By: Raney, Kacal, Canales H.B. No. 1698
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to an optional county fee on vehicle registration in
  certain counties to be used for transportation projects.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 502.402, Transportation Code, is amended
  by amending Subsections (a), (b), (b-1), and (e) and adding
  Subsection (e-1) to read as follows:
         (a)  This section applies only to:
               (1)  a county that:
                     (A)  borders the United Mexican States; and
                     (B)  has a population of more than 250,000; [and]
               (2)  a county that has a population of more than 1.5
  million that is coterminous with a regional mobility authority;
               (3)  a county other than a county described by
  Subdivision (1) or (2) that is part of a regional mobility
  authority; and
               (4)  a county:
                     (A)  that has a population of more than 320,000;
                     (B)  that does not border the United Mexican
  States; and
                     (C)  in which a port authority is authorized to
  issue permits for oversize or overweight vehicles under Chapter
  623.
         (b)  The commissioners court of a county by order may impose
  an additional fee for a vehicle registered in the county. Except as
  provided by Subsection (b-1), the fee may not exceed $10. In a
  county described by Subsection (a)(3), the fee must be approved by a
  majority of the qualified voters of the county voting on the issue
  at a referendum election, which the commissioners court may order
  and hold for that purpose.
         (b-1)  The commissioners court of a county described by
  Subsection (a) [with a population of less than 700,000] may
  increase the additional fee to an amount that does not exceed $20 if
  approved by a majority of the qualified voters of the county voting
  on the issue at a referendum election, which the commissioners
  court may order and hold for that purpose.
         (e)  The additional fee shall be collected for a vehicle when
  other fees imposed under this chapter are collected. Except as
  otherwise provided by Subsection (e-1), the [The] fee revenue
  collected shall be:
               (1)  sent to a regional mobility authority located in
  the county to fund long-term transportation projects in the county
  that are consistent with the purposes specified by Section 7-a,
  Article VIII, Texas Constitution; or
               (2)  if there is no regional mobility authority located
  in the county, used by the county only to fund long-term
  transportation projects in the county that are consistent with the
  purposes specified by Section 7-a, Article VIII, Texas
  Constitution.
         (e-1)  If a county described by Subsection (a)(1), other than
  a county in which a vehicle is required to pass an emissions
  inspection, has been authorized to increase the amount of the fee
  under Subsection (b-1), 50 percent of the additional revenue
  collected as authorized by that subsection shall be sent to the
  county treasurer of the county to be credited to the county road and
  bridge fund.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2021.