Monitoring the Session

SB 172

bill to waive heavy-load permit fees for local governments

Filed

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review
Sen. Brent HagenbuchRSenate 30

Initial review · graded Nov 9, 2026 · How we grade

Caption

relating to certain oversize or overweight vehicle permit fees or surety requirements.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

Cities and counties skip the fees and bonds, starting September 1, 2027.

This bill lets the state motor vehicle department waive permit fees and bond or surety requirements when a government body gets a permit for an oversize or overweight vehicle. It touches cities, counties and other government entities that move heavy loads, and it widens an existing exemption so city- and county-owned vehicles are fully outside one permit section. On the ground, local governments and other public agencies could move heavy equipment without paying certain permit fees or posting bonds, starting September 1, 2027.

Labels

Labels: BACK FROM THE DEAD. Same text as a bill filed before that died: 89R SB 2707 (Did not pass). Filed in 2 sessions, counting this one. Checked against 88R and 89R only.TRY NO. 2. Filed in 2 sessions: 89R and 90R. Checked against 88R and 89R only.

Receipt

The receipt

90R-SB172 · 2026-11-09

SOLD BY

Sen. Brent HagenbuchRSenate 30

ITEM

relating to certain oversize or overweight vehicle permit fees or surety requirements.

WHAT IT DOES

Cities and counties skip the fees and bonds, starting September 1, 2027.

This bill lets the state motor vehicle department waive permit fees and bond or surety requirements when a government body gets a permit for an oversize or overweight vehicle. It touches cities, counties and other government entities that move heavy loads, and it widens an existing exemption so city- and county-owned vehicles are fully outside one permit section. On the ground, local governments and other public agencies could move heavy equipment without paying certain permit fees or posting bonds, starting September 1, 2027.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No fiscal note in the loaded record.

HISTORY

  1. Received by the Secretary of the Senate
  2. Filed
FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

No flags

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Brent Hagenbuch

Donors

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$50KDenton County Republican Lincoln Cabinet PAC$25KJohn Kleinheinz$25,000

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.

Team
Sources

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.

John Kleinheinz$25,000.00
Money

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.

Team
Sources

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 a super-expensive superintelligence, Nov 9, 2026, against the published rubric.

FILED BEFORE

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

89R SB 2707

by Sen. Hagenbuch, same lead author · Did not pass · same text

Introduced text

Last action, May 23, 2025: Committee report sent to Calendars

Relating to certain oversize or overweight vehicle permit fees or surety requirements.

Caption, 89R bill history

Sources

Texas Senate · Filed Nov 9, 2026

11/09/2026 S Filed

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced

Data snapshot Nov 10, 2026 at 2:40 AM CST. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

Subjects

Fees & Other Nontax Revenue--State

Vehicles & Traffic--Rules of Road

PERMITS

VEHICLE WEIGHT LIMITS & ENFORCEMENT

MOTOR VEHICLES, TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF

Text

The text as introduced · 275 words

By: Hagenbuch
S.B. No. 172

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to certain oversize or overweight vehicle permit fees or

surety requirements.

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

SECTION 1. Section 622.134(c), Transportation Code, is

amended to read as follows:

(c) This section [ Subsection (a) ] does not apply to a

vehicle owned by a municipality or a county. The department by rule

may exempt a vehicle owned by any other governmental entity from the

application of this section.

SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 623, Transportation Code,

is amended by adding Section 623.009 to read as follows:

Sec. 623.009. WAIVER OF PERMIT FEE OR SURETY REQUIREMENT

FOR GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES. The department by rule may waive the fee

and any surety requirements, including a requirement for a bond or

letter of credit, for a permit issued by the department under this

subtitle to a governmental entity.

SECTION 3. Section 623.077(a), Transportation Code, is

amended to read as follows:

(a) An applicant for a permit under this subchapter, other

than a permit under Section 623.071(c)(3) or (d) , must also pay a

highway maintenance fee in an amount determined according to the

following table:

Vehicle Weight in Pounds
Fee

80,001 to 120,000
$150

120,001 to 160,000
$225

160,001 to 200,000
$300

200,001 and above
$375

SECTION 4. Section 623.163(c), Transportation Code, is

amended to read as follows:

(c) This section does not apply to a vehicle owned by a

municipality. The department by rule may exempt a vehicle owned by

any other governmental entity from the application of this section.

SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2027.