HB 723

relating to school bus monitoring systems and the required
reporting of certain offenses recorded by those systems.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 542, Transportation Code,
is amended by adding Section 542.207 to read as follows:
Sec. 542.207.  REQUIRED INSTALLATION OF SCHOOL BUS
MONITORING SYSTEMS; USE OF SYSTEM IMAGES FOR ENFORCEMENT OF CERTAIN
OFFENSES.  (a) In this section, "school bus monitoring system"
means a camera installed on a school bus for the purpose of
detecting violations described by Section 545.066.
(b)  A local authority or school district shall install a
school bus monitoring system on each school bus owned or operated by
the authority or district and used for the purpose of transporting
students to or from school or a school-sponsored or school-related
(c)  A local authority or school district may contract for
the installation of a school bus monitoring system.
(d)  A local authority or school district shall immediately:
(1)  report to a local law enforcement agency an
offense under Section 545.066 or an offense under Title 5, 6, or 9,
Penal Code, that is captured by a recorded image produced by a
school bus monitoring system; and
(2)  provide recorded images described by Subdivision
(1) to the law enforcement agency.
(e)  A recorded image described by Subsection (d) may be used
as evidence in a proceeding for an offense described by that
(f)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, a
local authority or school district that implemented a school bus
monitoring system before September 1, 2025, is not required to
SECTION 2.  Section 707.020(a), Transportation Code, is
(a)  Notwithstanding any other law, except as provided by
Section 542.207, a local authority may not implement or operate a
photographic traffic signal enforcement system with respect to a
highway or street under the jurisdiction of the authority.
SECTION 3.  Section 707.021, Transportation Code, is amended
Sec. 707.021.  USE OF EVIDENCE FROM PHOTOGRAPHIC TRAFFIC
SIGNAL ENFORCEMENT SYSTEM PROHIBITED.  Notwithstanding any other
law, except as provided by Section 542.207, a local authority may
not issue a civil or criminal charge or citation for an offense or
violation based on a recorded image produced by a photographic
traffic signal enforcement system.
SECTION 4.  Notwithstanding Section 542.207, Transportation
Code, as added by this Act, a local authority or school district is
not required to comply with that section before September 1, 2027.
SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.