Enrolled Bill Summary

            Senate Bill 1782 amends the Transportation Code to prohibit the Texas Transportation Commission from adopting or enforcing an order that affects access to a highway in certain counties and municipalities and is inconsistent with a rule or ordinance adopted by the county or municipality, unless the federal highway administration notifies the Texas Department of Transportation that the rule or order would impair the ability of the state or the department to receive federal funds for highway construction or maintenance. The bill also provides that a highway access management order of the commission does not supersede a conflicting rule or ordinance adopted by a municipality, including a home-rule municipality, or a county, unless the federal highway administration notifies the department that the rule would impair the ability of the state or the department to receive federal funds for highway construction or maintenance.

Reason Given for Veto:  "Senate Bill No. 1782 would allow Harris County, a county adjacent to Harris County, or a municipality located in one of these counties to override a Texas Transportation Commission order concerning control of access to the state highway system. All freeways are built as controlled access highways. A drafting error gives a local government the ability to override a Transportation Commission order designating a road as a controlled access highway, which would prohibit the Department of Transportation from building a freeway in these counties. Providing municipalities the ability to decide where access to the state highway system will occur is covered in Senate Bill No. 361, which I have signed."