BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 2202

By: Kacal

Agriculture & Livestock

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

While current law allows for certain exemptions on public roads for implements of husbandry, interested parties maintain that the law may not cover certain equipment traditionally thought of and used as implements of husbandry. C.S.H.B. 2202 seeks to address this issue by amending the applicable law.

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

C.S.H.B. 2202 amends the Transportation Code to include in the definition of "implement of husbandry" a towed vehicle that transports to the field and spreads fertilizer or agricultural chemicals and a motor vehicle designed and adapted to deliver feed to livestock. The bill clarifies that the exemption from vehicle width limitations for farm tractors, implements of husbandry, and vehicles moving such equipment traveling on certain highways during daylight applies to farm tractors and implements of husbandry as those terms are defined under statutory provisions relating to vehicles, rail transportation, and equipment and by the bill's provisions.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2015.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

While C.S.H.B. 2202 may differ from the original in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following comparison is organized and formatted in a manner that indicates the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill.

INTRODUCED	HOUSE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
SECTION 1. Section 541.201(6), Transportation Code, is amended to read as follows: (6) "Implement of husbandry" means: (A) a vehicle, other than a passenger car or truck, that is designed and adapted for use as a farm implement, machinery, or tool for tilling the soil; (B) a motor vehicle that is designed or modified and used exclusively to transport to the field and spread fertilizer or manure; or (C) a motor vehicle designed and used exclusively to deliver feed to livestock.	SECTION 1. Section 541.201(6), Transportation Code, is amended to read as follows: (6) "Implement of husbandry" means: (A) a vehicle, other than a passenger car or truck, that is designed and adapted for use as a farm implement, machinery, or tool for tilling the soil; (B) a towed vehicle that transports to the field and spreads fertilizer or agricultural chemicals; or (C) a motor vehicle designed and adapted to deliver feed to livestock.
SECTION 2. Section 622.901, Transportation Code, is amended.	SECTION 2. Same as introduced version.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.	SECTION 3. Same as introduced version.