BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 1181

By: Middleton

Transportation

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Commissioners courts in certain counties may allow the operation of a golf cart or an unregistered off-highway vehicle on all or part of certain highways located in the unincorporated area of the county. However, a number of coastal communities in which transportation via these golf carts and vehicles is ingrained in residents' way of life are excluded from this authority. C.S.H.B. 1181 seeks to address this issue by extending this authority to coastal counties.  

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 this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 1181 amends the Transportation Code to extend to a county that borders the Gulf of Mexico and has a population of less than 500,000 the authority to allow the operation of a golf cart or an unregistered off-highway vehicle on all or part of a highway that is located in the unincorporated area of the county and has a maximum speed limit of 35 miles per hour.

EFFECTIVE DATE

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

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

While C.S.H.B. 1181 may differ from the original in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following summarizes the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill.

The substitute raises the population threshold for the counties to which the bill's extension of authority applies from less than 360,000 to less than 500,000.