LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
 
FISCAL NOTE, 84TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
 
April 1, 2015

TO:
Honorable Joseph Pickett, Chair, House Committee on Transportation
 
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
 
IN RE:
HB2229 by Martinez, "Mando" (Relating to the creation of regional transit authorities; granting the power of eminent domain; providing authority to issue bonds and charge fees.), As Introduced

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would add Chapter 463 to Subtitle K, Title 6, Transportation Code to authorize the creation of a regional transit authority in a county bordering Mexico and the Gulf of Mexico, and any other county bordering the aforesaid county. The bill would authorize the regional transit authority to acquire property through eminent domain, impose fares and other charges, and issue bonds. Under the provisions of the bill, if eminent domain is not exercised, an authority would be required to obtain written permission of the property owner before the altering of property. The bill would authorize the regional transit authority to construct and operate a public transportation system including a light rail mass transit system and operate and enforce high occupancy vehicle lanes (HOV). Under the provisions of the bill, an authority would be permitted to impose additional fees for the use of a bridge of a municipality. Based on the applicability criteria, the provisions would apply to Cameron, Hidalgo, and Willacy counties.
 
The Office of the Attorney General anticipates any additional work resulting from the passage of the bill could be reasonably absorbed within current resources.

Texas Department of Transportation indicated no significant fiscal impact on the department or on the operations of the department is anticipated.

Local Government Impact

Because the bill would not have statewide impact on units of local government of the same type or class, no comment from this office is required by the rules of the House/Senate as to its probable fiscal implication on units of local government.


Source Agencies:
302 Office of the Attorney General, 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 601 Department of Transportation
LBB Staff:
UP, AG, SD, EK, TBo, KKR, TG