Repeals all of Subchapter B, among other provisions.
The bill rewrites the rule for riding off-highway vehicles on state or local public land so it no longer carries a safety certificate requirement, and it repeals several other provisions of the off-highway vehicle chapter, including all of Subchapter B. It touches people who ride off-highway vehicles on public off-highway vehicle land or beaches, and the state offices that ran the repealed provisions. Starting September 1, 2025, riders still must stay on open public off-highway vehicle land or beaches and follow the chapter and Chapter 29 of the Parks and Wildlife Code, but the safety certificate requirement named in the old section heading is gone.
Labels
Labels: CROSS-PARTY HANDOFF. Lead author Judith Zaffirini (D) in the Senate. Lead sponsor Dade Phelan (R) in the House. Party as the Legislative Reference Library lists it for the 89th Legislature.GOT HALFWAY. Passed the Senate on Apr 24, 2025. Died in the House: voted out of the Licensing & Administrative Procedures committee 12-0, no floor vote.
relating to the operation of off-highway vehicles.
WHAT IT DOES
Repeals all of Subchapter B, among other provisions.
The bill rewrites the rule for riding off-highway vehicles on state or local public land so it no longer carries a safety certificate requirement, and it repeals several other provisions of the off-highway vehicle chapter, including all of Subchapter B. It touches people who ride off-highway vehicles on public off-highway vehicle land or beaches, and the state offices that ran the repealed provisions. Starting September 1, 2025, riders still must stay on open public off-highway vehicle land or beaches and follow the chapter and Chapter 29 of the Parks and Wildlife Code, but the safety certificate requirement named in the old section heading is gone.
CHARGES
[ ] NONE FOUND
TOTAL
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.
The journal row lists three votes in order: passage to engrossment, suspension of the three-day rule, and final passage. This entry records final passage. Repeated tallies belong to separate votes.
Sources
SB 2439 (Zaffirini) Relating to the operation of off-highway vehicles. (viva voce vote) (31-0) (31-0)
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.
Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.
The journal row lists three votes in order: passage to engrossment, suspension of the three-day rule, and final passage. This entry records suspension of the three-day rule. Repeated tallies belong to separate votes.
Sources
SB 2439 (Zaffirini) Relating to the operation of off-highway vehicles. (viva voce vote) (31-0) (31-0)
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.
Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.
The journal row lists three votes in order: passage to engrossment, suspension of the three-day rule, and final passage. This entry records passage to engrossment. Repeated tallies belong to separate votes.
Voice vote. No numeric tally or individual yeas are inferred.
Sources
SB 2439 (Zaffirini) Relating to the operation of off-highway vehicles. (viva voce vote) (31-0) (31-0)
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.
89R9827 GP-F
By: Zaffirini
S.B. No. 2439
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the operation of off-highway vehicles.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. The heading to Section 551A.031, Transportation
Code, is amended to read as follows:
Sec. 551A.031. OPERATION ON PUBLIC LAND OR BEACH [ ; SAFETY
CERTIFICATE REQUIRED ].
SECTION 2. Section 551A.031(a), Transportation Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(a) A person may not operate an off-highway vehicle on land
owned or leased by the state or a political subdivision of the state
that is not open to vehicular traffic unless:
(1) the land is public off-highway vehicle land or a
beach ; and
(2) the operation is in compliance with:
(A) this chapter; and
(B) Chapter 29, Parks and Wildlife Code.
SECTION 3. The following provisions of Chapter 551A,
Transportation Code, are repealed:
(1) Sections 551A.001(1-b) and (1-c);
(2) Section 551A.002(b);
(3) Subchapter B;
(4) Sections 551A.031(b) and (c);
(5) Section 551A.059; and
(6) Section 551A.071(d).
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.
Monitoring 