Honorable Joseph Pickett, Chair, House Committee on Transportation
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB1350 by Burkett (Relating to a limitation on the amount of tolls and other charges that may be imposed by toll project entities for the use of toll projects.), As Introduced
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend the Transportation Code to prohibit the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) or a local toll project entity (including a regional tollway authority, regional mobility authority, or county toll road authority) from setting tolls or other charges for use of a toll project in an amount that exceeds the amount necessary to pay bonds and other obligations secured by the revenue as required by a bond resolution or trust agreement and provide for the maintenance and operation of the project. The bill would specify that, after all outstanding bonds and other obligations secured by toll revenue and charges of a project have been repaid or otherwise satisfied, tolls and charges collected for use of the project could be used only for the maintenance and operation of the portion of the project for which the tolls and charges were collected. The bill would repeal provisions in the Transportation Code that authorize the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and the North Texas Tollway Authority (NTTA) to use surplus revenue of a toll project to fund pay for the costs of other transportation or air quality projects.
Based on the information provided by TxDOT, it is assumed implementation of the bill would not result in a significant fiscal impact to the state.
Local Government Impact
There would be an impact on local toll project entities; however, the fiscal impact is not anticipated to be significant.