SB 2944
bill letting drivers under 79 renew online
Did not pass
Verdict: No flags
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 ability of persons licensed to drive in Texas to renew license by electronic means
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Summary
DPS rules must allow electronic renewal.
The bill adds a line to the driver's license renewal law saying the Department of Public Safety's rules must let any currently licensed person under age 79 renew their license online or by other electronic means. It touches Texas drivers under 79, who today can renew electronically only if department rules allow it, and the department that writes those rules. On the ground, electronic renewal becomes a required option for most drivers starting September 1, 2025, while the existing bans on remote renewal for drivers 79 and older and on remote registration by registered sex offenders stay in the text.
Labels
Labels: NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Mar 14, 2025. Never referred to a committee.
Receipt
The receipt
89R-SB2944 · 2025-03-14
SOLD BY
ITEM
relating to the ability of persons licensed to drive in Texas to renew license by electronic means
WHAT IT DOES
DPS rules must allow electronic renewal.
The bill adds a line to the driver's license renewal law saying the Department of Public Safety's rules must let any currently licensed person under age 79 renew their license online or by other electronic means. It touches Texas drivers under 79, who today can renew electronically only if department rules allow it, and the department that writes those rules. On the ground, electronic renewal becomes a required option for most drivers starting September 1, 2025, while the existing bans on remote renewal for drivers 79 and older and on remote registration by registered sex offenders stay in the text.
CHARGES
[ ] NONE FOUND
TOTAL
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
HISTORY
- Received by the Secretary of the Senate
- Filed
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 · Oct 27, 2024 to Jun 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.
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$50,000.00
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC
$50,000.00
- Cash
- $50,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $50,000.00
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 · Jun 23, 2025 to Sep 8, 2025. 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: 101010787, 101032653.
Denton County Republican Lincoln Cabinet PAC$25,000.00
Denton County Republican Lincoln Cabinet PAC
$25,000.00
- Cash
- $25,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $25,000.00
Also funds 1 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Apr 8, 2026 to Apr 21, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.
Sources
Derived itemized flow · on Apr 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: 101058859.
Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC
$50,000.00
- Cash
- $50,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $50,000.00
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 · Jun 23, 2025 to Sep 8, 2025. 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: 101010787, 101032653.
Denton County Republican Lincoln Cabinet PAC
$25,000.00
- Cash
- $25,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $25,000.00
Also funds 1 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Apr 8, 2026 to Apr 21, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.
Sources
Derived itemized flow · on Apr 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: 101058859.
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 14, 2025
03/14/2025 S Filed
Texas Legislature Online · Introduced
Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:20 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.
Subjects
Electronic Information Systems
Vehicles & Traffic--Driver's Licenses
PUBLIC SAFETY, DEPARTMENT OF
Text
The text as introduced · 239 words
89R19859 TYPED By: Hagenbuch S.B. No. 2944 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the ability of persons licensed to drive in Texas to renew license by electronic means BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: Sec. 521.274. RENEWAL BY MAIL OR ELECTRONIC MEANS. (a) The department by rule may provide that the holder of a driver's license may renew the license by mail, by telephone, over the Internet, or by other electronic means. (b) A rule adopted under this section: (1) may prescribe eligibility standards for renewal under this section; (2) may not permit a person subject to the registration requirements under Chapter 62, Code of Criminal Procedure, to register by mail or electronic means; (3) may not permit renewal by mail or electronic means of a driver's license of a person who is 79 years of age or older; and (4) must allow for the renewal of a driver's license by electronic means, regardless of when the license expires, of: (A) a person who: (i) is on active duty in the armed forces of the United States; and (ii) is absent from the state; and (B) the spouse or dependent child of a person described by Paragraph (A). (5) must allow for the renewal of a driver's license by electronic means, of: (A) any person currently licensed under the age of 79. SECTION 521.274. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.