BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1557

By: Moody

Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The bill author has informed the committee that veterans often use toll roads when traveling the state to receive needed services, including medical treatment, and should be exempt from paying tolls. H.B. 1557 seeks to provide veterans with economic relief by requiring toll fees to be waived for certain veterans.

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

H.B. 1557 amends the Transportation Code to replace the authorization for a toll project entity to establish a veteran discount program that includes free use of the toll project for certain veterans with a requirement for such an entity to do so. The bill removes the option for the program to include discounted use of the project by those veterans.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2025.