86R1898 AAF-D
 
  By: Martinez H.B. No. 1778
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to weight limitations for certain vehicles transporting
  agricultural products.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter I, Chapter 622, Transportation Code,
  is amended by adding Section 622.102 to read as follows:
         Sec. 622.102.  VEHICLES TRANSPORTING AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS
  DURING HARVEST SEASON. (a) This section applies only to a vehicle
  or a combination of vehicles being used to transport agricultural
  products that are in their natural state and are being transported
  not more than 100 miles from the place of production to the place of
  first marketing or first processing.
         (b)  A vehicle or combination of vehicles to which this
  section applies may be operated at a weight that exceeds the weight
  limitations of Section 621.101 by not more than 10 percent if the
  vehicle or combination of vehicles is operated during the harvest
  season for the products being transported.
         (c)  The department, in coordination with the Texas A&M
  AgriLife Extension Service, by rule shall determine the harvest
  season of each agricultural product authorized to be transported
  under this section.
         (d)  This section does not authorize the operation on the
  national system of interstate and defense highways in this state of
  a vehicle or combination of vehicles of a weight greater than that
  permitted under 23 U.S.C. Section 127.
         (e)  This section does not authorize the operation of a
  vehicle or combination of vehicles in excess of the weight
  authorized for a load-zoned bridge in this state.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.