A new bill authored by State Sen. Borris Miles in the Texas Senate seeks to regulate the use of wireless communication devices by vehicle operators to enhance road safety, according to the Texas Legislature website.
The bill on Taxation category, introduced as SB 47 during the 89(1) legislative session on Thursday, July 24, was formally listed with the short title: ’Relating to the treatment of a replacement structure for a structure that was rendered uninhabitable or unusable by a casualty, a natural disaster, or wind or water damage as a new improvement for ad valorem tax purposes’.
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill, titled “Allie’s Way,” aims to regulate the use of wireless communication devices while operating a motor vehicle in Texas. Specifically, it prohibits the use of portable wireless communication devices unless the vehicle is stopped outside a lane of travel. The bill outlines affirmative defenses for hands-free device usage, emergency contact, and devices used for video recording or broadcasting from vehicles. It places restrictions on drivers under 18 and school bus operators with minor passengers. The Texas Department of Transportation is tasked with posting signs at highway entry points informing drivers of the prohibition and potential fines. Additionally, this bill preempts local regulations regarding the use of wireless devices by vehicle operators. The act takes effect on Sept. 1, 2025, and applies only to offenses committed on or after that date.
Borris Miles, a member of the Senate Committee on Committee of the Whole Senate, proposed no other bills during the 89(1) legislative session. He is also a member of the Senate Committee on Criminal Justice, a member of the Senate Committee on Health & Human Services, a member of the Senate Committee on Nominations, and a member of the Senate Committee on Transportation.
Bills in Texas go through a multi-step legislative process, including committee review, debates, and votes in both chambers before reaching a final decision. Each session, there are typically thousands of bills introduced, but only a portion successfully navigate the process to become law.
You can read more about the bills and other measures here.
| Bill Number | Date Introduced | Short Description |
|---|---|---|
| SB 3046 | 04/11/2025 | Relating to air quality permits for certain concrete plants and crushing facilities |
| SB 3012 | 03/14/2025 | Relating to the continuation of a limitation on increases in the appraised value of a residence homestead for ad valorem tax purposes if the property is acquired by and qualifies as the homestead of an heir of the owner or the owner’s spouse or surviving spouse |
| SB 3011 | 03/14/2025 | Relating to the amendment of standard permits for certain concrete plants |
| SB 2919 | 03/14/2025 | Relating to power duration requirements in emergency contingency plans adopted by end stage renal disease facilities |
| SB 2918 | 03/14/2025 | Relating to the Texas Freedman’s Bureau |
| SB 2917 | 03/14/2025 | Relating to the penalties for certain littering offenses |
| SB 2916 | 03/14/2025 | Relating to informed consent for certain screening tests |
| SB 2915 | 03/14/2025 | Relating to the establishment of the supporting life pilot program as part of the Thriving Texas Families Program |
| SB 2914 | 03/14/2025 | Relating to the development of a language access plan to increase access to assistance under health and human services programs by certain individuals |
| SB 2913 | 03/14/2025 | Relating to air quality permits for certain cement kilns |
| SB 2912 | 03/14/2025 | Relating to the state historically underutilized business program; creating a criminal offense |
| SB 2911 | 03/14/2025 | Relating to the creation of the Northeast Houston Redevelopment District; providing authority to issue bonds; providing authority to impose assessments or fees |
| SB 2910 | 03/14/2025 | Relating to the evaluation of an application for low income housing tax credits |
| SB 2909 | 03/14/2025 | Relating to Health and Human Services call center quality performance measures |
| SB 2904 | 03/14/2025 | Relating to the issuance of obligations by certain counties to pay the unfunded liabilities of the county to a public retirement system |
| SB 2863 | 03/14/2025 | Relating to the transfer of certain state property from the Texas Department of Transportation to the University of Houston |
| SB 2860 | 03/14/2025 | Relating to the emergency service fee collected by a wireless service provider |
| SB 2536 | 03/13/2025 | Relating to the requirement for certain administrators of certain educational entities to report certain educator misconduct; increasing an administrative penalty |
