BILL ANALYSIS

S.J.R. 25

By: Harris

Transportation

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Currently, under the Texas Constitution, only taxes on motor fuels and lubricants, vehicle registrations, and federal reimbursements are specifically dedicated to fund the acquisition of rights-of-way and the construction, maintenance, and policing of public roadways. In recent legislative sessions, new funding mechanisms, such as tolling, have been created to finance projects.  These projects have the ability to produce large amounts of revenue both up front and over time, as demonstrated by the State Highway 121 project in Dallas, Denton, and Collin Counties and the State Highway 161 project in Dallas County.  The legislature currently operates under a policy that allows the funds from toll projects to be used to build other transportation projects.

S.J.R. 25 proposes a constitutional amendment to the Texas Constitution to require revenue collected by public entities from tolled highway projects to be spent to improve the transportation system.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

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

ANALYSIS

S.J.R. 25 proposes an amendment to the Texas Constitution to establish that revenue collected by a public entity from the use of a tolled highway project other than an international bridge in Texas that is not dedicated to repayment of debt for the project may be used only for the acquisition, construction, operation, maintenance, or improvement of transportation projects. The resolution sets forth the required language for the ballot.

ELECTION DATE

The constitutional amendment proposed by this joint resolution will be submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 3, 2009.