SB 744
School Bus Cameras Get A Carve-Out From The Traffic Camera Ban
Died in committee
Verdict: Smells
Why it's charged
Pitch: Surveillance state
ACTUALLY
…“recorded image-based evidence collected from a school bus”…
Bill text, introduced version (I)
The bill lets school districts, charter schools, cities and counties run bus-mounted camera systems and issue citations from the recorded images and video, reopening camera enforcement that state law otherwise bans.
Pitch: Surveillance stateInitial review · graded Oct 22, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade
Caption
relating to the enforcement of the prohibition on passing a school bus using images and video from a school bus infraction detection system.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Summary
The statement of intent calls them “proven to enhance student safety.” Citations come from the footage.
The bill carves school bus cameras out of the state ban on red-light-style traffic cameras. It touches school districts, charter schools, cities and counties, and any driver caught on camera passing a stopped school bus. On the ground, schools can put camera systems on buses, and local governments and schools can issue civil or criminal citations based on the recorded images.
Labels
Labels: PENDING FOREVER. Heard by the Senate Transportation committee on Mar 26, 2025 and left pending. Never voted out. The bill died.
Receipt
The receipt
89R-SB744 · 2025-01-08
SOLD BY
+ 1 coauthor
ITEM
relating to the enforcement of the prohibition on passing a school bus using images and video from a school bus infraction detection system.
WHAT IT DOES
The statement of intent calls them “proven to enhance student safety.” Citations come from the footage.
The bill carves school bus cameras out of the state ban on red-light-style traffic cameras. It touches school districts, charter schools, cities and counties, and any driver caught on camera passing a stopped school bus. On the ground, schools can put camera systems on buses, and local governments and schools can issue civil or criminal citations based on the recorded images.
CHARGES
ACTUALLY
…“recorded image-based evidence collected from a school bus”…
Bill text, introduced version (I)
The bill lets school districts, charter schools, cities and counties run bus-mounted camera systems and issue citations from the recorded images and video, reopening camera enforcement that state law otherwise bans.
TOTAL
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
LBB estimate · fiscal note version I · source
Sources
Fiscal note · version I · March 24, 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
- Received by the Secretary of the Senate
- Filed
- Read first time
- Referred to Transportation
- Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
- Considered in public hearing
- Testimony taken in committee
- Left pending in committee
- Co-author authorized
FILED UNDER
THE TEXT
…“recorded image-based evidence collected from a school bus”…
Bill text, introduced version (I)
The bill lets school districts, charter schools, cities and counties run bus-mounted camera systems and issue citations from the recorded images and video, reopening camera enforcement that state law otherwise bans.
THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
Donors
Donors report through Friends of Donna Campbell.
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 30, 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.
MoneyMissing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
Votes
No floor vote loaded for this bill.
Fiscal
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
LBB estimate · fiscal note version I · source
Sources
Fiscal note · version I · March 24, 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
Adversarial review by claude-opus-5-5 at high effort: sent to the editor.
Analysis of text version I by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 22, 2026, against the published rubric.
Sources
Texas Senate · Filed Jan 8, 2025
03/26/2025 S Left pending in committee
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 · Transportation · Final status: Died in committee
Companion
HB 1282 by Raymond (identical)
HB 3034 by Craddick (identical)
Subjects
Education--Primary & Secondary--General
Vehicles & Traffic--General
Vehicles & Traffic--Rules of Road
SCHOOL BUSES & SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS
VIDEO CAMERAS
Text
The text as introduced · 342 words
89R615 CXP-F By: Campbell S.B. No. 744 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the enforcement of the prohibition on passing a school bus using images and video from a school bus infraction detection system. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 707.001, Transportation Code, is amended by adding Subdivision (4-a) to read as follows: (4-a) "School bus infraction detection system" means a camera system affixed to a school bus with two or more camera sensors or computers that produce a recorded video and two or more film or digital photographic still images for the purpose of detecting violations described by Section 545.066. SECTION 2. Section 707.020, Transportation Code, is amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows: (a) Notwithstanding any other law and except as provided by Subsection (a-1) , a local authority may not implement or operate a photographic traffic signal enforcement system with respect to a highway or street under the jurisdiction of the authority. (a-1) This section does not apply to a school bus infraction detection system installed and operated by a school district or open-enrollment charter school in this state. SECTION 3. Section 707.021, Transportation Code, is amended to read as follows: Sec. 707.021. USE OF EVIDENCE FROM PHOTOGRAPHIC TRAFFIC SIGNAL ENFORCEMENT SYSTEM PROHIBITED. (a) Notwithstanding any other law and except as provided by Subsection (b) , a local authority may not issue a civil or criminal charge or citation for an offense or violation based on a recorded image produced by a photographic traffic signal enforcement system. (b) This section does not apply to the issuance by a municipality, county, school district, or open-enrollment charter school of a civil or criminal charge or citation, as applicable, for a violation described by Section 545.066 based on the use of recorded image-based evidence collected from a school bus infraction detection system installed and operated by a school district or open-enrollment charter school in this state. SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.