79R8176 MTB-F


By:  Jones of Lubbock, et al.                                     H.B. No. 749



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to size and weight limitations for certain vehicles 
transporting agricultural products and equipment.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 504.505(a), Transportation Code, is 
amended to read as follows:
	(a)  The department shall issue specialty license plates for 
a single motor vehicle that is:
		(1)  used only to transport seed cotton [modules], 
cotton, cotton burrs, or equipment used in transporting or 
processing cotton; and
		(2)  not more than 10 feet in width.                                          
	SECTION 2.  Section 522.003, Transportation Code, is amended 
by adding Subdivision (24-a) to read as follows:
		(24-a)  "Seed cotton module" means compacted seed 
cotton in any form.
	SECTION 3.  Subchapter I, Chapter 622, Transportation Code, 
is amended to read as follows:
	SUBCHAPTER I. VEHICLES TRANSPORTING CERTAIN AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS 
[COTTON] OR [COTTON PROCESSING] EQUIPMENT
	Sec. 622.101.  VEHICLE TRANSPORTING CERTAIN AGRICULTURAL 
PRODUCTS [COTTON] OR PROCESSING EQUIPMENT.  (a)  A single motor 
vehicle used exclusively to transport chili peppers, seed cotton 
[modules], cotton, cotton burrs, or equipment used to transport or 
process chili peppers or cotton, including a motor vehicle or burr 
spreader, from the place of production to the place of first 
processing may not be operated on a highway or road if the vehicle 
is:
		(1)  wider than 10 feet and the highway has not been 
designated by the commission under Section 621.202 [if the vehicle 
is registered under Section 502.277];
		(2)  longer than 48 feet;  or                                                 
		(3)  higher than 14 feet 6 inches.                                            
	(b)  A motor vehicle that transports seed cotton must be 
registered under Section 504.505.
	SECTION 4.  Section 622.953(a), Transportation Code, is 
amended to read as follows:
	(a)  The weight limitations of Section 621.101 do not apply 
to a single motor vehicle used exclusively to transport chili 
peppers, seed cotton, or equipment used to transport or process 
chili peppers or seed cotton from the place of production to the 
place of first processing [modules].
	SECTION 5.  Section 644.052(c), Transportation Code, is 
amended to read as follows:
	(c)  A rule adopted under this chapter may not apply to a 
vehicle that is operated intrastate and that is:
		(1)  a machine generally consisting of a mast, engine, 
draw works, and chassis permanently constructed or assembled to be 
used and used in oil or water well servicing or drilling;
		(2)  a mobile crane that is an unladen, self-propelled 
vehicle constructed as a machine to raise, shift, or lower weight; 
or
		(3)  a vehicle transporting [a] seed cotton [module].
	SECTION 6.  The changes in law made by this Act apply only to 
an offense committed on or after September 1, 2005. An offense 
committed before September 1, 2005, is covered by the law as it 
existed immediately before the effective date of this Act, and the 
former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
	SECTION 7.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2005.