| SB 2524 | 03/13/2025 | Relating to an action to remedy certain conditions affecting safety or habitability of certain residential rental property; providing a civil penalty |
| SB 2387 | 03/12/2025 | Relating to the creation of the office of independent oversight ombudsman for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice |
| SB 2386 | 03/12/2025 | Relating to providing notice to a state representative and senator of certain administrative actions of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality |
| SB 2296 | 03/11/2025 | Relating to the development of a severe weather adaptation plan by certain entities |
| SB 2295 | 03/11/2025 | Relating to the authority of a municipality to authorize the creation or expansion of a political subdivision in the corporate boundaries or extraterritorial jurisdiction of the municipality |
| SB 2294 | 03/11/2025 | Relating to a franchise tax credit for entities that establish a grocery store or healthy corner store in a food desert |
| SB 2293 | 03/11/2025 | Relating to the carrying of certain weapons on the premises of a public library; creating a criminal offense |
| SB 2292 | 03/11/2025 | Relating to prohibiting the use of electric resistance as a primary heat source in certain residential buildings |
| SB 2291 | 03/11/2025 | Relating to the creation of the Texas Advanced Research Institute |
| SB 2290 | 03/11/2025 | Relating to the eligibility of certain individuals for the children with special health care needs program |
| SB 2289 | 03/11/2025 | Relating to reports regarding county jail prisoners confined in out-of-state jails |
| SB 2288 | 03/11/2025 | Relating to requiring the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement to study and report on incidents of racial profiling |
| SB 2287 | 03/11/2025 | Relating to the creation of the child-care advisory council |
| SB 2286 | 03/11/2025 | Relating to the creation of an oversight advisory council on foster care placement |
| SB 2285 | 03/11/2025 | Relating to vegetation management by electric utilities and telecommunications providers |
| SB 2282 | 03/11/2025 | Relating to authorizing school districts to provide funding using money received under the Foundation School Program to community-based organizations for purposes of reimbursing private employers for paid internships provided to certain students in career and technology education programs in the district |
| SB 2281 | 03/11/2025 | Relating to measures to assist students enrolled at public institutions of higher education who are homeless or who are or were in foster care |
| SB 2280 | 03/11/2025 | Relating to the applicability of certain financial provisions to campus or campus program charter schools |
| SB 2279 | 03/11/2025 | Relating to a wage increase for certain public school employees |
| SB 2278 | 03/11/2025 | Relating to notice of certain misconduct committed by a public school educator |
| SB 2277 | 03/11/2025 | Relating to prohibiting a public school from retaliating against an employee for reporting certain misconduct |
| SB 2276 | 03/11/2025 | Relating to notice of and opportunity for hearing on applications for authorization to use certain permits for concrete batch plants and concrete crushing facilities |
| SB 2275 | 03/11/2025 | Relating to the submission of public comments regarding air, waste, or water permits issued by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality |
| SB 2274 | 03/11/2025 | Relating to the response by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to certain complaints about certain concrete plants and crushing facilities |
| SB 2273 | 03/11/2025 | Relating to the monitoring of the opacity of emissions from certain concrete facilities |
| SB 2272 | 03/11/2025 | Relating to air quality permits for concrete crushing facilities and concrete plants located in certain areas |
| SB 2271 | 03/11/2025 | Relating to the authority of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to authorize the transfer of an authorization to use a standard permit for certain concrete facilities |
| SB 2270 | 03/11/2025 | Relating to the renewal of certain air quality permits |
| SB 2089 | 03/07/2025 | Relating to the Rita Littlefield Chronic Kidney Disease Centralized Resource Center established within the Health and Human Services Commission |
| SB 2088 | 03/07/2025 | Relating to the provision of counseling services by certain providers under Medicaid and reimbursement for those services |
| SB 2087 | 03/07/2025 | Relating to the content of biennial legislative immunization reports issued by the Department of State Health Services |
| SB 2086 | 03/07/2025 | Relating to job interview restrictions for releasees from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice |
