H.B. No. 1376 amends Section 644.053(a) of the Transportation Code to clarify the authority of the public safety director of the Department of Public Safety regarding the regulation of intrastate commercial motor vehicle operations. The bill specifies that rules adopted under this chapter cannot prevent intrastate operators from driving for up to 12 hours after eight consecutive hours off, nor can they impose certain medical standards on long-term operators who were employed before August 28, 1989, and are not transporting hazardous materials. Additionally, the bill allows for exemptions from maintaining a driver's record of duty status under specific conditions and during planting or harvesting seasons for agricultural commodities.

Significantly, the bill introduces new provisions that prohibit the requirement for electronic logging devices to record an intrastate operator's duty status or to be installed in commercial motor vehicles used solely for intrastate commerce. This change aims to provide flexibility for intrastate operators while ensuring compliance with safety regulations. The act is set to take effect on September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Transportation Code 644.053 (Transportation Code 644)