BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 1865

By: West

Transportation

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) issues permits for oversize and overweight vehicles and equipment that are commonly seen on Texas highways, such as concrete mixers, oil drilling equipment, manufactured homes, and hay balers. However, it has been noted that TxDMV does not issue a permit that authorizes the use of vehicles used to paint or stripe highways. S.B. 1865 seeks to address this issue by authorizing TxDMV to issue an annual permit for these vehicles.

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

S.B. 1865 amends the Transportation Code to authorize the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles to issue an annual permit to allow the operation on a state highway, other than a highway that is part of the national system of interstate and defense highways, of equipment that exceeds weight limits provided by law if the equipment does not exceed 120,000 pounds gross weight and is used solely for the purpose of applying paint to a roadway as part of the construction or maintenance of public roads. The bill provides for the payment of a permit fee capped at $7,000 to accompany the permit application and exempts the permit from the highway maintenance fee for certain heavy equipment.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2021.