BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 1939

By: Raymond

Transportation

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Differences in weight limit regulations for trucks traveling between Texas and Mexico have required some companies operating along the border to unload shipments before crossing the border and divide the shipments into multiple trucks before driving on international bridges. This creates an extra step that makes for a more inefficient transportation process. An expansion of permit issuance for movement of oversize/overweight vehicles in Webb County is needed. C.S.H.B. 1939 provides for this expansion by designating certain sections of State Highway 255, Farm-to-Market Road 3338, and Farm-to-Market Road 1472 as areas in Webb County for which permits may be issued for the movement of oversize or overweight vehicles.

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

C.S.H.B. 1939 amends the Transportation Code to authorize the Texas Transportation Commission to authorize the City of Laredo to issue permits for the movement of oversize or overweight vehicles carrying cargo in Webb County on the following roadways:

· State Highway 255 between the Laredo-Colombia Solidarity International Bridge and its intersection with Interstate Highway 35; and

· FM 3338 between its intersection with State Highway 255 and its intersection with FM 1472.

The bill changes a location where the commission may authorize the city to issue such permits from FM 1472 between the northernmost of its intersections with World Trade Center Loop and its intersection with Hachar Loop, if the Hachar Loop is constructed, to between World Trade Center Loop and its intersection with State Highway 255.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2023.

COMPARISON OF INTRODUCED AND SUBSTITUTE

While C.S.H.B. 1939 may differ from the introduced in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following summarizes the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill.

The introduced authorized the commission to authorize the city to issue permits for the following locations:

· State Highway Loop 20 between its intersection with the World Trade International Bridge and its intersection with FM 1472;

· FM 1472 between its intersection with State Highway Loop 20 and its intersection with State Highway 255; and

· State Highway 255 between its intersection with FM 1472 and its intersection with Interstate Highway 35.

 The substitute changes the authorized locations to the following:

· State Highway 255 between the Laredo-Colombia Solidarity International Bridge and its intersection with Interstate Highway 35; and

· FM 3338 between its intersection with State Highway 255 and its intersection with FM 1472.

The substitute also includes a provision that was not in the introduced changing where the commission may authorize such permits on FM 1472.