SB 72: rental-car rules stretch from 30 days to 180

Caption

relating to the regulation of private passenger vehicle rental companies.

Summary

Early returns get a prorated damage waiver refund.

The bill stretches Texas rental-car rules to cover rentals of up to 180 days instead of only 30 days. It also requires rental companies to give a prorated refund of the damage waiver charge when a renter returns the car early. Renters with longer-term rentals gain the protections of the rental chapter starting with agreements made on or after September 1, 2025.

Labels

Labels: DO-OVER. Reworked text of a bill filed before that died: 88R SB 1718 (Died in committee). Filed in 2 sessions, counting this one. Checked against 88R only.TRY NO. 2. Filed in 2 sessions: 88R and 89R. Checked against 88R only.CROSS-PARTY HANDOFF. Lead author Judith Zaffirini (D) in the Senate. Lead sponsor John Lujan (R) in the House. Party as the Legislative Reference Library lists it for the 89th Legislature.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-SB72 · 2024-11-12

SOLD BY

Sen. Judith ZaffiriniDSenate 21

ITEM

relating to the regulation of private passenger vehicle rental companies.

WHAT IT DOES

Early returns get a prorated damage waiver refund.

The bill stretches Texas rental-car rules to cover rentals of up to 180 days instead of only 30 days. It also requires rental companies to give a prorated refund of the damage waiver charge when a renter returns the car early. Renters with longer-term rentals gain the protections of the rental chapter starting with agreements made on or after September 1, 2025.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version H · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version H · April 25, 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

Nov 12, 2024Received by the Secretary of the Senate
Nov 12, 2024Filed
Feb 3, 2025Read first time
Feb 3, 2025Referred to Business & Commerce
Feb 18, 2025Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
Feb 18, 2025Considered in public hearing
Feb 18, 2025Testimony taken in committee
Feb 18, 2025Left pending in committee
Feb 27, 2025Considered in public hearing
Feb 27, 2025Vote taken in committee
Mar 4, 2025Reported favorably w/o amendments
Mar 4, 2025Recommended for local & uncontested calendar
Mar 4, 2025Committee report printed and distributed
Mar 5, 2025Placed on intent calendar
Mar 6, 2025Rules suspended-Constitutional 60-Day
Mar 6, 2025Rules suspended-Regular order of business
Mar 6, 2025Read 2nd time & passed to engrossment
Mar 6, 2025Vote recorded in Journal
Mar 6, 2025Three day rule suspended
Mar 6, 2025Record vote
Mar 6, 2025Read 3rd time
Mar 6, 2025Passed
Mar 6, 2025Record vote
Mar 6, 2025Reported engrossed
Mar 11, 2025Received from the Senate
Apr 9, 2025Read first time
Apr 9, 2025Referred to Trade, Workforce & Economic Development
Apr 23, 2025Considered in public hearing
Apr 23, 2025Committee substitute considered in committee
Apr 23, 2025Reported favorably as substituted
Apr 30, 2025Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
Apr 30, 2025Committee report distributed
May 1, 2025Committee report sent to Calendars
May 5, 2025Laid out in lieu of companion HB 1395
May 5, 2025Read 2nd time
May 5, 2025Passed to 3rd reading
May 6, 2025Read 3rd time
May 6, 2025Passed
May 6, 2025Record vote RV#1490
May 6, 2025Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
May 6, 2025House passage as amended reported
May 12, 2025House amendment(s) laid before the Senate
May 12, 2025Read
May 12, 2025Senate concurs in House amendment(s)
May 12, 2025Record vote
May 12, 2025Senate concurs in House amendment(s)-reported
May 12, 2025Reported enrolled
May 14, 2025Signed in the Senate
May 15, 2025Signed in the House
May 15, 2025Sent to the Governor
May 27, 2025Signed by the Governor
May 27, 2025Effective on 9/1/25

FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

SIGNED FOR BY

House · 144 yea · 1 nay

Senate · 30 yea · 0 nay

Sources

House: Final passage · May 6, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate: Final passage · Mar 6, 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.

Votes5

Senate May 12, 2025

Yea: 30
Nay: 0
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: Not printed
Excused: 1

Names

GutierrezExcused

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.

Sources

Senator Zaffirini moved to concur in the House amendment to SB 72. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0.

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

Yea: 30 (published)
Nay: 0 (published)
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: Not printed
Excused: 1 (derived from named list)

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

House May 6, 2025

Yea: 144
Nay: 1
Present, not voting: 1
Absent: 4
Excused: 0

Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 1490

SB 72 was passed by (Record 1490): 144 Yeas, 1 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

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

Yea: 144 (published)
Nay: 1 (published)
Present, not voting: 1 (published)
Absent: 4 (derived from named list)
Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

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

Senate Mar 6, 2025

Yea: 30
Nay: 0
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: Not printed
Excused: 1

Names

MilesExcused

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.

Sources

The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0. (Same as previous roll call)

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

Yea: 30 (published)
Nay: 0 (published)
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: Not printed
Excused: 1 (derived from named list)

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

Senate Mar 6, 2025

Yea: 30
Nay: 0
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: Not printed
Excused: 1

Names

MilesExcused

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.

Sources

Senator Zaffirini moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that SB 72 be placed on its third reading and final passage. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0.

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

Yea: 30 (published)
Nay: 0 (published)
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: Not printed
Excused: 1 (derived from named list)

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

Senate Mar 6, 2025

Yea: Not printed
Nay: Not printed
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: Not printed
Excused: 1

Names

MilesExcused

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.

Voice vote. No numeric tally or individual yeas are inferred.

Sources

The bill was read second time and was passed to engrossment by a viva voce vote.

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: 1 (derived from named list)

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

Witnesses2

For: 2
Against: 0
On: 0

Names

For

Enterprise Mobility1 registration
Self1 registration

Sources

2 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 significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version H · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version H · April 25, 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.

FILED BEFORE

Filed 2 times: 88R and 89R. Checked against 88R only.

88R SB 1718

by Sen. Zaffirini, same lead author · Died in committee · reworked

Introduced text

Last action, Mar 16, 2023: Referred to Business & Commerce

Relating to the regulation of private passenger vehicle rental companies.

Caption, 88R bill history

Sources

Texas Senate · Filed Nov 12, 2024

05/27/2025 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 1395 by Lujan (identical)

Subjects

Business & Commerce--General

RENTAL CARS

Text

The text as introduced · 271 words

89R343 ATP-F

By: Zaffirini
S.B. No. 72

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the regulation of private passenger vehicle rental

companies.

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

SECTION 1. Sections 91.001(6) and (7), Business & Commerce

Code, are amended to read as follows:

(6) "Rental agreement" means an agreement for 180 [ 30 ]

days or less that states the terms governing the use of a private

passenger vehicle rented by a rental company.

(7) "Rental company" means a person in the business of

renting private passenger vehicles to the public for 180 [ 30 ] days

or less. The term does not include a person who holds a license

under Chapter 2301, Occupations Code, and whose primary business

activity is not renting private passenger vehicles.

SECTION 2. Subchapter B, Chapter 91, Business & Commerce

Code, is amended by adding Section 91.057 to read as follows:

Sec. 91.057. REFUND OF DAMAGE WAIVER CHARGE. If a renter

returns a rented motor vehicle before the conclusion of the rental

term, the rental company shall issue a pro rata refund of the damage

waiver charge from the date the vehicle is returned.

SECTION 3. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to

a rental agreement entered into on or after the effective date of

this Act. A rental agreement entered into before the effective date

of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the contract

was entered into, and the former law is continued in effect for that

purpose.

SECTION 4. 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

Senate May 12, 2025

House May 6, 2025

Senate Mar 6, 2025

Senate Mar 6, 2025

Senate Mar 6, 2025

For

88R SB 1718

Companion