BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 3460

By: Thompson, Ed

Transportation

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

It has been noted that state law and Texas Department of Transportation rules provide for various local options for the issuance of oversize and overweight vehicle permits on designated local corridors. It has also been noted that these corridors must have fees in place that are sufficient to cover the maintenance for any roadways that are part of the state highway system. There have been calls to provide for the issuance of permits for additional corridors in certain counties, such as Matagorda County. H.B. 3460 seeks to address this issue by providing for the designation of such a corridor in Matagorda 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. 3460 amends the Transportation Code to provide for route designation for the movement of oversize and overweight vehicles under a permit issued by a port authority contiguous to the Gulf of Mexico or a bay or inlet opening into the gulf with a population of not more than 200,000 that is adjacent to a county that is adjacent to at least two counties with a population of 550,000 or more. The bill requires the Texas Transportation Commission to designate, with the consent of the port authority, the most direct route from:

· the intersection of State Highway 35 and McCrosky Road in Matagorda County to the entrance of the Port of Palacios using State Highway 35;

· the intersection of State Highway 60 and Chalmers Road in Matagorda County to the entrance the Port of Palacios using State Highway 60;

· the intersection of Farm-to-Market Road 521 and Weathers Road in Matagorda County to the entrance of the Port of Palacios using FM 521; and

· the intersection of State Highway 71 and Wind Road in Matagorda County to the entrance of the Port of Palacios using State Highway 71.

EFFECTIVE DATE

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