BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

 

C.S.H.B. 1493

By: Krause

Transportation

Committee Report (Substituted)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 

It has been suggested that certain buses, such as over-the-road buses, are designed to be heavier than traditional buses and thus should not be subject to certain standard weight limitations imposed on vehicles operated over or on public highways or ports-of-entry. C.S.H.B. 1493 seeks to provide for such a distinction by imposing certain weight limitations for over-the-road buses.

 

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. 1493 amends the Transportation Code to restrict the over-the-road buses, as defined by federal law, that may be operated on a public state highway to such buses that:

·       conform to certain vehicle weight limitations imposed on a vehicle or combination of vehicles operated over or on a public highway or at a port-of-entry between Texas and the United Mexican States; and

·       have either a tandem axle weight that does not exceed the maximum tandem axle weight under such limitations by more than 20 percent or a maximum single axle weight of 24,000 pounds.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE

 

September 1, 2019.

 

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

 

While C.S.H.B. 1493 may differ from the original in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following summarizes the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill.

 

The substitute includes a provision that imposes certain weight limitations on the over-the-road buses that may be operated on a state highway.

 

The substitute does not include a provision exempting an over-the-road bus from certain weight limitations imposed on a vehicle or combination of vehicles operated over or on a public highway or at a port-of-entry between Texas and the United Mexican States.