BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center H.B. 2257
79R12221 DWS-D By: Gallego (Madla)
Transportation & Homeland Security
AUTHOR'S/SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
The vast size of Texas requires many Texans to spend many hours on the road. Road travel is especially challenging and time consuming for rural Texans who live in sparsely populated areas of the state. The purpose of this bill is to give the Texas Transportation Commission the authority to increase the speed limit up to 80 miles per hour on Interstate 10 and Interstate 20 in the sparsely populated counties of Crockett, Culberson, Hudspeth, Jeff Davis, Kerr, Kimble, Pecos, Reeves, Sutton, and Ward.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 545.353, Transportation Code, by adding Subsection (h-1) and amending Subsection (i), as follows:
(h-1) Authorizes the Texas Transportation Commission to establish a speed limit of 80 miles per hour in daytime on a part of Interstate Highway 10 or Interstate Highway 20 in Crockett, Culberson, Hudspeth, Jeff Davis, Kerr, Kimble, Pecos, Reeves, Sutton, or Ward County if the commission determines that 80 miles per hour in daytime is a reasonable and safe speed for that part of the highway, notwithstanding Section 545.352(b) (Prima Facie Speed Limits).
(i) Makes conforming changes.
SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2005.