By: Raney, Canales, Kacal H.B. No. 1698

(Senate Sponsor - Schwertner, Hinojosa, Lucio)

(In the Senate - Received from the House May 5, 2021; May 18, 2021, read first time and referred to Committee on Transportation; May 21, 2021, reported adversely, with favorable Committee Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 9, Nays 0; May 21, 2021, sent to printer.) Click here to see the committee vote

COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR H.B. No. 1698 By: Seliger

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to authorizing 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. Sections 502.402(a) and (b), Transportation Code, are amended 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; and

(3) a county that has a population of more than 190,000 and not more than 1.5 million that is coterminous with a regional mobility authority.

(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.

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.

* * * * *