SB 424
Eckhardt Bill Orders TxDOT To Partner On I-35 High-Speed Rail
Died in committee
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 use of state money for high-speed rail operated by a private entity and to the construction of certain high-speed rail.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Summary
Dallas, Austin and San Antonio at 110-mph-plus, built and run by a private company.
The bill orders the Texas Department of Transportation to sign a development deal with a private company to build, maintain, and run high-speed rail linking Dallas, Austin, and San Antonio along the I-35 corridor. It also repeals Section 199.003 of the Transportation Code, which the caption connects to the use of state money for privately operated high-speed rail. The result is that the state must partner with a private operator on a 110-mph-plus I-35 line, and the existing code section is removed starting September 1, 2025.
Labels
Labels: QUICK READ: 149 WORDS. The bill as filed runs 149 words, counting the existing law it amends and the text it strikes. The median 89R bill as filed runs 441 words (derived, 8,702 graded bills, snapshot Oct 19, 2026).NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Nov 21, 2024 and referred to the Senate Finance committee. No public hearing. The bill died.
Receipt
The receipt
89R-SB424 · 2024-11-21
SOLD BY
ITEM
relating to the use of state money for high-speed rail operated by a private entity and to the construction of certain high-speed rail.
WHAT IT DOES
Dallas, Austin and San Antonio at 110-mph-plus, built and run by a private company.
The bill orders the Texas Department of Transportation to sign a development deal with a private company to build, maintain, and run high-speed rail linking Dallas, Austin, and San Antonio along the I-35 corridor. It also repeals Section 199.003 of the Transportation Code, which the caption connects to the use of state money for privately operated high-speed rail. The result is that the state must partner with a private operator on a 110-mph-plus I-35 line, and the existing code section is removed starting September 1, 2025.
CHARGES
[ ] NONE FOUND
TOTAL
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
HISTORY
- Received by the Secretary of the Senate
- Filed
- Read first time
- Referred to Finance
FILED UNDER
THE TEXT
“The department shall enter into a comprehensive development agreement with a private entity to construct, maintain, and operate high-speed rail”…
Bill text, introduced version (I)
The bill requires the state transportation agency to strike a development deal with a private rail company, and it repeals a code section the caption ties to state money for privately operated high-speed rail.
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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 · Jul 1, 2024 to Oct 24, 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.
Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
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 Nov 21, 2024
02/03/2025 S Referred to Finance
Texas Legislature Online · Introduced
Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:19 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.
Senate committee · Finance · Final status: Died in committee
Companion
HB 483 by Bucy (identical)
Subjects
Transportation--Railroads
DESIGN-BUILD CONTRACTS
TRANSPORTATION, TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF
Text
The text as introduced · 149 words
By: Eckhardt S.B. No. 424 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the use of state money for high-speed rail operated by a private entity and to the construction of certain high-speed rail. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Chapter 91, Transportation Code, is amended by adding Subchapter G to read as follows: SUBCHAPTER G. HIGH-SPEED RAIL Sec. 91.130. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "high-speed rail" means intercity passenger rail service that is reasonably expected to reach speeds of at least 110 miles per hour. Sec. 91.131. CONSTRUCTION OF HIGH-SPEED RAIL. The department shall enter into a comprehensive development agreement with a private entity to construct, maintain, and operate high-speed rail connecting Dallas to Austin to San Antonio along the Interstate Highway 35 corridor. SECTION 2. Section 199.003, Transportation Code, is repealed. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.