BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1814

By: Reynolds

County Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

There are concerns that the increasing popularity of roadside vending creates a variety of safety issues, such as pedestrian traffic on the roadside, frequent stops of vehicular traffic, and food safety-related issues. H.B. 1814 seeks to address these concerns by extending to other counties the authority of certain counties to regulate roadside vending in the unincorporated portions of the county.  

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

H.B. 1814 amends the Transportation Code to authorize the commissioners court of a county with a population of more than 550,000 that is adjacent to a county with a population of four million by order to regulate, for purposes of promoting the public safety, the following in the unincorporated area of the county if they occur on a public highway or road, in the right-of-way of a public highway or road, or in a parking lot:

· the sale of items by a vendor of food or merchandise, including live animals;

· the erection, maintenance, or placement of a structure by a vendor of food or merchandise, including live animals; and

· the solicitation of money.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2019.