SRC-SLL H.B. 130 75(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center H.B. 130 By: Pitts (Cain) Intergovernmental Relations 5-15-97 Engrossed DIGEST Texas law requires that a road maintained by a county have an engineering and traffic investigation conducted before a speed limit can be changed. Many county-maintained roads never have an engineering and traffic investigation. If there has not been an engineering and traffic investigation conducted, the legal speed limit falls under Section 545.352(b), Transportation Code. As a result, most county roads have legal speed limits in excess of 50 mph. This bill will provide regulations regarding the authority of the commissioners court of a county to alter speed limits on county roads. PURPOSE As proposed, H.B. 130 provides regulations regarding the authority of the commissioners court of a county to alter speed limits on county roads. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 545.355(a), Transportation Code, to authorize the commissioners court of a county to increase, rather than alter, prima facie speed limits on certain roads under certain conditions and to declare a lower speed limit on certain roads, if the commissioners court determines that the prima facie speed limit on the road or highway is unreasonable or unsafe. SECTION 2. Emergency clause. Effective date: upon passage.