BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	S.B. 1865
87R1516 JRR-D	By: West
	Transportation
	4/19/2021
	As Filed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Chapter 623, Texas Transportation Code, regulates oversize and overweight vehicles and certain heavy equipment that, at some point, traverse state highways. It includes a listing of more than 30 unique vehicles or equipment specific permits for items we commonly see on Texas highways, such as concrete mixers, oil drilling equipment, manufactured homes, and hay balers. However, there is not a permit that authorizes the use of vehicles used to paint or stripe highways.

S.B.1865 would create an oversize/overweight permit for vehicles used to paint highway stripes. The permit would renew annually.

Generally, overweight/oversize vehicle permits are obtained for vehicles whose gross weights exceed 80,000 pounds.

The permit would be part of the group of oversize/overweight permits that are called annual envelope permits, which are issued for vehicles or equipment with a gross weight of up to 120,000 pounds that are up to 110 feet long, 12 feet wide, and 14 feet high.

The permit created under S.B.1865 would be for vehicles used to paint highway stripes and travel on state highways that are not part of the national interstate highway system.

As proposed, S.B. 1865 amends current law relating to an annual permit for certain equipment used to apply paint to roadways and authorizes a fee.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

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

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 623.071, Transportation Code, by adding Subsection (c-2), as follows:

(c-2) Authorizes the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) 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 and size limits provided by law if the equipment:

(1) does not exceed the maximum weight and size limits provided in Subsection (c)(3)(B) (relating to the maximum size of superheavy or oversize equipment authorized under a certain permit); and

(2) is used solely for the purpose of applying paint to a roadway as part of the construction or maintenance of public roads.

SECTION 2. Amends Section 623.076(c), Transportation Code, as follows:

(c) Requires that an application for a permit under certain sections, including under Section 623.071(c-2) be accompanied by the permit fee established by the board of TxDMV, in consultation with the Texas Transportation Commission, for the permit, not to exceed $7,000.

SECTION 3. Amends Section 623.077(a), Transportation Code, as follows:

(a) Requires an applicant for a permit under Subchapter D (Heavy Equipment), other than a permit under certain sections, including under Section 623.071(c-2), to also pay a highway maintenance fee in an amount determined according to a certain table.

SECTION 4. Effective date: September 1, 2021.