean, DeAyala, Harless, Hull, Isaac, Leo Wilson, Lowe, Luther, McQueeney, Morgan, Olcott, Oliverson, Patterson, Richardson, Schatzline, Schoolcraft, Slawson, Spiller, Swanson, Toth, Troxclair, Vasut, Virdell, and Wilson - no) (112 - 29 - 2)

Shared roll motion

The following bills which were considered on second reading on the previous legislative day on the local, consent, and resolutions calendar were laid before the house, read third time, and passed by the following record vote (members registering votes and the results of the vote are shown following the bill number). (Record 3832): 141 Yeas, 0 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.

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

  • Yea: 112 (published)
  • Nay: 29 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 2 (published)
  • Absent: 1 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 5 (derived from named list)

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

Senate Apr 30, 2025

Yea
25
Nay
6
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
0
Excused
0
Names

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

Senate journal

Sources

The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 25, Nays 6. (Same as previous roll call)

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

  • Yea: 25 (published)
  • Nay: 6 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

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

Senate Apr 30, 2025

Yea
25
Nay
6
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
0
Excused
0
Names

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

Senate journal

Sources

Senator Hughes moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that SB 2366 be placed on its third reading and final passage. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 25, Nays 6.

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

  • Yea: 25 (published)
  • Nay: 6 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

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

Senate Apr 30, 2025

Yea
25
Nay
6
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
0
Excused
0
Names

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

Senate journal

Sources

SB 2366 as amended was passed to engrossment by the following vote: Yeas 25, Nays 6.

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

  • Yea: 25 (published)
  • Nay: 6 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

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

Senate Apr 30, 2025

Yea
25
Nay
6
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
0
Excused
0
Names

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

Senate journal

Sources

Senator Hughes moved to suspend the regular order of business to take up for consideration SB 2366 at this time on its second reading: SB 2366, Relating to a grant program to fund certain short line railroad projects. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 25, Nays 6.

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

  • Yea: 25 (published)
  • Nay: 6 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

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

Witnesses11
For
9
Against
0
On
2
Names

For

  • AGC of Texas1 registration
  • Blacklands Railroad1 registration
  • City of Houston1 registration
  • Farm & City1 registration
  • Rusk County Rural Rail District1 registration
  • Texas City Terminal Railway Company1 registration
  • Texas Farm Bureau1 registration
  • Texas Rail Advocates1 registration
  • Texas Shortline and Regional Railroad Association and TNWCorp.1 registration

On

  • Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen1 registration
  • Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT)1 registration
Sources

11 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 I · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version I · April 14, 2025

The fiscal impact to the state cannot be determined because the amount and timing of legislative appropriations to the Department of Transportation to provide financial assistance grants for rail facilities 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 Mar 12, 2025

06/20/2025 E Effective immediately

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

Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:20 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

Coauthors
Adam HinojosaRSenate 27
Sponsors
Cole HefnerRHouse 5

House committee · Transportation · Committee vote 10 aye, 0 nay, 3 absent · Out of committee

Senate committee · Transportation · Committee vote 8 aye, 0 nay, 1 absent · Out of committee

Subjects

Highways

State Finances--Appropriations

Transportation--Miscellaneous

Transportation--Railroads

TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION, TEXAS

TRANSPORTATION, TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF

Text

The text as introduced · 456 words

89R9263 MZM-F

By: Hughes, Paxton
S.B. No. 2366

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to a grant program to fund certain short line railroad

projects.

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

SECTION 1. Subchapter O, Chapter 201, Transportation Code,

is amended by adding Section 201.981 to read as follows:

Sec. 201.981. GRANT PROGRAM FOR CERTAIN SHORT LINE RAILROAD

PROJECTS. (a) In this section:

(1) "District" has the meaning assigned by Section

172.001.

(2) "Railroad company" includes the entities

described by Section 81.002.

(3) "Short line railroad" means a Class II or Class III

railroad as defined by the federal Surface Transportation Board.

(b) 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 districts or

railroad companies that own or operate short line railroads to fund

projects that:

(1) replace short line railroad tracks or bridges;

(2) improve short line rail capacity; or

(3) restore short line railways.

(c) A district or railroad company that owns or operates a

short line railroad may use money awarded by the department under

this section as matching funds to secure additional funding for a

short line railroad project described by Subsection (b).

(d) 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 (c), at least 10 percent of the amount used as

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

(e) 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.

(f) 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

201.981, 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.