SB 2589: bill on how counties close county roads

Caption

relating to procedures for a commissioners court to close, abandon, or vacate certain county roads.

Summary

Changes what happens when a commissioners court closes a road.

Today, when a county closes a public road, the land automatically passes to the owners of the property next to it. This bill lets a commissioners court skip that handoff for a county road outside city limits that borders single-family lots in a subdivision inside city limits, if the court finds the handoff would create a public nuisance or safety hazard. In that case the county can instead ask the city to annex the road or keep it for non-motor-vehicle public uses like a hiking and biking trail or a linear park.

Labels

Labels: NO AUTOGRAPH. Became law without the governor's signature on Jun 20, 2025.CROSS-PARTY HANDOFF. Lead author Judith Zaffirini (D) in the Senate. Lead sponsor Don McLaughlin (R) in the House. Party as the Legislative Reference Library lists it for the 89th Legislature.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-SB2589 · 2025-03-13

SOLD BY

Sen. Judith ZaffiriniDSenate 21

ITEM

relating to procedures for a commissioners court to close, abandon, or vacate certain county roads.

WHAT IT DOES

Changes what happens when a commissioners court closes a road.

Today, when a county closes a public road, the land automatically passes to the owners of the property next to it. This bill lets a commissioners court skip that handoff for a county road outside city limits that borders single-family lots in a subdivision inside city limits, if the court finds the handoff would create a public nuisance or safety hazard. In that case the county can instead ask the city to annex the road or keep it for non-motor-vehicle public uses like a hiking and biking trail or a linear park.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version S · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version S · April 23, 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

Mar 13, 2025Received by the Secretary of the Senate
Mar 13, 2025Filed
Apr 3, 2025Read first time
Apr 3, 2025Referred to Transportation
Apr 23, 2025Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
Apr 23, 2025Considered in public hearing
Apr 23, 2025Testimony taken in committee
Apr 23, 2025Vote taken in committee
Apr 23, 2025Reported favorably as substituted
Apr 23, 2025Recommended for local & uncontested calendar
Apr 23, 2025Committee report printed and distributed
Apr 28, 2025Placed on intent calendar
May 1, 2025Placed on local & uncontested calendar
May 1, 2025Laid before the Senate
May 1, 2025Read 2nd time & passed to engrossment
May 1, 2025Vote recorded in Journal
May 1, 2025Three day rule suspended
May 1, 2025Record vote
May 1, 2025Read 3rd time
May 1, 2025Passed
May 1, 2025Record vote
May 1, 2025Reported engrossed
May 1, 2025Received from the Senate
May 2, 2025Read first time
May 2, 2025Referred to Transportation
May 19, 2025Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
May 19, 2025Considered in public hearing
May 19, 2025Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
May 19, 2025Left pending in committee
May 23, 2025Considered in formal meeting
May 23, 2025Recommended to be sent to Local & Consent
May 23, 2025Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
May 24, 2025Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
May 24, 2025Committee report distributed
May 25, 2025Comm. report sent to Local & Consent Calendar
May 27, 2025Considered in Local & Consent Calendars
May 28, 2025Placed on Local, Consent, and Res. Calendar
May 28, 2025Read 2nd time
May 28, 2025Passed to 3rd reading
May 28, 2025Nonrecord vote recorded in Journal
May 28, 2025Read 3rd time
May 28, 2025Passed
May 28, 2025Record vote RV#3832
May 28, 2025Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
May 28, 2025Nonrecord vote recorded in Journal
May 29, 2025House passage reported
May 29, 2025Reported enrolled
May 31, 2025Signed in the Senate
Jun 1, 2025Signed in the House
Jun 1, 2025Sent to the Governor
Jun 20, 2025Filed without the Governor's signature
Jun 20, 2025Effective on 9/1/25

FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

SIGNED FOR BY

House · 130 yea · 11 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 · May 1, 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

Judith Zaffirini

Donors

Carlos M. Zaffirini Jr$110,000Killam Development Ltd.$73K Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$60K

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.

Carlos M. Zaffirini Jr$110,000.00

Killam Development Ltd.$72,700.00

Killam Development Ltd.

$72,700.00

Cash: $10,000.00
Paid by others: $62,700.00
Total: $72,700.00

advertising $33,000.00media $29,700.00

Also funds 3 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Dec 9, 2024 to Sep 28, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

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

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 16, 2025 to Aug 20, 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: 101011018, 101057658.

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$60,000.00

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$60,000.00

Cash: $60,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $60,000.00

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 · Nov 11, 2024 to Aug 31, 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: 100959783, 100987492, 101011018, 101035338, 101057658.

Money

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

×

Killam Development Ltd.

$72,700.00

Cash: $10,000.00
Paid by others: $62,700.00
Total: $72,700.00

advertising $33,000.00media $29,700.00

Also funds 3 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Dec 9, 2024 to Sep 28, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

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

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 16, 2025 to Aug 20, 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: 101011018, 101057658.

×

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$60,000.00

Cash: $60,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $60,000.00

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 · Nov 11, 2024 to Aug 31, 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: 100959783, 100987492, 101011018, 101035338, 101057658.

