BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center	S.B. 688
	By: Perry
	Transportation
	6/3/2019
	Enrolled

 

 

 

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

Background:

Current Transportation Code states that the maximum height of a vehicle and its load is prohibited from being higher than 14 feet. However, there are exceptions: cotton vehicles transporting certain agricultural products or processing equipment to transport chili pepper modules, seed cotton, cotton, cotton burrs, or equipment used to transport or process chili pepper modules or cotton, including a motor vehicle or burr spreader, may operate up to 14 feet 6 inches.

 

Key Points:

S.B. 688 amends current law to include:

(1) A truck-tractor operated in combination with a semitrailer and used to transport seed cotton or cotton may not be operated on a highway or road if the vehicle is higher than 14 feet 6 inches.

 

The bill equalizes the height limits of a single-vehicle cotton module truck, which in current law is 14 feet 6 inches, and adds a combination vehicle cotton module truck (i.e., truck/trailer combination) to the height limit of 14 feet 6 inches. (Original Author's/Sponsor's Statement of Intent)

 

S.B. 688 amends current law relating to height limitations for certain vehicles transporting seed cotton or cotton.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1. Amends the heading to Section 622.101, Transportation Code, to read as follows:

Sec. 622.101. VEHICLES TRANSPORTING CERTAIN AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS OR PROCESSING EQUIPMENT.

 

SECTION 2. Amends Section 622.101, Transportation Code, by amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (c), as follows:

 

(b) Requires a single motor vehicle that transports agricultural products under Subsection (a) (relating to certain limitations on operating agricultural vehicles on highways or roads), rather than a motor vehicle that transports agricultural products under this section, to be registered under Section 504.505 (Cotton Vehicles).

 

(c) Prohibits a truck-tractor operated in combination with a semitrailer and used to transport seed cotton or cotton from operating on a highway or road if the vehicle is higher than 14 feet 6 inches.

 

SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2019.