LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                              Austin, Texas
                                     
                    FISCAL NOTE, 76th Regular Session
  
                              April 20, 1999
  
  
          TO:  Honorable Gary Walker, Chair, House Committee on Land &
               Resource Management
  
        FROM:  John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
  
       IN RE:  HB 3117 by Swinford (relating to the purchase of railroad
               right-of-way following abandonment for rail purposes),
               Committee Report 1st House, as amended
  
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*  No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.        *
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The bill would require that a railroad that files for abandonment with
the Surface Transportation Board must offer to sell real property to
lease holders who have constructed improvements on that property.

The Texas Department of Transportation estimates that its ownership
interests of $676,308 in two rural rail transportation districts could
be lost without compensation if the legislation is enacted.
  
Local Government Impact
  
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is
anticipated.
  
  
Source Agencies:   455   Railroad Commission, 305   General Land Office
                   and Veterans' Land Board, 601   Department of
                   Transportation
LBB Staff:         JK, DE, MF