BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 3484

By: Harris, Caroline

Transportation

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

In 2017, the Texas Legislature enacted legislation to allow a natural gas fueled vehicle an additional 2,000 pounds of weight, totaling 82,000 pounds on state highways. The additional weight is also allowed on federal highways under federal law. Additionally, the private sector has widely accepted the development of hydrogen fuel for heavy-weight trucks due to the reduction in and, in some applications, lack of nitrogen oxide and carbon emissions associated with using it. C.S.H.B. 3484 seeks to apply the same weight cap for natural gas and hydrogen fueled vehicles once the additional weight limit is increased by the federal government on federal interstates or highways.

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. 3484 amends the Transportation Code to authorize a vehicle or combination of vehicles that is powered by an engine fueled primarily by hydrogen to exceed statutory weight limitations by an amount that is equal to the difference between the weight of the vehicle attributable to the hydrogen tank and fueling system carried by that vehicle and the weight of a comparable diesel tank and fueling system, provided that the maximum gross weight of the vehicle or combination of vehicles may not exceed 82,000 pounds.

C.S.H.B. 3484 takes effect only if the United States Congress enacts legislation or a federal agency adopts a regulation that becomes law authorizing a vehicle that is powered by an engine fueled primarily by hydrogen to be operated on a federal interstate or highway at a weight that exceeds a weight limitation established by federal law.

EFFECTIVE DATE

Except as otherwise provided, September 1, 2023.

COMPARISON OF INTRODUCED AND SUBSTITUTE

While C.S.H.B. 3484 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 substitute includes a provision absent from the introduced conditioning the bill's effective date on the United States Congress enacting legislation or a federal agency adopting a regulation that becomes law authorizing a vehicle that is powered by an engine fueled primarily by hydrogen to be operated on a federal interstate or highway at a weight that exceeds a weight limitation established by federal law.