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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to financial assistance for rail facilities. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 201, Transportation Code, is amended by |
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adding Subchapter O-1, to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER O-1. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR RAIL |
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Sec. 201.981. GRANTS FOR SHORTLINE RAIL IMPROVEMENT. (a) |
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In this section: |
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(1) "District" means a rural rail transportation |
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district to which Chapter 172, Transportation Code, applies. |
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(2) "Shortline railroad" means a Class II or Class III |
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railroad under the current railroad classification criteria set by |
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the federal Surface Transportation Board. |
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(b) The legislature finds that shortline railroads |
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operating in this state develop and expand transportation and |
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commerce within the state in accordance with Section 52-a, Article |
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III, Texas Constitution. |
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(c) The department may provide to a district or a shortline |
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railroad a grant to be used for track or bridge replacement, rail |
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capacity improvement, or rail restoration. To be eligible for a |
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grant under this section, a project must increase public safety, |
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enhance economic development, or reduce traffic congestion on |
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public roadways. |
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(d) A district or shortline railroad may use money provided |
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by the department under this section as matching funds to secure |
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federal funding for a purpose for which a grant may be made under |
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Subsection (c). |
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(e) Each grant under this section must be approved by the |
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commission. Before approving a grant, the commission shall require |
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that at least 10 percent of the total project cost, or if used as |
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matching funds, at least 10 percent of the amount used as matching |
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funds, be provided by sources other than the state. |
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(f) For a grant under this section, the department may use |
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only money appropriated specifically for that purpose. The |
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department may not use money deposited in the state treasury to the |
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credit of the state highway fund for a grant under this section. |
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(g) The commission shall adopt rules to implement this |
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section. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |