Honorable Terry Canales, Chair, House Committee on Transportation
FROM:
John McGeady, Assistant Director Sarah Keyton, Assistant Director Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB1493 by Krause (Relating to weight limitations for over-the-road buses.), As Introduced
No immediate fiscal implication to the State is anticipated. However, implementation of the bill could put the State in violation of federal law and at risk of losing Federal highway funding.
The bill would amend Transportation Code §621.101 to exempt an over-the-road bus, as defined by 42 U.S.C. Section 12181, from the gross vehicle weight and axle weight limits allowed for operation on a public highway or port of entry as specified in subsection (a) of that section.
Based on the information provided by the Department of Motor Vehicles, there would be no direct fiscal impact to the State resulting from the implementation of the bill.
Based on the analysis provided by the Texas Department of Transportation, it is assumed enactment of the bill could place the state in violation of federal weight restrictions under 23 U.S.C., which could result in the withholding of 50 percent of the state's apportionment of federal National Highway Performance Program (NHPP) funds. TxDOT reports that the state's apportionment of NHPP funds was $2.1 billion for federal fiscal year 2019.
Local Government Impact
No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
601 Department of Transportation, 608 Department of Motor Vehicles