LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
 
FISCAL NOTE, 87TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
 
April 7, 2021

TO:
Honorable DeWayne Burns, Chair, House Committee on Agriculture & Livestock
 
FROM:
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
 
IN RE:
HB4548 by Burns (Relating to the delivery of agricultural products.), As Introduced

No immediate fiscal implication to the State is anticipated. However, implementation of the bill could put the State in violation of federal law and at risk of losing Federal highway funding.

The bill would amend Transportation Code ยง623.341 to authorize the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV), following the declaration of a state of disaster by the Governor, to issue a special permit to an overweight or oversize vehicle or load that can be easily dismantled or divided and will be used to deliver relief supplies or agricultural products.

Based on the information provided by TxDMV and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), there would be no significant direct operational or fiscal impact to the agencies resulting from implementation of the bill. However, based on the information provided by TxDMV and TxDOT, it is assumed implementation of the bill could place the state in violation of federal weight restrictions, which could result in the withholding of 50 percent of the State's apportionment of federal National Highway Performance Program (NHPP) funds. TxDOT indicates that up to $1.2 billion in NHPP funds per fiscal year could be withheld under the State's current federal apportionment level if the State was found to be in violation of the federal weight restrictions.

Local Government Impact

No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.


Source Agencies:
551 Department of Agriculture, 601 Department of Transportation, 608 Department of Motor Vehicles
LBB Staff:
JMc, AJL, MB, TG