BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 4255

By: Gerdes

Transportation

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Current law allows for a local government, by contract, lease, or other arrangement, to authorize a qualified person to operate an airport on behalf of the local government, for a term not to exceed 40 years. C.S.H.B. 4255 seeks to increase the term limit for a local government to authorize a qualified person to operate the airport and for the lease of real property relating to certain airports and navigation facilities.

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

C.S.H.B. 4255 amends the Transportation Code to increase from 40 years to 50 years the term limit during which a local government, by contract, lease, or other agreement, may authorize a qualified person to operate an airport owned, leased, or controlled by the local government as an agent of the local government. The bill increases from 40 years to 50 years the term limit for a lease or renewal or extension of a lease of real property used as an airport or navigation facility if at the time of the lease the property is used as nonaeronautical property and is located on an airport on which there are active federal government aircraft operations on federal property.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2023.

COMPARISON OF INTRODUCED AND SUBSTITUTE

While C.S.H.B. 4255 may differ from the introduced in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following summarizes the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill.

Whereas the introduced changed from 40 years to 99 years the term limit during which a local government may authorize a qualified person to operate an airport owned or controlled by the local government and the term limit for the lease of certain real property, the substitute changes those term limits from 40 years to 50 years.