Safe Passing Legislation: April 17, 2009 Update

In the House: As we relayed in our email yesterday, the 2009 Safe Passing Bill, House Bill HB 827 was heard and passed yesterday by the Texas State House Committee on Transportation by a vote of 8-0.

Though the committee amendment to HB 827 includes several provisions that we find problematic, we are still working on the bill and have hopes that it can still be passed in a version that will benefit cyclists. See www.BikeTexas.org/safepassing for the full update on what happened in the House committee.

In the Senate: Safe Passing stalled. Bill author Senator Rodney Ellis (D-Houston) brought the bill for a vote on the Senate floor on Tuesday, April 7. After Senator Dan Patrick (R-Houston) began voicing concerns over several aspects of the bill, Senator Ellis pulled the bill, intending to address Senator Patrick’s concerns and then bring the bill back for a vote.

However, we have now met with Senator Patrick and several other senators who had concerns. It appears that we may be able to modify the bill in a way that will satisfy these senators while still remaining a strong bill. Also, Senator Kirk Watson (D-Austin) has signed on as a coauthor. We will continue to update you as things happen.