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Committee advances bill to remove certain CDL administrative hearings to meet federal standards
Summary
House Bill 4804 would remove a state administrative hearing process for commercial driver license (CDL) holders facing certain disqualifications to conform with Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requirements, and would authorize new revocation authorities linked to last session's offender registry changes.
The Senate Committee on Transportation reported House Bill 4804, which would modify Texas administrative procedures for the Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) program to align with federal rules enforced by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).
Sponsor testimony explained that Texas currently permits an appeals‑style hearing process for CDL holders who face disqualification for a range of serious offenses; the FMCSA determined in 2022 that the state’s hearing process conflicts with federal law. The committee heard that continued nonalignment risks decertification of the state CDL program and potential loss of federal highway funds.
House Bill 4804, as presented, has two main components: removing the state hearing process for administrative enforcement actions against CDL holders in order to comply with FMCSA regulations; and authorizing the Texas Department of Public Safety to revoke commercial driving authority consistent with the offender‑registry revocation authorities created by the Legislature last session.
The sponsor said the change is intended to preserve federal funding and keep Texas’s CDL program certified by federal authorities. Resource witnesses registered for the record; no public opposition testimony was recorded at the hearing. The committee voted to report the bill favorably to the full Senate; the clerk recorded an 8‑0 tally in favor and the bill was recommended to be passed and printed.
If enacted, HB 4804 would alter the administrative review process for certain CDL enforcement actions and add statutory authority for revocations tied to the state's offender registry provisions.
