LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 80TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

April 9, 2007

TO:	Honorable John Carona, Chair, Senate Committee on Transportation & Homeland Security
FROM:	John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	SB436 by Ellis (Relating to the operation of hybrid motor vehicles.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would amend the Transportation Code to require the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to issue a specially designed “hybrid vehicle” insignia at the time of registration of a hybrid motor vehicle. The bill would allow hybrid vehicles displaying the new insignia to use high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes regardless of the number of passengers in the vehicle unless the use would impair the receipt of federal funds or TxDOt determines that the HOV lane has reached 80 percent of its capacity.

 

Based on the analysis of TxDOT, it is assumed any costs associated with implementing a system to register hybrid vehicles could be absorbed within existing resources.

 

The bill would take effect on September 1, 2007.

Local Government Impact

No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.

Source Agencies:

601 Department of Transportation

LBB Staff:

JOB, KJG, MW, TG