During a meeting of the Senate Transportation Committee (date not specified), the committee approved an amendment to House Bill 1298 that would allow 80 miles per hour speed limits in specified interstate zones, simplify speeding fines to $5 for each mile per hour over the limit and adjust driving-point penalties for several offenses. The committee voted 4-2 to adopt amendment 25.0496.01003 and later gave the bill a due pass recommendation, recorded as 4-2.

The amendment combines several changes originally considered in separate measures. Senator Rummel said the amendment “went to simplification of all of the speed limit, to $5 for each mile per hour over the limit,” arguing the existing Century Code schedules are confusing and produce inconsistent fines depending on which agency stops a driver. Rummel also described proposed changes to the points schedule that would assign three points to a set of more serious offenses and noted the proposal would remove municipalities’ ability, in certain cases, to double speeding fines where local ordinances currently allow it.

Committee discussion and examples cited by Rummel emphasized practical inconsistencies in the current code: the same vehicle speed can carry different fines depending on the posted zone and the enforcing authority. Rummel identified specific changes in the points table, including raising the penalty for failing to use a child restraint system from one point to three points. He also referenced statutory cross‑references in Century Code and cited an enforcement provision dealing with knowingly operating an unsafe vehicle (as identified in the transcript as section referenced by Rummel). The amendment also includes language to change a statutory maximum from 75 mph to 80 mph in the affected provision.

Several senators voiced support for folding multiple changes into one bill so the package could be debated and negotiated together. One senator said the package contains “so many moving parts” but that the improvements outweigh the provisions the senator dislikes. A different senator said they remained opposed to allowing an 80 mph speed limit but acknowledged the amendment includes “guardrails” such as variable speed‑limit signage and other measures the highway patrol and Department of Transportation could use.

The committee approved the amendment by roll call, recorded as: Chairman Clemens — Aye; Vice Chair Corey — No; Senator Hogan — Aye; Senator Klein — Aye; Senator Paulson — No; Senator Romo — Aye (motion passes 4-2). The committee later moved and recorded a due pass recommendation on House Bill 1298 as amended; the committee reported the outcome as 4-2. (The roll-call transcript lists the individual responses during the clerk’s call; one roll-call sequence in the record is partly ambiguous on the final individual vote attribution but the committee stated the outcome as 4-2.)

What the amendment would do, as discussed in committee:
- Set certain interstate speed limits to 80 mph by amending a statutory provision (the transcript indicates a cross‑out of 75 to 80 in the affected line).
- Simplify speeding fines to a flat $5 per mile-per-hour over the limit, replacing a multi-tier schedule that the sponsor called confusing.
- Adjust the driving-point system to assign three points for a specified group of more serious offenses identified in the bill text (the sponsor provided a list that includes use of wireless communications devices while driving, failure to maintain vehicle control, overtaking where prohibited, driving on the wrong side, following too closely, driving on a closed road, failing to yield right of way and running a red light).
- Raise the points for failure to use a child restraint system from one point to three points (the transcript references this specific line-item change).
- Add authorization or clarify use of variable speed limit signage in select interstate locations as a safety tool; the amendment does not specify an expansive rollout but contemplates targeted trials.
- Remove, for speeding fines only, the current ability in some municipal ordinances to double fines where local charter provisions allow such doubling; the sponsor said the amendment would eliminate that doubling authority for speeding fines.

The committee discussion indicated the package is likely to face further negotiation on the floor and in conference committee if both chambers act. Committee members noted that some provisions cross multiple statutory sections, making piecemeal changes difficult to draft and that a conference committee could be the forum to sort remaining differences between chambers. The amendment text referenced multiple Century Code provisions (including chapter 39 and a cross‑referenced unsafe‑vehicle enforcement section cited during the discussion); the committee did not adopt additional amendments during this meeting.

A committee member stated that a senator would carry the bill to the floor; the transcript records discussion about who would carry it but committee members did not record a formal written assignment in the minutes during this session.

Votes at a glance
- Amendment 25.0496.01003 to House Bill 1298 — Motion to adopt: Passed, 4-2 (roll call recorded in transcript).
- House Bill 1298 as amended — Motion for a due pass recommendation: Passed, committee reported 4-2 (roll call recorded in transcript; one roll-call sequence in the record is partly ambiguous on a single attribution but the committee reported the 4-2 result).

Background/why it matters: The amendment would change statutory speed limits and the statewide fine and points structure that highway patrol and municipal officers use to enforce speed laws. Supporters said simplifying fines and clarifying points would reduce confusion and create consistent penalties; opponents expressed safety concerns about raising the speed cap to 80 mph. Next steps: the bill was reported from committee with a due pass recommendation and may be scheduled for floor debate and further amendment.