Honorable Geanie W. Morrison, Chair, House Committee on Transportation
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB1876 by Martinez, "Mando" (Relating to size and weight limitations for certain vehicles transporting agricultural products and equipment.), As Introduced
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend Subchapter I, Chapter 622 of the Transportation Code, relating to special provisions and exceptions for vehicles transporting certain agricultural products or equipment. The bill would authorize a vehicle or combination of vehicles to be operated at a weight that exceeds the State's legal maximum weight limitation by not more than 15 percent if the vehicle is being used to transport agricultural products not more than 100 miles from the place of production to the place of first marketing or processing. The bill would require the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV), in coordination with the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA), by rule to determine the harvest season of each agricultural product authorized to be transported under the provisions of the bill. The bill would take effect on September 1, 2017.
TxDMV indicates that certain vehicles or vehicle combinations that would be authorized to transport agricultural products under the provisions of the bill would be able to operate at a vehicle weight that would otherwise require a weight tolerance permit issued by TxDMV. A reduction in the number of permits issued would result in a loss of permit fee revenue allocated to the State Highway Fund, Texas Department of Motor Vehicles Fund, and any counties in which the vehicles would operate. Based on LBB's analysis of the information provided by TxDMV, it is assumed implementation of the bill would not result in a significant revenue loss to the State or counties.
Based on the information provided by TxDMV and TDA, it is assumed any costs or duties associated with implementing the provisions of the bill could be absorbed within the agencies' existing resources.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
551 Department of Agriculture, 601 Department of Transportation, 608 Department of Motor Vehicles