BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 156

By: Ortega

Transportation

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Residents and local leaders of El Paso County have called for a mechanism to raise local revenue for large, long-term priority transportation projects in the region. H.B. 156 seeks to implement such a mechanism by authorizing El Paso County to impose an additional vehicle registration fee, subject to voter approval, to help fund those projects.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles in SECTION 1 of this bill.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 156 amends the Transportation Code to authorize the commissioners court of a county that borders the United Mexican States and contains a municipality that unilaterally created a regional mobility authority to impose an additional vehicle registration fee capped at $10. The bill authorizes the commissioners court to hold an election for that purpose and requires voter approval of the fee at the election. The bill exempts from the additional fee a vehicle that may be registered without payment of a registration fee and sets out provisions regarding the effect, removal, and collection of the fee.

H.B. 156 requires the fee revenue collected to be sent to a regional mobility authority located in the county to fund certain long-term transportation projects in the county that are included in a plan approved by the metropolitan planning organization that serves the county. The bill requires the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles to adopt rules necessary to administer registration for a vehicle being registered in a county imposing such a fee.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2021.