BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1321

By: Bonnen, Dennis

Transportation

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The Overweight Corridor Program at the Texas Department of Transportation provides optional routes for certain port authorities for the movement of oversized or overweight vehicles carrying cargo on certain state highways. Interested parties assert that by allowing shippers to load containers to their maximum carrying weight, the program reduces transportation costs, the number of trucks on the road, and vehicle emissions, in addition to making local roads safer for citizens, visitors, and businesses by diverting larger trucks to more appropriate roadways.
H.B. 1321 seeks to expand the benefits of this program.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

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. 1321 amends the Transportation Code to require the Texas Transportation Commission, for a permit for the movement of oversize or overweight vehicles on specified roads issued by a port authority located in a county that is adjacent to at least two counties with a population of 550,000 or more, and with the port authority's consent, to designate the most direct route from the intersection of North Velasco Boulevard and South Avenue J in the city of Freeport to the entrance of Port Freeport using North Velasco Boulevard and Farm-to-Market Road 1495 and to designate the most direct route from 21441 Loop 419 in the city of Sweeny to the entrance of Port Freeport using Loop 419, State Highways 35 and 36, and Farm-to-Market Road 1495.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2015.