# Texas SB 1353: Relating to the licensing and regulation of pilots in the jurisdiction of the pilot board of a navigation district located in Cameron County. Texas SB 1353, Relating to the licensing and regulation of pilots in the jurisdiction of the pilot board of a navigation district located in Cameron County., is a 89th Legislature Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Erin Gámez, Adam Hinojosa (Republican); status signed, last action 2025-06-20 (Effective on 9/1/25) (as of 2026-10-19). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TX-SB1353-89R - As of: 2026-10-19 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Texas SB 1353 - State: Texas - Session: 89th Legislature Regular Session - Title: Relating to the licensing and regulation of pilots in the jurisdiction of the pilot board of a navigation district located in Cameron County. - Status: signed - Chamber: Senate - Introduced: 2025-02-18 - Last action: 2025-06-20, Effective on 9/1/25 - Sponsors: Erin Gámez, Adam Hinojosa (Republican) - Cosponsors: 0 - Subjects: CAMERON COUNTY, Civil Remedies & Liabilities, Occupational Regulation--Other Trades & Professions, Special Districts & Authorities--Navigation & Ports, Water--Navigation & Ports, BONDS, OATHS - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 6 (228 yes, 72 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 7 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Cameron County pilots face licensing requirements: cost, medium. Branch and deputy pilot applicants must be at least 25, be U.S. citizens, and hold federal licenses for the covered waters. Both must meet mental and physical health, character, and skill standards and be selected by a licensed branch pilot. Branch applicants also need one year of continuous Texas… - Pilots need bonds and fixed commissions: cost, low. Before starting service, pilots must take an oath and provide a $5,000 bond guaranteeing legal compliance and faithful service. The board approves the bond, which is payable to the governor and deposited with the Texas secretary of state. The bond amount is not a stated out-of-pocket price. After t… - Bypassing authorized pilots triggers double charges: cost, low. A vessel moving in district waterways without a pilot owes twice the applicable rate when available pilot services go unused. Its consignee pays the first district pilot who requests payment. Unauthorized providers also owe an authorized pilot twice the scheduled rate for required piloting into or… - Pilot hiring limits and hearing protections: mixed, low. A branch pilot can appoint two deputies, subject to board examination and approval; the board can allow additional deputies. The branch pilot is responsible for deputies' acts and loses the appointment for appointing a deputy without board approval. The board can suspend or dismiss pilots for misco… - Local boards control Cameron County pilots: mixed, low. Beginning September 1, 2025, Cameron County navigation districts follow a separate pilot law, not the state's general Chapter 62 rules. District pilot boards control piloting between the Gulf of Mexico and district ports, including stops along district navigable streams. Boards can appoint, suspend… - Pilot liability capped, limiting damage recovery: mixed, low. For acts on or after September 1, 2025, a pilot's liability for errors or neglect during pilot services generally stops at $1,000. Pilots are also protected from pilot-service claims arising from another pilot's or a pilot organization's acts. Exceptions cover willful misconduct or gross negligence… - Vessel charges carry safeguards and exemptions: mixed, low. Pilot service rates must be fair and just, and the local board can set rates. Pilots must file rate schedules with district commissioners, follow them, and file updates when rates change. The consignee—the party entering or clearing the vessel at customs—is responsible for paying pilot charges. Ves… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Erin Gámez, House - Sponsor: Adam Hinojosa (Republican), Senate ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2025-05-23 | House | Record vote | pass | 100 | 39 | | | 2025-05-22 | House | Record vote | pass | 107 | 33 | | | 2025-04-10 | Senate | Record vote | pass | | | | | 2025-04-10 | Senate | Record vote | pass | | | | | | House | Committee vote: Transportation | pass | 12 | 0 | | | | Senate | Committee vote: Transportation | pass | 9 | 0 | | ## Actions (50) - 2025-06-20: Effective on 9/1/25 (House) - 2025-06-20: Signed by the Governor (House) - 2025-05-27: Sent to the Governor (House) - 2025-05-26: Signed in the House (House) - 2025-05-26: Signed in the Senate (Senate) - 2025-05-23: Reported enrolled (Senate) - 2025-05-23: House passage reported (Senate) - 2025-05-23: Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal (House) - 2025-05-23: Record vote (RV#3377) (House) - 2025-05-23: Passed (House) - 2025-05-23: Read 3rd time (House) - 2025-05-22: Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal (House) - 2025-05-22: Record vote (RV#3301) (House) - 2025-05-22: Passed to 3rd reading (House) - 2025-05-22: Read 2nd time (House) - 2025-05-22: Placed on General State Calendar (House) - 2025-05-20: Considered in Calendars (House) - 2025-05-19: Committee report sent to Calendars (House) - 2025-05-16: Committee report distributed (House) - 2025-05-16: Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator (House) - 