Monitoring the Session

SB 65

bill drops the safety certificate for off-highway riders

Filed

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review
Sen. Judith ZaffiriniDSenate 21

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

Caption

relating to the operation of off-highway vehicles.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

Beach and public land riding, no certificate needed. Starting 2027.

The bill strikes the 'safety certificate required' language from the state law on riding off-highway vehicles on public land or beaches, and repeals a list of related provisions in that chapter, including a whole subchapter. It touches people who ride off-highway vehicles on state or local public land that is open to them, or on a beach. Riders still must stay on public off-highway vehicle land or a beach and follow the vehicle and parks laws, but the safety certificate rule and the other repealed provisions go away on September 1, 2027.

Labels

Labels: BACK FROM THE DEAD. Same text as a bill filed before that died: 89R SB 2439 (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-SB65 · 2026-11-09

SOLD BY

Sen. Judith ZaffiriniDSenate 21

ITEM

relating to the operation of off-highway vehicles.

WHAT IT DOES

Beach and public land riding, no certificate needed. Starting 2027.

The bill strikes the 'safety certificate required' language from the state law on riding off-highway vehicles on public land or beaches, and repeals a list of related provisions in that chapter, including a whole subchapter. It touches people who ride off-highway vehicles on state or local public land that is open to them, or on a beach. Riders still must stay on public off-highway vehicle land or a beach and follow the vehicle and parks laws, but the safety certificate rule and the other repealed provisions go away on September 1, 2027.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

Judith Zaffirini

Donors

Carlos M. Zaffirini Jr$110,000Killam Development Ltd.$73KTexas 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.

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 2439

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

Introduced text

Last action, May 19, 2025: Committee report sent to Calendars

Relating to the operation of off-highway vehicles.

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 2:39 AM CST. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

Subjects

Coastal Affairs & Beaches

Highways

Transportation--Miscellaneous

RECREATIONAL & ALL-TERRAIN VEHICLES

Text

The text as introduced · 180 words

90R473 GP-F

By: Zaffirini
S.B. No. 65

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the operation of off-highway vehicles.

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

SECTION 1. The heading to Section 551A.031, Transportation

Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 551A.031. OPERATION ON PUBLIC LAND OR BEACH [ ; SAFETY

CERTIFICATE REQUIRED ].

SECTION 2. Section 551A.031(a), Transportation Code, is

amended to read as follows:

(a) A person may not operate an off-highway vehicle on land

owned or leased by the state or a political subdivision of the state

that is not open to vehicular traffic unless:

(1) the land is public off-highway vehicle land or a

beach ; and

(2) the operation is in compliance with:

(A) this chapter; and

(B) Chapter 29, Parks and Wildlife Code.

SECTION 3. The following provisions of Chapter 551A,

Transportation Code, are repealed:

(1) Sections 551A.001(1-b) and (1-c);

(2) Section 551A.002(b);

(3) Subchapter B;

(4) Sections 551A.031(b) and (c);

(5) Section 551A.059; and

(6) Section 551A.071(d).

SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2027.