BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 3082

By: Thibaut

Urban Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Issues have arisen in some neighborhoods of Houston where proposed street obstruction projects have not been presented for examination to the affected communities. These residents have not been given the opportunity to voice their opinions in a public hearing and these proposals are not being voted on by the city council.

H.B. 3082 prohibits a municipality with a population of 1.9 million or more from proceeding on a proposed street obstruction project unless the city council holds a public hearing on the project and approves the project by a majority vote.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 3082 amends the Transportation Code to prohibit a municipality with a population of 1.9 million or more from permanently or semipermanently obstructing all or part of a street in the municipality that has previously been open to traffic unless the governing body of the municipality holds a public hearing on the issue of the obstruction and approves the obstruction by a majority vote.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the act does not receive the necessary vote, the act takes effect September 1, 2009.