H.B. No. 1376 amends 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 medical standards on certain long-term operators or require specific record-keeping for those operating within a 150-air-mile radius under certain conditions. Additionally, the bill allows for exemptions during planting or harvesting seasons for operators transporting agricultural commodities.

Significantly, the bill introduces new provisions that prohibit the requirement of electronic logging devices for intrastate operators. Specifically, it states that rules cannot mandate the use of electronic logging devices to record an operator's duty status or require their installation in vehicles used solely for intrastate commerce. This legislation is set to take effect on September 1, 2025.

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