Overall Vote Recommendation

Yes

Principle Criteria

Free Enterprise

Property Rights

Personal Responsibility

Limited Government

Individual Liberty

Digest

HB 4804, as substituted, modifies sections of the Texas Transportation Code to automatically revoke a driver’s license or personal identification certificate issued by the Department of Public Safety (DPS) when the holder is required to register as a sex offender or is under civil commitment and fails to comply with the statutory renewal requirements. The bill targets individuals subject to the registration mandates under Chapter 62 or Chapter 65 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure. These individuals must keep their state-issued identification current as part of compliance with ongoing supervision or monitoring obligations.

Specifically, the bill amends Section 521.101(h) of the Transportation Code to revoke a personal identification certificate when the individual fails to renew as required under Articles 62.060, 62.2021, or 65.058 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. Similarly, Section 521.348(a) is revised to revoke a driver's license under the same conditions. Importantly, the bill expands the scope of revocation under Section 521.348 beyond sex offenders to include individuals determined to be sexually violent predators under civil commitment statutes (Chapter 65).

Additionally, HB 4804 repeals Section 521.297(b), which previously addressed disqualifications relating to driving offenses, and Section 522.087(b), which addressed disqualification from operating a commercial motor vehicle. The bill’s provisions will take effect on September 1, 2025.

Overall, the legislation aims to strengthen compliance enforcement for individuals under public safety registration requirements by linking it directly to the validity of their state-issued identification documents.

The originally filed version of HB 4804 was narrowly focused on the automatic revocation of driver’s licenses for individuals who are required to register as sex offenders or who are subject to civil commitment under Chapters 62 or 65 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. The bill amended Section 521.348 of the Transportation Code to include a reference to Article 65.058 (civil commitment procedures) and repealed Sections 521.297(b) and 522.087(b) of the Transportation Code, which dealt with disqualifications from holding certain licenses.

In contrast, the Committee Substitute significantly expands the scope and applicability of the bill by including personal identification certificates issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety. Specifically, it adds a new amendment to Section 521.101(h) of the Transportation Code to mandate automatic revocation of a personal ID certificate under the same conditions applied to driver’s licenses—namely, when the individual subject to registration under Chapters 62 or 65 fails to renew as required by law.

Additionally, the Committee Substitute retains the repeal of Sections 521.297(b) and 522.087(b), as in the original bill, but introduces a clearer and more consistent statutory structure by aligning language between sections that govern driver's licenses and personal IDs. The changes indicate a broader enforcement mechanism tied to identification documents, regardless of whether the individual possesses a driver's license or an identification-only certificate.

Overall, the substitute version broadens the bill’s reach from focusing solely on driver’s licenses to encompassing all forms of state-issued personal identification for qualifying individuals under sex offender or civil commitment statutes, reinforcing compliance through both legal and administrative mechanisms.

Author (1)

Cole Hefner

Sponsor (1)

Brent Hagenbuch

Contact the Author

Rep. Cole Hefner

Capitol Phone:

(512) 463-0271

Capitol Office:

EXT E2.610

E-Mail:

[email protected]

Visit Official Website

Fiscal Notes

According to the Legislative Budget Board (LBB), HB 4804 is not expected to have a significant fiscal impact on the state. The Department of Public Safety (DPS), which would be responsible for implementing the provisions of the bill—including the revocation of personal identification certificates and driver’s licenses for certain non-compliant sex offenders and civilly committed individuals—indicated that any additional administrative or operational costs could be managed within the agency's existing resources.

The fiscal note also finds no significant financial impact on units of local government. This is because the responsibilities associated with identifying and revoking licenses or identification certificates fall primarily within state-level processes already in place, particularly those managed by DPS. Local governments are not expected to incur new obligations or substantial costs as a result of the legislation's implementation.

In summary, while the bill does impose new administrative requirements on DPS, it does so within the framework of the agency’s current operations and authority, making additional funding or staffing unnecessary. This cost-neutral assessment reinforces the bill’s feasibility from a budgetary standpoint.

Vote Recommendation Notes

HB 4804 is a narrowly tailored bill that promotes enforcement of existing public safety laws without expanding the scope or size of government. It targets only individuals who are already required to register as sex offenders or under the terrorist offender registration program, and ensures that those who fail to renew their state-issued identification as legally required will have their licenses or IDs automatically revoked. This measure enhances accountability for a high-risk group and promotes consistent application of public safety policy.

The bill also resolves a regulatory conflict with federal commercial driver license (CDL) requirements by repealing state provisions that improperly allowed certain CDL holders to request administrative hearings. Aligning Texas law with federal CDL standards avoids potential federal penalties, such as the loss of highway funds or decertification of the state CDL program, and helps protect infrastructure funding and public safety integrity.

Importantly, HB 4804 does not increase the size or reach of government. It does not create new programs, agencies, or regulatory authority. The Department of Public Safety has indicated it can implement the changes with no significant fiscal impact, using current resources. Likewise, the bill does not increase the burden on taxpayers or impose any new duties on businesses. Its application is limited to individuals already under state supervision and does not affect the general public.

Finally, the bill imposes no new regulatory burdens. Instead, it reinforces an existing legal obligation for a very specific population, helping ensure continued public safety while respecting the boundaries of limited government. For these reasons, Texas Policy Research recommends that lawmakers vote YES on HB 4804.

The bill does not restrict liberty for the general population. It applies only to individuals who are already subject to lawful restrictions due to serious criminal offenses (e.g., sex crimes or terrorism-related activity). These individuals have diminished privacy rights under current law, and the bill merely ensures compliance with identification renewal requirements that are already part of their legal obligations. It helps safeguard the broader public's safety, which is a necessary balance to individual liberty in a free society.
This bill clearly supports personal responsibility. It reinforces the expectation that those under registration requirements must keep their personal ID or driver's license current. If they fail to meet this basic obligation, they lose access to that government-issued identification. It holds people accountable for complying with existing laws without introducing new ones.
There is no impact on private businesses or economic freedom. The bill doesn’t impose new regulations or requirements on the private sector. It does not change how businesses operate, nor does it create any compliance costs for employers or contractors.
The legislation does not affect property rights. It deals strictly with government-issued identification documents and applies to a limited class of individuals who are already being monitored. There is no expansion of eminent domain, seizure authority, or government control over personal property.
HB 4804 maintains a limited-government approach. It does not create new agencies, increase taxes, or expand state authority into new areas. It uses existing government tools (like license revocation) more efficiently to enforce existing legal obligations. In fact, by repealing outdated provisions and aligning Texas law with federal CDL requirements, it streamlines the law and reduces risk of federal intervention.

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