2025-05-13: Reported favorably w/o amendment(s) (House) - 2025-05-13: Considered in formal meeting (House) - 2025-05-12: Left pending in committee (House) - 2025-05-12: Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee (House) - 2025-05-12: Considered in public hearing (House) - 2025-05-12: Scheduled for public hearing on . . . (House) - 2025-04-22: Referred to Transportation (House) - 2025-04-22: Read first time (House) - 2025-04-14: Received from the Senate (House) - 2025-04-10: Reported engrossed (Senate) - 2025-04-10: Record vote (Senate) - 2025-04-10: Passed (Senate) - 2025-04-10: Read 3rd time (Senate) - 2025-04-10: Record vote (Senate) - 2025-04-10: Three day rule suspended (Senate) - 2025-04-10: Vote recorded in Journal (Senate) - 2025-04-10: Read 2nd time & passed to engrossment (Senate) - 2025-04-10: Laid before the Senate (Senate) - 2025-04-10: Placed on local & uncontested calendar (Senate) - 2025-03-27: Committee report printed and distributed (Senate) - 2025-03-27: Recommended for local & uncontested calendar (Senate) - 2025-03-27: Reported favorably w/o amendments (Senate) - 2025-03-26: Vote taken in committee (Senate) - 2025-03-26: Testimony taken in committee (Senate) - 2025-03-26: Considered in public hearing (Senate) - 2025-03-26: Scheduled for public hearing on . . . (Senate) - 2025-03-06: Referred to Transportation (Senate) - 2025-03-06: Read first time (Senate) - 2025-02-18: Filed (Senate) - 2025-02-18: Received by the Secretary of the Senate (Senate) ## Bill text - Engrossed: [HTML](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/html/SB01353E.HTM), [PDF](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/pdf/SB01353E.PDF) - Enrolled: [HTML](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/html/SB01353F.HTM), [PDF](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/pdf/SB01353F.PDF) - House Committee Report: [HTML](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/html/SB01353H.HTM), [PDF](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/pdf/SB01353H.PDF) - Introduced: [HTML](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/html/SB01353I.HTM), [PDF](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/pdf/SB01353I.PDF) - Senate Committee Report: [HTML](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/html/SB01353S.HTM), [PDF](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/pdf/SB01353S.PDF) ## Related bills - SB 2111: Relating to legal representation of indigent persons in this state and to proceedings before a magistrate including the appointment of counsel for an indigent… (vetoed) - SB 1838: Relating to the appointment of attorneys ad litem and the compensation of certain attorneys ad litem in suits affecting the parent-child relationship filed by… (vetoed) - SB 3: Relating to the regulation of products derived from hemp, including consumable hemp products and the hemp-derived cannabinoids contained in those products; req… (vetoed) - SB 2878: Relating to the operation and administration of and practices and procedures related to proceedings in the judicial branch of state government, including court… (vetoed) - SB 646: Relating to repayment of certain mental health professional education loans. (signed) - HB 4325: Relating to civil liability for prohibited barratry. (became law) ## Sources - [Engrossed (HTML)](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/html/SB01353E.HTM) - [Engrossed (PDF)](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/pdf/SB01353E.PDF) - [Enrolled (HTML)](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/html/SB01353F.HTM) - [Enrolled (PDF)](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/pdf/SB01353F.PDF) - [House Committee Report (HTML)](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/html/SB01353H.HTM) - [House Committee Report (PDF)](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/pdf/SB01353H.PDF) - [Introduced (HTML)](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/html/SB01353I.HTM) - [Introduced (PDF)](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/pdf/SB01353I.PDF) - [Senate Committee Report (HTML)](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/html/SB01353S.HTM) - [Senate Committee Report (PDF)](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/pdf/SB01353S.PDF) ## Related - [SB 2111: Relating to legal representation of indigent persons in this state and to proce…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TX-SB2111-89R) - [SB 1838: Relating to the appointment of attorneys ad litem and the compensation of certa…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TX-SB1838-89R) - [SB 3: Relating to the regulation of products derived from hemp, including consumable…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TX-SB3-89R) - [SB 2878: Relating to the operation and administration of and practices and procedures re…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TX-SB2878-89R) - [SB 646: Relating to repayment of certain mental health professional education loans.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TX-SB646-89R) - [HB 4325: Relating to civil liability for prohibited barratry.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TX-HB4325-89R) - [Texas bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/texas/bills) - [Texas state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/texas) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TX-SB1353-89R (as of 2026-10-19).