BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center H.B. 649
By: Krusee (Staples)
Transportation & Homeland Security
AUTHOR'S/SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Current law limits the Texas Department of Transportation's (TxDOT) annual financial participation in toll facilities to $800 million. The current limit severely hinders TxDOT's ability to leverage limited financial resources to address the mobility crisis in Texas. H.B. 649 increases the cap on toll equity to provide TxDOT the ability to leverage limited financial resources to address mobility needs.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 222.103, Transportation Code, by amending Subsections (d), (e), and (h), and adding Subsection (d-1), as follows:
(d) Requires the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) annually to publish a status report on certain highway construction projects, by legislative district. Deletes existing text requiring the report to be made on the request of a legislator and include state-funded or federally-funded projects.
(d-1) Requires TxDOT, on the request of a member of the legislature, to provide the member a status report on all highway construction projects, by the legislative district, that are under contract or awaiting funding and would be funded in any manner by state, federal, or toll funds.
(e) Makes a conforming change.
(h) Prohibits money granted by TxDOT each fiscal year under this section from exceeding $1.5 billion, rather than $800 million.
SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2005.