HB1625 - Relating to the penalties for the offense of passing certain vehicles, creating a criminal offense, increasing a criminal penalty.

      By: Vasut H.B. No. 1625       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the penalties for the offense of passing certain   vehicles, creating a criminal offense, increasing a criminal   penalty.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  This Act shall be known as the Kevin Alexis   Ramirez Vasquez Act.          SECTION 2.  Section 521.292(a), Transportation Code, is   amended to read as follows:          (a)  Except as provided by Section 521.457(h), the   department shall suspend the person's license if the department   determines that the person:                (1)  has operated a motor vehicle on a highway while the   person's license was suspended, canceled, disqualified, or   revoked, or without a license after an application for a license was   denied;                (2)  is a habitually reckless or negligent operator of   a motor vehicle;                (3)  is a habitual violator of the traffic laws;                (4)  has permitted the unlawful or fraudulent use of   the person's license;                (5)  has committed an offense in another state or   Canadian province that, if committed in this state, would be   grounds for suspension;                (6)  has been convicted of two or more separate   offenses of a violation of a restriction imposed on the use of the   license;                (7)  has been responsible as a driver for any collision   resulting in serious personal injury or serious property damage;                (8)  is under 18 years of age and has been convicted of   two or more moving violations committed within a 12-month period;   or                (9)  has committed an offense under Section s   545.157(c)(1), (c)(2), (c)(3), or 545.421.          SECTION 3.  Section 545.157(c), Transportation Code, is   amended to read as follows:          (c)  A person who violates this section commits an offense.     An offense under this section is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine   of not less than $500 or more than $1,250, except that the offense   is:                (1)  a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not less than   $1,000 or more than $2,000 for a second or subsequent offense   committed within five years of the date on which the most recent   preceding offense was committed;                (2)  a Class A misdemeanor if the offense results in a   collision [ bodily injury to another ]; or                (3)  a state jail felony for a second or subsequent   offense punishable under Subdivision (2) or an offense resulting in   bodily injury to another .          SECTION 4.  The change in law made by this Act applies only   to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act.     An offense committed before the effective date of this Act is   governed by the law in effect on the date the offense was committed,   and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.  For   purposes of this section, an offense was committed before the   effective date of this Act if any element of the offense occurred   before that date.          SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.