Votes4

House May 28, 2025

Yea: 130
Nay: 11
Present, not voting: 2
Absent: 2
Excused: 5

Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 3832

SB 2589 (Craddick, Dean, DeAyala, Harless, Hull, Isaac, Lowe, Patterson, Schatzline, Slawson, and Toth - no) (130 - 11 - 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: 130 (published)
Nay: 11 (published)
Present, not voting: 2 (published)
Absent: 2 (derived from named list)
Excused: 5 (derived from named list)

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

Senate May 1, 2025

Final passage

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

Names

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

Senate journal

Names were not printed for yea. Only the named positions are included in member records.

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

CSSB 2589 (Zaffirini) Relating to procedures for a commissioners court to close, abandon, or vacate certain county roads. (viva voce vote) (25-6) "Nays" Hall, A. Hinojosa, Hughes, Kolkhorst, Middleton, Sparks (25-6) "Nays" Hall, A. Hinojosa, Hughes, Kolkhorst, Middleton, Sparks

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

Yea: 25 (published)
Nay: 6 (published)
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: Not printed
Excused: Not printed

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

Senate May 1, 2025

Suspension of the three-day rule

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

Names

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

Senate journal

Names were not printed for yea. Only the named positions are included in member records.

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

CSSB 2589 (Zaffirini) Relating to procedures for a commissioners court to close, abandon, or vacate certain county roads. (viva voce vote) (25-6) "Nays" Hall, A. Hinojosa, Hughes, Kolkhorst, Middleton, Sparks (25-6) "Nays" Hall, A. Hinojosa, Hughes, Kolkhorst, Middleton, Sparks

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

Yea: 25 (published)
Nay: 6 (published)
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: Not printed
Excused: Not printed

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

Senate May 1, 2025

Passage to engrossment

Yea: Not printed
Nay: Not printed
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: Not printed
Excused: Not printed

Names

Senate journal

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

CSSB 2589 (Zaffirini) Relating to procedures for a commissioners court to close, abandon, or vacate certain county roads. (viva voce vote) (25-6) "Nays" Hall, A. Hinojosa, Hughes, Kolkhorst, Middleton, Sparks (25-6) "Nays" Hall, A. Hinojosa, Hughes, Kolkhorst, Middleton, Sparks

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.

Witnesses10

For: 10
Against: 0
On: 0

Names

For

Bexar County Commissioners Court1 registration
County Judges and Comm Assoc TX1 registration
Dallas County1 registration
EL Paso County1 registration
El Paso County1 registration
Harris County Commissioners Court2 registrations
Self; Webb County1 registration
Travis County Commissioners Court1 registration
Webb County1 registration

Sources

10 parsed registrations across the loaded witness lists.

Derived stock of witness registrations. Repeated appearances count separately. Organizations and self-representation appear as printed.

House witness list. Source snapshot 2026-10-20, Central time.

Senate witness list. Source snapshot 2026-10-20, Central time.

Fiscal

No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version S · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version S · April 23, 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 13, 2025

06/20/2025 E Effective on 9/1/25

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.

Companion

HB 3793 by McLaughlin (similar)

Subjects

County Government--Roads

Highways

BORDER

Text

The text as introduced · 446 words

89R13910 GP-F

By: Zaffirini
S.B. No. 2589

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to procedures for a commissioners court to close, abandon,

or vacate certain county roads.

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

SECTION 1. Section 251.058, Transportation Code, is amended

by amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsections (b-2) and (b-3)

to read as follows:

(b) Except as provided by Subsection (b-3), title [ Title ] to

a public road or portion of a public road that is closed, abandoned,

and vacated to the center line of the road vests on the date the

order is signed by the county judge in the owner of the property

that abuts the portion of the road being closed, abandoned, and

vacated. A copy of the order shall be filed in the deed records of

the county and serves as the official instrument of conveyance from

the county to the owner of the abutting property. The order shall:

(1) include the name of each property owner who

receives a conveyance under this section;

(2) include the dimensions of the property being

conveyed to each property owner;

(3) be indexed in the deed records of the county in a

manner that describes:

(A) the county conveying the property as grantor;

and

(B) the property owner receiving the conveyance

as grantee; and

(4) if a public utility or common carrier that has the

right of eminent domain is using the property being conveyed for a

right-of-way or easement purpose, state that the title to the

property is subject to the right-of-way or easement and the

continued use by the public utility or common carrier of utility

infrastructure in existence on the date the order is signed.

(b-2) Subsection (b-3) applies only to a county road that:

(1) is located wholly or partially outside the

corporate limits of a municipality; and

(2) abuts single family residential lots in a planned

residential subdivision that is located wholly in the corporate

limits of a municipality.

(b-3) Notwithstanding Subsection (b), a commissioners court

that closes, abandons, or vacates a county road to which this

subsection applies:

(1) is not required to comply with the procedure

established under Subsection (b) if the commissioners court finds

that conveying the county road to any abutting property's owner

will create a public nuisance or safety hazard; and

(2) on a finding described by Subdivision (1), may:

(A) petition the municipality to annex the county

road; or

(B) use the county road for any public purpose

not related to motorized vehicle traffic, including as a hiking and

biking trail or as a linear park.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.

Verdict: No flags

The receipt

SOLD BY

ITEM

WHAT IT DOES

CHARGES

TOTAL

HISTORY

SIGNED FOR BY

Donors

Killam Development Ltd.

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

Killam Development Ltd.

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

House May 28, 2025

Senate May 1, 2025

Senate May 1, 2025

Senate May 1, 2025

For

Companion